CHAPTER II.—(Continued )

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1797, 12 January 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER ll.— (Continued )

Grace got many holidays after that ; for as Decembei toiled through its hot clays and sultry nights, the Christmas preparations were so extensive, and Miss Hurst was called so often from tho schoolroom to ro-arrango and retouch up decorations, to write invitations to people forgotten at the list-making, to Rive her opinion on this or on that, in fact, io do everything that no one but Miss Hurst could do satisfactorily, that it vras thought more practicable to let Grade off lessons altogether ; the governess stipulating only for a daily practice of her scales and exercisea in the presence of her sister Linda. Miss Stanbridge soon wearied of her merciless din, and after the first morning left Gracie to her conscience and herself. Gracie's conscientious scruples were lax, so the schoolroom was left bare and empty, and the piano, laden with untidy heaps of music, closed, while Gracie romped to her heart's delight through the long days, and was at once the plague and joy of sick Charlie's life. At last the bustle vras over, and all was ready. In the bed-rooms every square foot of floor space. wag covered with trunks, bags, and hat-boxes, and beds were made in every available corner of the house. In the early dawn of Christmas Eve, picnic; paities drove out to sheltered nook"? among the ranges ; tall youths from town, proud of their prowess at the wickets, scored and batted on the sunny slope all day, and even an amateur race-meeting was conducted in all the glory of flag-surmounted grandstand, crammed with all the old ladies and lazy young ones who were not prepared to join the early pic-nicers. Evening brought all home weary of their day of sport, but not fatigued enough to forego that great event of the week — George'« birthday ball. The great marques which had done duty so well at mustering time now served opportuaeiy to dance in. The piano had been moved in, the walls tastefully decorated with floweis, great tree ferns filled the corners and shadowed the recedes in which chairs were accommodatingly placed for the weary ones. Chinese lanterns hung from the roof and tiees outside, lighting up the whole way to the house. Tho effect was very pretty and iairylike, and Mrs. Stanbridge felt proud of the result of her labour and ingenuity, for the resources and materials had been but few and sparse. The guests are all in their rooms nnd Harriotts Hur3t, who had been almost the last to sejk her? and Gist to leave it -t md 3 at a small table soiting (lowers and making thorn into buttonhole boqueta for the gentlemen. She lias looked much happier since that evening in the mustering season when she sang The Old Polks at Home for Mrs. S'aubndje, and to-night she looks radiantly happy. She wear 3 a soft fleecy whits iobe zoned witn a pale blue sa3h. A creamy rose nestles m her dark hair, and its companion coyly peeps out from the billowy Jace oi her throat. Her gray eyes shins bc-ftly as she picka out a tiny spray of fern rind lays against its light green fronds a few modest blue-headed violets. She turns with them 1/1 htr fingers as Goorge opens the door and comes up to her. " Dressed already Harriette 1 Why you have not baen half-an hour. Half an-hour, and you look the dearest, sweetest girl'that a niau e/er loved." '• The half-hour could not make me any deaicr or sweeter George; it merely gave me time to take off a hot grey dross and put on a cool whits one. Now see, here" is a buttonhole for you. Fern and blue violets: you know what thay signify. Let me fasten it in your coat. Now you look the de % No I won't s&y it." " Yes, say it Harriette," and he held her fast, looking down into her clear shining eyes. " Well, the deaiest and noblest man that a girl e»'er loved. '' " Say it again— the dearest ? " '• Yes the dearest." •'And tho noblest?" " And the very noblest ! " .Presently they grow serious, and George lsaurf over the table watching her deft fingers as the arranges the tiny blossoms. "Harriette, I dreamed last night of that old fellow I tut with my whip in the Btabley.inl last muster." "Did you?" ' Yj.3, (md it must have been a bad dream, for it left a heavy dull impression on my spidts. They tell me the old fellow's face lh,\t day was a caution to see. Anyhow, I did'nt see it and I don't care. I was wrong of course ; but he was an impertinent old beggar and deserved it. Mother seemed ap3et about it — I wonder' why? Isuppdseshe was afraid of his doing some mischief in hi 3 rage. These old sundowners are a mischie-voa-s lot." " What was your dream George ? " " I don't know now. I've forgotten it ; but i! was something unpleasant." •' Then don't think about it." ' I don't think about it : I think only of how prei/ty you look, and how sweet and good you are. A million times too good for such a fellow ad I." People are calling out for programmes and •flowers, and George and Harriette go out among them.