Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1881-04-15
I Eflfrt sturg.
Mr.. Delmayne's Ward.

Mrs. Charles Delmayne, declsiYely,
1.-The girl is getting more reckless
every day."
What can be done" asked Mr.
Richard Delmayne, looking helplesSly
st his sister-in-la "we cannot shut
her up in convent"
"No, but We can find a husband and
get her comfortably settled.
"But she is so young"
"She will be nineteen in Nav, and |
married at that age 1t is great
pity that you were obliged to receive
her into your household, Richard.
Guardianship over a girl like Dorothea,
was great responsibility for bach
elor 70 assume"
Il suppose SO, vas the reply: "but
| could not refuse the dying request
of an old friend"
AT first, | entertained hopes that
she would improve by remaining With
us. said Mrs. Delmayns. plaintlvely,
'-but as | remarked before, she is
wilder than ever. am kept in Il
perpetual tate Of nervous excitement,
for | never know what madcap prank
she will play next. | thought 1t dis
graceful enough when she donnsd a
suit of Dicks and went skating on the
pond the evening they had that skat
ing party but this last prank is still
worse. if possible"
Mrs. Dslmsyne folded her plump
white hands and settled herself com,
fortably in luxurious easy chair, and
prepared to enjoy her fayorite pas
time. which consisted Of retailing
porothea's mi.demsanors-
You know Squire Nonsonby has
been looking for wife for year or
two--now he is quite wealthy, ls re-
specially connected. and would be
very suitable match for Dora,
squire Nonsouby gasped Richard,
in auazement, ''he IS old enough TO lie
her grandfather. and has married
daughter who Is considerably older
than Dot"
WELL" replied hls sister-iu-lsw.
"Dora needs husband who Is steady
and soberminded, she IS 81 fiEhiy
herself. Besides. Mr.. Nopsouby looks
full ten years younger than his real
are. In my opinion II would have
been very suitable match. But 1t is
all over now" she added with sigh,
he will never enter this house again.
" In answer 10 Richards look OF
inquiry. Mrs. Delmoyne continued:
Il invited Mr., Nonsonby to tea last
evening" had my household duties
10 attend TO after tea was over, so /
EFF llarn,Aaa Ia antart2ln nIsr 1nast
She must have neglected him shame
fully. for the poor man fell asleep, anu
the little huzzy seized the opportuuIts
to play one Of her ridiculous pranks.
she actually had the audacllv, and
Mrs. Delmayne lowered her voice "a
on impressive whisper, actually bad
the All dacltv TO remove his Wig and
substitute an old red one that she
found among some rubbish III the
garrett. The poor man did hot dis.
cover the trick until he hal become
the laughing stock Of the community.
Dick happened 10 hear about II tins
morning. and considered II my duty
to inform you of the auAlr, "a YOU
were absent at the time"
lila, la. ha." laughed Richard. Il
can imagine how rIdiculou, lie looked
s.ruting along IN his pompous man.
uer"
II am certainly astonished at yoc,
Richard, said Mrs. Deimayne. severely.
| sincerely hopt YOU DO not uphold
the girl il her dIsgraccful action
Il snail. Of course, reprove her, he
replied. dot will improve as she
grows older, have no doubt she is
merry and thoughtless now, but |
lnink she Will develop into a splended
woman"
Mrs. Delmayne cast an uneasy look
At her brother-in, laws face she she
left the room. She had reason for
wishing Dot safely disposed OF: she
was fearful that Richard might fall
in love with his fascinating ward and
that would dash Mrs. Delmayne's
hopes 10 the ground. She hod secretly
determined that her son Dick--his
uncle's namesake-sh should be his heir
BssIder, her trother-in law ) elegant
residence made very comfortable
home for herself aud fatherless boy,
and madame had 40 intention of los
ing it, hence she msde most of Dots
mischlevous escapades.
just as madame's sIlken skirts
rustIed up stars the hail door flew
open and light footsteps danced along
the passage.
"Dot. Dot called Mr.. Delmayne
Thr Appreciation exactly suited The
Young gIrl that entered. y dainty
from, Il dark, piquant face, lit up
with u pair OF black eyes which
sra~klcd with mischief
well, Guardy,' she said, with "a
so cy smile, which revealed a dimpie
i'll each soft pinkcheek. "What-
Is it Iccture:'
"Ies, Dot replied Mr., Delmayne
bravely, Il really must lecture you.
Your conduct to Mr.. Vonsonby Was
extremely unlady like
81 don care, Guardy,' cried Dot
detiantly, Il cont bear old Nonsonty y,
and | am confident that Mrs. Delma-
ne invited him here to make love to
me. SO retoIved to Illustrate her kind
intentions. She left me to entertain
him all the evening, and | was just
dying. to Gnis Jane Eyre. Well.
| gave him the last number of Scrib-
ner's and the Monthly Reoiem and
1 hoped he would entertain himself
but no-he wanted me to play game
of cribbage, | hate cribbage, so | told