"Oh, I am so glad Alice didn't read this letter," Mrs. Worthington

cried, while something which sounded much like a bit of an oath dropped

from Hugh's white lips, and then he continued: "'When will you come? Asenath has sent the curtains in the north

chamber to the laundress, but will go no farther until we hear for

certain that Miss Worthington is to be our guest. Write

immediately.

"'Yours affectionately, "'ANNA.

"'Remember me to John and Miss W----.

"'P.S.--I still continue to be annoyed with women answering that

advertisement. Sometimes I'm half sorry I put it in the paper,

Advertisement..

though if the right one ever comes, I shall think there was a

Providence in it.' "Mother, I am resolved now to win Dr. Richards at all hazards. Only

let me keep up the appearance of wealth, and the thing is easily

accomplished; but I can't go to Terrace Hill yet, cannot meet this

Anna, for, kindly as she spoke of me, I dread her decision more

than all the rest, inasmuch as I know it would have more weight

with the doctor.

"But to come back to the madam, showing her point-lace cap at

dinner, and telling Mrs. ex-Governor Somebody how Miss Worthington

had a severe headache. I was fast asleep when she returned. Had not

read Anna's letter, nor anything! You should have seen her face

when I told her I had changed my mind, that I could not go to

Terrace Hill, that mamma (that's you!) did not think it would be

proper, inasmuch as I had no claim upon them. You see, I made her

believe I had written to you on the subject, receiving a reply that

you disapproved of my going, and Brother Hugh, too, I quote him a

heap, making madam laugh till she cried with repeating his odd

speeches, she does so want to see that eccentric Hugh, she says."

Another groan from Mrs. Worthington, another something like an oath from

that eccentric Hugh, and he went on: "I said, brother was afraid it was improper under the circumstances

for me to go, afraid lest people should talk; that I preferred

going at once to New York. So it was finally decided, to the

doctor's relief, I fancied, that we come here, and here we

are--hotel just like a beehive, and my room is in the fifth story.

"John had come on the day before to secure rooms, so madam and I

were alone, occupying two whole seats, madam and myself on one,

madam's feet, two satchels, two silk umbrellas, one fan, one

bouquet, and a book in the other. Several tired-looking folks

glanced wistfully in that direction, but madam frowned so

majestically that they passed on into another car, leaving us to

our extra seat. At Rhinebeck, however, she found her match in a

very fine-looking man, apparently forty or thereabouts, with a weed

on his hat and a certain air, which savored strongly of psalms and

hymns and extempore praying. In short, I guessed at once that he

was a Presbyterian minister, old school at that. Now, madam, you

know, is true blue--apostolically descended, and cannot tolerate

anything like a dissenter. But I do not give her credit for having

sufficient sagacity to detect the heretic in this handsome,

pleasant-faced stranger, who stood looking this way and that for a

seat. Madam, I saw, grew very red in the face, and finally threw

down her veil, but not till the minister saw it, and half started

forward as if about to speak. The movement showed him one extra

seat, and very politely he laid his hand upon it, saying: "'Pardon me, ladies, this, I believe, is unoccupied, and I can find

no other.' "Madam's feet came down with a jerk, ditto madam's portion of the

traps, although the stranger insisted that they did not trouble

him, while again his mild but expressive eyes scanned the brown

veil as if he would know whose face was under it. When we reached

New York, he bowed to us again, as if to offer us assistance, but

the doctor himself appeared, so that his services were unnecessary.




Most Popular