The Washington times., 1913-05-01
GS
CHAPTER III.
The Country Gawk.


n Musgrove was busted in the
~ culinary process of Capt Au-
brey's unsympathetic descrtp-
ton, Wat Musgrove's half-sister, Thom-
sine Musgrove, was busted in the maid
emily process Of going to bed.
Rising sixteen was Thomsine Mus
grove. small-breasted, lank and 1.-the az
a boy, with long hands and feet. the
manage whereof she had not yet
learned: a shock Of silky hair, chestnut
In hue, with shifting slants of red. and
direct brown eyes that had in them
the latent warmth and sparkle Of rudy
wine.
Tnin-featured was Thomsine, with
pointed chin not lacking in decision:
weil-shaped mouth, by no means small.
and the clear, healthy color that came
open fields afoot, of nights spent In long
hours of untroubled sleep. or q child
unsexed fancyings.
"A blowzy country gawk." Charlotte
Mussroye: Wars wife wife WSzvIn was privately norS
Eleanor Gascoisne. elder daughter OF
Robert, Earl Of Staversham, saw in the
young creature possibilities.
They sat, the two daughters OF Sta.
versham. Charlotte upon the curtained
bed, Eleanor busted with her fan, upon
Q carven stool. in the little upper cham
Der of the stationer's house IN LoGick
lane, which their father had had the
good luck to hire.
ready for the night with the calm, ap-
praising eye of ownership. For little
Thomsine, cana that day from Alien
thorn in Herts to Oxford town. was to
be welded In a months time to their
young half-brother, Philip, Viscount
Carisford. and. till the marriage day
her schooling rested in their hands
Tomorrow my woman must dress
thine hair IN the mode" said Charlotte,
who was round-faced and had been
prettier before her marriage.
Yea, prithee" Thomasine answered
shyly, and was near. they marked. to
I'm the name Of Heaven: child.
laughed Eleanor. not altogether un,
kindly, LAY off thy little rustic air!
Why. thou art well-ntgh woman-Srown.
Time thou didst think in the part thou
vert born to play in the world; -,
You will teach he." Thomasine said.
docileiy, with a smile that set her thin
young face alight.
.Tomorrow," Eleanor unused, aloud, I
must carry thee unto Christ-church
ITO morning prayer" asked Thom-
asine Musgrove.
La, no, pretty innocence! To view
TIL. ladies' gowns, and be accosted OF
the galants."
Eleanor, for shame" said Charlotte.
peevishly
That will like me night well, vowed
Thomasine. with entire honesty: AND
MAJ wear one II my brave new
gowns, good Lady Vyvyan?
Cali me Eleanor hade the Iady,
land give over to curtsey 10 me- else
happly I may be moved TO box thine
ears. Aye, wear thy gowns cniid' all
of 'em, if II please thee" -.
The sarcenet likes me best" said
Thomsine. seriously. Nay. the taneta
is vet sweeter. And the satin, broid-
cred with pearls-but La! II seems TOO
brave for my wearing.
Childlike, she had fallen on her knees
by the great chest that she had that
day-worder of wonders!-found ready,
stuffed with unbelievable elegancies. all
for her warrington her, Thomsine
Musgrove, who had gone these hfteen
years stoutly shod, clad in russell or IN
home-dyed stun!
With eager hands she drew her treas
ures into the candle light-the cramoi-
sey petticoat the velvet habit, the
mantle lined with rosy silk, the tabby
gown, all laced with silver.
whiskets OF lawn and scarfs OF lace
she lifted with tender fingers, and
stockings Of silk, against which she
pressed her cheek TO feel the pleasant
crinkle of them. and shoes-such shoes,
with rosettes and flashing buckles-and,
last of all, fit mates to the shimmering
court dress OF satin. pearl embroidered
"a pair Of delicate slippers Of white
satin, that surely, Thomsine thought,
were WORTHY OF the queen herself.
Half shyly, half defiantly. Thomsine
looked up. under her chestnut hair. at
the two great ladies who should be her
sisters, and then, without a by-your-
leave. she drew the satin slippers over
her slender. naked feet;
.'They like me well" she said, and
then. incongruously clad In her night
smock and her court-slippers. she
Caught EIeanors hand and pressed It
"atethfnks I am the happIest wench in
all the world" she said, Ito have a
chest full of such wondrous gauds."
guess the reason for the laughter in
Eleanor vyvyan's long-lashed. narrowed
eyes
"And TO be plighted unto Your good
brother" she amended. hastily. I'm
deed, he is a lovely gentleman, and i
things You both will teach me-
Ave, surely" said Eleanor, and the
laughter deepened under her dropped
iasbes
At that hour her welded husband. Sir
Francis Vyyyan, was upon the seas.
bound unto France TO dispatch his
matesty's business. and buy himself
new doubiets and, in his train, round
limbed lass. dressed as a page-ooy,
shift that blinded no one. and. least OF
All, lne snreWu-eNeu ldoy VI Sh OIL
els.
Meantime she sat in speech with rus
tic little Thomsine. only because she
knew Of no means that evening to meet
with Sir Edward Borlase, and soberly.
but sensing well the humor of il, vowed
TO school her in all wifely duty.
Charlotte put peevishly an END to
sport.
Come" she sneered. "Thomsine is
fain no doubt to be abed. Let US be
gone"
"Ayee, you be wearied, too" Thom-
passing late. / heard the bells toll ..
shall be early astir." she added, as
she drew of the satin slippers. "for
there Is one nigh Oxford whom / must
be abroad betimes to seek"
Who, thenT aueried Eleanor. ana