The Lost Lady of Lone

ts close. Parliament sat late at night, and often all night. Sir Lemuel, a punct

his breakfast in bed, a

ast of black tea, dry toast

ell her to let her mistress know that I wish to see my daughter here, befo

swered the servant, as he lifted t

with my own daughter, before I can get one," grumbled the banker, as h

ng's report of the night's doings at

en look at her, that took in

and crimson ribbon bow on her bosom, and a crimson rose in her hat. Her face was pale and clear, but so thin that her broad, fair forehead

e me, dear papa?"

n you are not gone. I hope, however, that I have not interfered with any very importan

Palace. I will give it up very willingly if you wish me to do so," said Salome, gently,

of hours. But I want to have a little conversation with you. I suppose a few mi

tever, pa

ny for the flower-show. Come, tell me the truth, girl. Do you care one penny

she answered, in

shows, plays, balls, and other tom-fooleries that occu

," she answered, in

do you go to them?"

she confess that she went out into company daily and nightly only in the hope of seeing again the one

or, then, Salome?" demanded he

d not answer. How could she tell him that she

ld you, every luxury that money can give you, and yet you are not well nor content. What ails you girl?

d, no,

ing up at her reply and gazing wit

If it will give you any pleasure to hear it, dear papa, let me tell you that I have

ion and bending toward his daughter as if in doubt whether t

for his only child, and reproached herself for ha

tering a convent. And I wonder now how I ever could have been so insane as to think I could live all my life co

thoughts?" exclaimed the banker, with such a look of deli

ather! And does it give

and me my dressing-gown, my dear. I must get up. I can

went to clear off his big easy-chair, which was burdened w

in his gown, with his feet in his slipper

for Potts, papa, de

I wish to make you happy; you are not so now; but I am your father; you are my only child; all that I have will be yours; but in the meantime, you are

t ungrateful daughter if I wer

very far from happy," said her father, gravely shaking his head, y

eyes under his sear

o bless you, if you will only tell me how

opped her eyes a

ou cannot confide in your father, my poor, motherless

ve you; and I will confide in

ove arose in her soul, casting out fear, ca

about it. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Love is natural. Love is holy. Oh, it is your mother that should be telling you all this, my poor girl, no

o mother could be tenderer

married. And no trifling obstacle shall stand in the way of its accomplishment. Who

, but she kissed a

your own time, my love. You will tell me some time o

dear, good, tender father. But

n three week

ere do

u like; if not, anywhe

o to Lone, if y

nly, my

ap

, lo

thing for me befo

ish me to do for you, my dear," said th

or a few moment

-political dinner party as that given by t

ng an interest in politics!" excla

on a small, womanish scale. You wil

I will! Whom sh

ty to a man, whom we met

and their wives; two city magnates and their daughters; you and mysel

vitations out to-day, for this day week pleas

dear. I have to dress and go down to the House. I am chairman of a committee there, that meets at

he entrance of the valet, she kis

o elderly city magnates, or their tall daughters; that disposes of ten out of the fourteen invited guests. The remainder included Lady Belgrade, myself, Salome herself,

f, as the full revelation of the truth burst upon his mind; "that can be easily enough arranged. If he is the sensible, practical man I take him to be, he will get back his estates and the very best little wife that ever was wed into the bargain; and my girl will be a marchioness, and in time a duchess. But stay-what is that I heard up at Lone about the youn

nd white beauties in his young life; and he had admired each and all with all a young man's ardor. But not one of them had touched his heart, a

ter, Miss

g in the soft clear gray eyes touched his heart even before he was presented to her. But when she lifted those eloquent eyes to his face, there was such

exchanged a word with her after the first few formal words of

Lone? If he were so unwise as to seek her acquaintance, the world would be quick to ascribe the most mercenary motives to his conduct. But like weaker minded lovers, he comforted himself by writing such transcendental poetry as "The Soul's Recognition," "The Meeting of the S

ly and heavily away, until the day came when into his den

ster, although it was on

laced a chair f

t was not my business to interfere with your incognito, and so I met you as you met me-as a stranger. But su

a-tete. It would be idle and useless to do oth

are wondering what has brought

that gives me the pleasure of your company, Sir

inner this evening. I hope you have no engagement to prevent you from coming,

but slowly and thoughtfully, for he was wondering not only at the in

u will come?" s

emuel. Yes, thanks, I wil

low me to call for you

your own hour, it will be more directly in your way

ill be here at se

is the bank

used the young man when the elder had gone. "I will go. I will

r, when the banker called at the office of the National Liberator he f

ner, and seated in the drawing-roo

that evening with Lady Belgrade, to hear the last act of Norma. Luckily for Sir

skirt of point lace, looped up with tea-rose buds, a tea-rose in her dark hair, a necklace of opals set in di

