Hilda's Mascot

that Mr. Valentine Courtney was the owner of "My Lady's Manor," and that

of handsome horses, a comfor

y who responded was one he was satisfied to engage. This man was Sandy MacQuoid, a Scotchman w

manner and scrupulously neat in attire,

My Lady's Manor" and the years which followed proved Sandy's testimonials c

as agreed upon, and that was that he might bring a parrot, whic

al to pets and fond of music; moreover the place would be rendere

invitation of Mr. Courtney to read in his library, and almost every afterno

ey were glad to know she was there; the day always seemed brighter when

ourtney returned from the city, but it was a p

o tea, which request was all the more heartily appreciated by her that N

lda should be invited, and she always accepted the invitation. Thus in time she looked upon the villa as a sec

s growing into healthy, symmetrical and beautiful young womanhoo

ity in his carriage and Sandy, after leaving him a

horses were cared for, when he had the unexpected pleasure of meeting

hey repaired to the lodgings of his friend where he was pr

y and Cecil came over that evening they could scarcely tear themselves away in

to go there, but the terrier was here, there and everywhere; and Hilda was almost tempted at

loth to complain of it, but could not at time

o get her clean turban which he had captured. "You don't know the tricks that terrier can play. When the door-bell rin

m at the front door when there are so

finds the ol' shoes is the riddle I can't guess. I never

ny, Chloe, and we

my best turban that Mis' Emma done give me. Mrs. Flynn feeds him. She puts a piece of oilclo

take tea at "My Lady's Manor," a charming walk across the fie

s first to see the carriage containing Mr. Courtney and Sandy stop at the side gate. She ran joyously to

o welcome me," he said cordially as he clasped her dimpled h

e he welcomed the other guests, then went to his dressing room, the terrier flying up the ste

and with scissors in hand she went to the garden, the terrier following in an ecstasy of delight and play

im, and walking slowly up he placed his coat on the balustrade of the back porch, then went

d them upon the table; then the tea-bell rang and Mr. Courtney and his

, Sandy, tall, grave and reserved, joined them at Mr. Cour

at evening, the last time she was to hear it for many days. For destiny was quietly closing the doors of "My

d a scampering and a scuffling upon the porch, mingled with

oned the sounds, when through the open door rushed the terrier, bearing i

he captured both coat and the terrier as he was again scampering into the library. "I done heerd that scampering and k

he coat?" asked Mr. Courtney, as

no letters on the piazzy 'till

ddressed to 'My Dear Sister Sarah.' I remember that Aunt Ashley's first name was

ter's name was Sarah Warfie

he could not trust

my reception," remarked Mrs. Merryman when she finished reading. "Th

shley to her sister in Ohio. He wrote it at the cottage and I remember his saying that Mrs. Ashley asked Diana to give him her pen from the writing desk. He said it was the handsomest he had ever seen, a gold

tters been all this ti

er has torn the lining," said Mr. Courtney, whose handsome

hem and we have censured her for not

tter from her sister, she would write to know th

a said that she asked the postmaster to forward a ne

s?" asked Mrs. Courtney. "Ought they

cing anxiously from one to anot

herefore the right thing, to

ill take them home and ask him to forward them to Mrs. Warfield. Wou

o go to her! How can I leave

elder ladies, and Mr. Court

o the living or the dead by withhold

right, they must be

n his sad, preoccupied way, searching for something in his pitiable wanderings, and has his pockets at times filled with trifles,

I think, unless he is willing

n reflectively. "I wonder, if asked, whether he cou

as they supposed, he could n

It may be that he is the one to blame for their not being received by Mrs.

nd where has he kept them all th

but it is never locked, nor has he ever given the

pon the long piazza. It was Mr. Courtney, and as she appeared in the door-way he halted and held out his hand to her.

or one brief moment Mr. Courtney clasped her in his arms, for one brief moment she sobbed upon his breast, then she re

