Year: 1870

'COnfounQ IL J


The exclamation was a menta
one, but none the less hearty for be
ing suppressed ; and readers viii
own that it was only natural and ex
cusable under he circumstances.


Rupert Holmes was a hard-work-
ing barrister, and was looked upon
as a rising man that is, although
he was only two-and thirty, he was
making an income of nearly FIVE
hundred a year. He had, beside
some little fortune Of his own, and
was, therefore. far better off than the
great majority of men Of his own
age in the profession.


1t was the first day Of vacation
and as he threw aside his legal books
and sta. ted for his holiday, he felt
for the first time how his hard worh
had told upon him, and how glad he
was that he was going away for
while from his chambers and the
weary work of,spliting legal hairs.


Generally an early riser, he had
breakfasted late-so late that he wal
obliged to hurry through his pack
ing in order to catch his train fol
Chichester, where he was to spend 6
fortni hit with his friend Jack viii
mot, before starting for long ram
BILE upon the Continent. He had
however, reached the terminus witt
five minutes to spare he had founC
one empty carriage, had tipped th'
guard to retain it for him-was be
fore the happy era of smoking car
riages-and was looking forward tC
the placid enjoyment of his after
breakfast cigar.


The bell rang, the train was upon
very point of starting, and his cigal
case was in his hand, when hustle
on the platform, and a porter hurried
up to the carriage with two ladies
looked in, and unlocked the door.


Now, ladies, look sharp, please
the trains starting


The ladies entered, the door was
slammed to, and the train moved
out Of the station.


It must be allowed that it was ex
cusable under the circumstances TO
Rupert Holmes to relieve his feeling
bp this mental exclamation of Con
found it p


The ladies where evidently mothel
and daughter. There was a strong
resemblance between them, although
the expression was different. The
mother was fair, placid and quiet
looking. rather flurried at present BY
the hustle consequent upon being
late. The daughter was a brunette
with demure look, through which
the fun rippled out at every move
ment of the lips and eyes and ii
was at once evident by the little
anxious glance she shot at Rupert
Holmes as he put his c gar case
back in his pocket, that she under
stood his fe lings quite as well as il
he had spoken that silent 'COnfound
it p aloud.


Rupert caught the look, and coult
scarcely help smiling in return. He
then examined his Bradshd,o, rar
his finger down the list and having
resolved upon changing carriages al
Reigate, determined to make himsel
agreeable, and enjoy himself as much
as he could till be arrived there. HI
was in high spirits, which even the
little contretemps which had JUS
happened could not damp for more
than q minute or two and he glad
Iy availed himself of the opening
which the elder lady requesting hin
to lend her his Bradsha0 made to
enter into conversation. This was
at first, almost entirely by the mother
and himself, but little by little the
daughter Joined in, and before the
train had left London Bridge quar-
ter of an hour, Rupert Holmes hat
changed his for one opposite tht
ladies, and was chatting away as
Familiarity as if he had known his
fellow passengers for years.


Presently the elder lady took out
from her traveling-bag some knit,
ting, at which she began placidly to
work; and as the pattern upon which
she was engaged was somewhat
complicated one requiring much at
tention and counting of stitches, she
gradually fell out of the converse
ton, which, however, was carried OF
none the less vigorously by the other;


Rupert Holmes was far too busy
man to 90 much into society. His
evening relaxation consisted in q
visit to a quiet literary club to which
he belonged, and a talk over the last
new book, the latest art gossip, Oh
the pending political question. To
him therefore, this conversation with
lively, clever and undeniqbly pret
ty woman was real pleasure. AS
the train slackcned for Reigate he
had no longer the slightest idea Of
changing. As it stopped, however
the young lady said, with suppress
sed look Of arch amusement, 'HerC
YOU leave US. I believe ?


I?no, indeed = he said hastily
4 am going ON to Chichester. What
made you think so 2


You certainly intended to change
YOU cannot but own that.


Rupert Holmes colored,


i do not know, unless you are d
conjurer, how could you guess 4 hall
formed intention


I did not guess at it all was
sure of it. When we got in, you
we're just going to smoke, and you
scowled in a most ungracious way


%, indeed p Rupert put in depre.
catingly,


Yes, indeed, most unsraciously