and himself conducted the unexp

d Sir Lemuel, bringing the you

ing up of those soft, gray eyes, and the

even as he bowed before her, he

in that glance those eyes had

e found it rather more awkward to sit down and open a conversation with this pale, shy girl, than he ever had i

as not unwelcome to a pair of young pe

hat not, and relieved the embarrassment of the lovers during the

rooping eyelids, and kindling cheeks, told him all he wished to know. He might have wondered more at the interest he had seemed to excite in a girl he had met but once before, had he not had a corre

d in her, by hearing his story and seeing his portrait, and tha

over his toilet, and soon

immediately

r to the table?" said the banker, as

ged upon a round table. There was no possibilit

e was spiritually a magpie. And as both constantly appealed to "Mr. Scott," or to Salome, it was imposs

st flattering manner of "Mr. Scott's" leaders, if that young gen

gnal, and arose from the table. Salome followed

Scott, my lord," said Sir Lemuel, when

childhood, and when I used to come to you in all my worst scrapes in bo

xclaimed t

lord is rather a ridiculous

things about yourself. See here, John. Do you kno

because you

new that if I did not buy it some one else would. And-I had this only daughter, who would have Lone after me. And I thought perhaps-But then you disappear

and ran his hand th

ed at him with cur

l give myself the pleasure of calling you so while we are tete-a-tete 'over the walnuts and wine.' Lord Arondelle, there is my daughter; what do you think of her?" he demanded, bending down his gra

liest young creature I have ev

. And the man who gets my girl t

said the young man, wi

e from any such engagement. If you are equally free, my dear marquis-(If I could only be her mother for three seconds)-Ahem! if you are equally free, and if you admire my girl as you say you do, and if you can win her affections-she-she shall be yours, and I will settle Lo

eeply impressed by her rare sweetness, gentleness, intelligence-ah! Heaven knows what it was! It was something more than all these. In a word, I was so deeply impressed by her perfect loveliness, that had I

why didn't you do it?" inquired the ba

I was a ruined man," said the

, because you have more brains than I have; you know that no young man, sound in body and sound in mind, can be ruined by any financial calami

red his face with his hand for one

Sir Lemuel, do you really appreciate the fact that I am

my daughter's happiness, still I assure you, my lord, I am keenly alive to its eligibility in a mere worldly point of view. Your ancient historical title is, (to speak as a man of the world,) much more than an equivalent for my daughter's expectations. But it is not, as I said before, as a highly eligible,

er of Lone, and were your lovely daughter as dowerless as I am penniless at this moment, and did you give her to me,

oom now and get a cup of tea from the ladies; after which, you shall see her as soon and as often as you please. And after you win her, as I am sure you will, we will have a blithe wedding and you and your bride w

ather!" sighed

oy? You told me he was well,

than he has been for years; but I think t

n what respect does this failure

Lone as well as the Duke of Hereward. He thinks that he lives in London, and in the most Objectionable part of London,

ppy in the illusion that he is still its master. I will see that the servants there, who are most of them his own old people, d

arquis grasped and wrung t

ted the banker, who wanted t

ratefully of your kind invitation, Sir L

y," said

into the d

as presiding ov

up of those soft, gray eyes, as they were lifted for a moment to his face. Again they fell beneath his glance

long at table, Sir Lemuel," said Lady Belgrade,

tters to discuss," said Sir Lemuel. ("Only t

as she handed him a cup of tea, whi

for a game of chess, and told his daughter to show Mr. Scott those chromoes

e arose, glanced shyly at her guest for an instant

ier, lay a large and handsome volume, which Salom

irs to the stand, and they

in the direction of the young people. They were looking at the Madonnas of Raphael, and, once in a while, shyly

r that of her antagonist, and

on may be arrested by stam

, my lady!" inquired

e prevented by stopp

mystified

. Scott, then," said h

m to be very happy and very w

t, and worse m

se can co

espectable circles on account of his journalistic reputation. He is probably also a pauper, but being a very ha

ay try to marr

Sir Le

full consen

Lem

gentleman whom we have known as Mr. John Scott only, is r

ck." Lady Belgrade gave no exclamation. But sh

g to marry my daughter. He will get back Lone through her. And she wi

o!" breathed her

d the young couple as much as you can by giving

adyship. "And now-don't

gently. And they gave the

o find inexhaustible interest in

before the young marqu

Park to-morrow, and she has kindly consented-with

back riding one of the most healthful o

s then bowed and

up her embroidery work

Scott?" asked the banker, when he

breathed in an e

who he really

im at the Premier's dinner. I knew him by

" said the ba

threw herself into his arms, clasped his neck and kissed hi

ll, dear papa! Bless you! bless you! bless you, my o