The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-03-23

oSuuthui uistiicb thrOugn WHICH wac
walking, VIC had soon got upon intimats
terms, and had made the whole journey
to Homburg together
| learned from his own lips that he
was an officer in the Ninety third High
landers, the regiment which had become
so famous in poetry and romance by its
timely dellverance of the perishing gar.
rison Of Lucknow during the Indian
mutiny, and mauy and narrowing were
the tales that he told me OF the ghastly
massacre at Cawnpore, and of the out
RACES committed there.
Altogether | had found him genial,
jolly, well-iuformed "compagnon de
voyage" aud had taken all tho respon-
sibillty on my own shoulders of intro.
dueing him to my sister, aud all our
particular "set" in Homburg
Certainly, had not anticipated that
he would prove such an easy victim to
Kitty's wiles and the sight of very
costly and peculiar signct ring that he
wore on Kitty's finger had first opened
my eyes to the rapid progress OF their
acquaintance.
well, there is no reason why we
should not have our break fast any way"
continued my sister, after glancing i'm
patiently up and down the street, under
cover OF inhaling the perfume of the
hcliotrope aud dmignonnette which bloom,
ed on the balcony.
81 cant hirt with the teacups. so
you can lay aside your admonitory looks
for at least an hour, Tom. All here
comes Jack that's a relief, at any rate"
she said, as our rough. headed, loud
voiced, and utterly unmanngeablc youn.
ger brother lounged into the room
"What makes you so late and where
is Aunt Mary, Jack p she asked, as he
stopped to give her very emphatic aud
resounding kiss
Dyspeptic this morning, which
means cross replied Jack solemnly,
f" Also, it's Sunday, aud she's doing the
regulation amount Of grooming over the
sins and offences of this heather place.
So, you'd better send her up all the
delicacies Of the season, aud be careful
not to notice when the tray comes down
that she has eaten them all up"
Halo /. what's the matter with you,
Brother Tom? he continued, turning
sharply round upon me with the perverse
and provoking abruptness which seems
inseparable from half fgrown boys
+" Been giving XII, another lecture, /
suppose, aud captured her last trophy,
| see" glaneing at the ring which lay
beside me on the table. .'lt's per ect-
ly hopeless undertaking, my dear fel
low" he added with patronizing air /;
"you might as well try to prevent the
cat from mewing, or the dog from bark
ing, as to cure Kit of airting. As the lit
tie hymn, which never would learn says,
/" 1t is her nature 10" aud to say that
she delights in it above everything else
under the sun is putting it very mildly
indeed"
" You'll be good enough to finish
your break fast Immediately, Jack, | re.
marked in very stern, elder brother
tone, "and leave Kitty and myself for
a while. No nonsense now. Be off
with you. Sharp's the word"
q 1t really is too bad Of you, Kitty"
Icontinued us the door closed upon Jack,
"to firt with Captain Macdonald so
desperately. Do you know that Fran
Wilton may be expected any doyY Il
have letter from him this morning,
dated London"
:" 1t really is too bad Of Frank" pou-
ted Kitty, "to come SO soon. He prom
ised mc year, and the years not out
till tho 29th. I'm great mind not to
speak to him when he does come.v
" Kitty" / said in my gravest tone,
{" do you mean to marry Frank VIII
ton I"
81 don't know. l suppose | do"
said Kitty GROSSLY. II don't want to
much, but you've all been telling me
I'm engaged to him since / was fifteen
years old, and I've been brought up to
think it was rude to contradict my
elders. But it's very triresome of him
to come just now, for l like Captain
Macdonald 50 much; aud as he's your
friend, Tom," she added, giving. me
sly glance from under her long eye.
lashes, "Pm doing my best to be civil
to him for your sake"
/ smiled and the next moment the
little arms were tight around my neck,
and Kitty's cheek pressed close against
my own. 1t had ended, as our contests
always did, in my being completely
worsted and beaten off the field
Well, little one" said as soon as
| was permitted to speak, "don't carry
your ciyility too far, that's all. This
ring" l added, as | held it up to the
light aud looked through the magnifi.
cent ruby to decipher the motto and
device that were engraved upon it, sis
far too costly and conspicuous to be
seen on your finger Give it back to
Macdonald to-day, aud recollect, Kitty,
that know very little OF this new
friend, aud would rather not see my
sister on too familiar terms with him.
And now I'm going out for stroll, and
you had better make dutiful inquiries
into tho nature Of Aunt Mary's dys-
pepsia----"
Sand get another lecture on my evil
ways" said Kitty, as she pirouctted out
of the room.
From that time for more than three
weeks we went out in the regular rou.
tine of Hombnrg life. "Bruuneu" Of
nauseus favor in thsmorning; brunncn"
more or less nauseous at night; the
gardens, with excellent music and
crowds Of gay promenaders in the after
uoon aud the Kursaal, with our little
ventures on tho roage-et-non, for even.