, whereupon he made a full confession, glad to be re

millstone about his neck. Terror of the law had made him afraid to have them found in his possession, and what conscience he had, refused to let him destroy them. He had taken them to the woo

he wanderer was about to depart to slip them in the pocket of his coat; and the old man went to "My Lady's M

a game of ball to carry a note from Mrs. Merryman to "Friedenheim," that Rev. Carl might

been destitute of a home, or situated less happily than she was, the letter would have given her unmingle

t had kept her from traveling since. She explained that Mrs. Lacy having gone to France to reside, she had no one to communicate with, and had written to the postmaster at Dorton asking t

tter saying that Mrs. Farnsworth was traveling in Europe, but the letter h

what she had used all means in her power to know through others. She added that she was rejoiced to know that Mr

delphia the following week, and would take great pleasure in going t

ney in consultation with his sister, and the next morning that lady visited Mr

asked as a favor that she be allowed to exercise her taste in providing a

glad consent, and it was decided that Hilda should accompany Mrs

e young traveler, and it seemed like a fairy story that instead of walking to school, she was spinning along the pleasant road between Dor

they drove from one business house to another, and to the i

a large trunk," Mrs. Courtney remarked as they reached the city. "We will bu

dsome, substantial and commodious, with many little c

ment, and Mrs. Courtney was surprised at the judgment she evi

mplete a girl's wardrobe were rapidly filling the trunk whi

r your picture. Mrs. Merryman wishes one, I should like to have one,

usha Flint," suppleme

e ladies' restaurant where I always go upon these shopping tours, then to the picture gallery, then t

be better to wait for the photograph

ore when last at 'My Lady's Manor,' and is very becoming. We will go now a

for the friends she was soon to leave, the dresses fitted

d, "and I wish to give you a remembrance of it and of me-som

jeweler's where she again had occasion to admire the innate refinement and courtesy of Hilda. What the donor selected was her choice, and her pleasure was enhanced and th

heim" by Mr. Courtney. Then they turned their faces homewa

art proved to be a success; therefore the pretty new gowns, the watch and the cabine

ster, called that evening to see him and bid good-bye to Hilda-a young Apollo. In the opinion of the others-Hilda n

feeling of pride that her Aunt Ashley's nephew was so worthy the atten

" thought Mr. Courtney. "There is every reason for Hilda to be

of the pictures of herself to give to Mr. Courtney, and had gone to her room early in the eveni

a, who had borne herself bravely during the evening, bade Mr. and Mrs. Merryman and Paul good-ni

hat Mr. Courtney was sitting alone, and when at a late hour it

cy of youth when not crushed out by affliction or cruelty, Hilda arose and dressed for her journey in

from Mr. Courtney. She had been accustomed to seeing flowers all her life, but these seemed the sweetest and loveliest

pt, when Hilda, equipped for the journey, stood, bouquet in han

id, putting an arm around that faithfu

pressed kisses upon the lips and the fair brow o

ave found mother and father

g that Mr. Merryman and Paul were engaged in parting words-"neve

ho have tenderly kept it in my remembrance; and see," she added with a sudden flush of color to her cheeks, "i

a few last words they were on their way to the Dorton station while Mr. and Mrs. Merryman returned slowly to the ho

lda's surprise and pleasure Mr. Valentine Courtney appeared at the window by which

sure them!" she said, to

," he said, putting a s

ch lingered long in his memory. She waved her hand in farewell, and they were gone. And he returned to his

the matter-of-fact world of business alone. It was a new world, rosy with sweet companionsh

was not-as when Anna was taken from him-reconciled to the lot which he had in Christian faith looked upon as not only o

not done this, believing it not honorable to fetter her with a promise before she had seen anything of the world. Now she was g

Hilda untied the packet and brought to view a crimson

imed in delight, as Paul bent his stately head to look

ng, indeed, Cousin Hilda,

ie, who saved my life, to make his home at 'My Lady's Manor,' and pass his days in

he saw her looking again upon the picture, "but I cannot agree with y

les," said Hilda eagerly. "S

ittle confusedly. "Do not think me boastful, Cousin Hilda,

like you," said Hild

around. He seems to know exactl

ou could have stayed even one day longer and visited there and at 'Fried

them and would have enjoyed remaining, but, little co

echoed the g

and Mrs. De Cormis, old friends of my father. A niece of Mr. De Cormis from Woodmont, a vi

dear frien

the de

to Philadelp

there all her life until the past four years, when she and her father came to Woodmont.

o back to O

her to remain the winter with them, but she is a devoted daughter and is not willing to le

each oth

how impossible it would be not to love her! If nothing

Paul, and hope you

you wish it. I cannot fail bei

person is she

lliant black eyes, lips like coral, perfect teeth, an

Hilda. "I hope she will love me. Is

she is interested in you. I am sure yo

travelers arrived at the hands

Hilda to the pretty apartment she was to occupy, th

in one of the new gowns, which fitted her lit

ura De Cormis. Paul met her at the door and led her to the alcove window where the young lady stood, so absor

e of the future Mrs. Paul Warfield she saw a younger and fair