The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1878-08-17


"Och, it's all wrong" said Pat, keep
ing tight hold on the reins.
"Your carriage can take two inside. F"
every well, but came alone"
"You've got to take passenger" ;"
'What do you mean1'
"Oh, wirra-your brother has been
stealing a horse"
"Stealing p
eyes; this gentleman's, and he said
you were to take him to the villa to get
his horse back again. "
every singular said the widow; "but
William was always eccentric. .
AT this crisis Mr.. Champion appear
ed.
"My horse ready?"
"Jump in, sir"
81 didn't come in carriage" ."
Gin wild ye," shouted the hostler.
"Take seat beside me, if you please,
sir" said the widow, with her most fas-
cinating smile.
Mr.. Champion approached the step
to inquire the meaning, when the host
ler seized him with vigorous hand and
thrust him into the phaton, while the
pony, startled by the movement, dashed
off at run.
Poor Captain Champion Here was
situation A confirmed old bachelor,
bodily abducted by fascinating young
widow. The captain had to lend his
assistance to the young lady in manag-
ing the pony, who was shortly reduced
to his usual slow and quiet gait for his
assistance Mrs. Leslie told him that in
few minutes he should be in possession
of his horse which had been borrowed
by gentleman. This was all the ex-
planation she vouchsafed She requir-
ed in turn to be made acquainted with
the name of her companion after giving
her own.
In few minutes the captain began
to be somewhat at ease-in fact he be-
gan to like his position. He had never
sat SO near pretty woman in his life.
He began to ask himself whether, if the
proximity was SO pleasant for "a few
moments, constant companionship
might not prove agreeable. While her
attention was engaged on her pony, he
had an opportunityto survey her features.
Her large, dark and luminous eyes SEEM
ed to be literally swimming in their
liquid lustre. Her cheeks were as soft
and blooming as the sunny side OF a
peach. Herprofle was strictly Grecian,
and her parted lips showed a row of
pearly teeth as white as snow. The
most delicately tapered fingers, encased
in French kids, closed upon the reins,
and the vanished tip of dainty boot
indicated foot that Cinderella might
have envied.
"Do you live far from here, madame?"
said the captain.
"Not very far. The pony can mend
his pace if you are in a hurry"
"Not for the world. The pace seems
to be fast one"
The widow turned those bewitching
eyes of hers upon the old bachelor and
smiled.
1t was all over with him. When he
sprang out at the villa and touched the
fingers of the widow as he assisted her
to alight, his heart was irretrievahly
| lost.
A red faced old gentleman in dress
ing gown received them at the door.
"My friend, Captain Champion,
said the lady to the old gentleman.
"Walk in-warm day." replied the
latter.
every" said the captain.
And indeed his looks seemed to cor
roborate his statement, for he was as red
as peony.
The captain and the old gentleman
were soon chatting together familiarly,
and the former felt himself completely at
home.
After an hour was spent in this manner
his host excused himself, and then the
bachelor was left alone.
A dreamy revery was interrupted by
the sound of voices in the hall. The
captain easily recognized the widow S
and glance through the half opened
door showed him that her companion
was handsome young gentleman.
"There, dear, Bell said the young
man, "don't scold me any more.
will not do so again. Give me kiss. "
A hearty smack followed. 1t was a
veritable, genuine kiss-the captain saw
and heard it. A pang shot through his
heart.
"The only woman | could ever love, -
said he to himself, "and she is engag-
ed."
The widow tripped into the room.-
If she was pleasing in her carriage dress,
she was perfectly bewltching in hel
drawingroom attire. Champion could
now see the whole of that fairy foot.
"My dear sir, said she, "your horse
is at your service now."
Champion arose.
"But," she added, ''ifyou will stay and
take dinner with us my uncle will be
very much delighted, and shall be very
highly pleased"
"1'he coquette !" thought Champion.
81 am obliged to you, madame, but
have an engagement, he said.
"Then we can not hope to detain
you, sir, but you must allow me to pre-
sent you to my brother"
The handsome young man made his
appearance, and shook hands with the
bachelor
"That's the horse thief, captain, "
said the widow, laughing.
The young man apologized and ex-
planned the circumstances which impell-
ed him to take the liberty.
'I'm sorry" he added, "that we can
not improve the acquaintance thus cas-
ually made by enjoying your company
at dinner. am sorry you are other
wise engaged"
"Why, as to that" said the captain,
drawing off his gloves, "your offer is too
feminine and I feel COmDelled tO ar