The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-12-30
Still, he knew that she was desperate,
. I oo,olrJoJ +bot Intimidation wouId all

ter minute recovering. "Your cousin has
promised to marry me, sir; and hearing that
he had come down here to spend his holl-
days. and that there was young lady here
that his mother meant for him, l grew
nearly frantic, sir. And-and you can't
blame me- I'm only poor girl, but
lady, too, sir, and trusted his honor, and
I have letter in my bosom written by his
own hand, where he swears to make me his
wife"
"Seoundrel and fool both p thought
Mark
Mary LOTUS fumbled in her bosom and,
drawing forth the letter, gave it to him
without hesitation, assuring him that he
might read for himself
II know you are gentleman, sir, and
would not see a poor girl wronged; and L
was wild at the thought of his being here
where that young lady is, and his mother,
they say, so anxious for him to marry her. "
Mark, by the light of some matches, read
the letter as she ratified on.
1t was, as she said, an absolute promise,
backed by all sorts of solemn oaths, that
the writer, in spite of every possible oppo-
sition, would speedily make her his wife
And it was signed: ''Your adoring Mark
Croxton."
One look at this, thought Mark, would
kill my aunt as certainly as pistol bullet
through the heart. A dangerous thing in
the hands of frantic creature like this
girl, whether my cousin means to keep his
promise to her or not. l must have this
letter at any cost"
"Well, sir" said poor Mary LOTUS, with
clasped hands, as if he held her life in his
keeping.
"Miss Lotus, you certainly don't know
much about me; but I think you have con-
fdence in me, or you would not trust a
letter like this in my possession for single
moment [ have proposition to make.
Let me keep this letter for two weeks
until [ can see my cousin-and [ will give
you a hundred dollars; and at the end Of
that time, on my honor, you shall have
YOUR letter again. You must decide quick
ly, for | must return to the house, or they
will come here in search of me"
Cora's treasure and it's casket comprised
the only money he had about him; but the
crisis did not admit of an instant's delay,
and, of course, he could make up Cora's
loss at any time-a still handsomer porte
monnaie with proper inclosure-and Sc
we're lecture on the value Of money and the
evil of careless habits.
So he held out the temptation-the
pretty pocketbook, the thick roll Of notes
under the covetous gaze of poor Mary
LOTUS, who, perhaps, had never owned ten
dollars at any one time in her life.
"Oh, sir, you will give me my letter
again?'' she said, with a sort of gasp, strug-
Cling but yielding with every passing In
slant. n
He would, on his word as gentleman,
and the exchange was made.
With a hasty good night, he left the girl
turning over the notes in dream, and
walked swiftly back to the house. AS he
entered the parlor he saw there was COM
motion.
The dancing had ceased. People by
twos and threes had drifted together and
were conversing earnestly, and near win
dow his aunt was seated, and on an otto
man at her feet Cora Ailsworth.
He knew intuitively that by this time
the money had been missed; but still he
hoped they would not break up the party
because hundred dollars had disappeared,
and he smiled at the reflection that Cora,
in reality, thought as much of money as
anyone.
His aunt, spying him, called him to her
and hastily related what had happened.
He was, of course, properly astonished and
indignant, and began homily addressed to
Miss Ailsworth upon his favorite text but
that troubled young lady quickly cut him
short
"Pooh! 1t is not the money, but the
portemonnaie, she said, almost crying.
"My poor mother'sp' And with the great
est effort keeping back her tears, she told
him how she valued it.
"Get them to dancing again, Mark, said
Aunt Alice "Cora is nearly overcome.
We will return presently and [ depend on
you to keep these people amused"
An appalling Office for Mark. But be-
fore he could protest his aunt and Cora had
retreated, and there was really nothing for
it but to do what he could.
So assuming confidence that he by no
means felt, he took charge as master of
ceremonies, and soon had the music going
as before, and his friends skipping and
frisking and setting-to each other in the
giddy dance.
Meanwhile old Aunt Alice, who had had
her theory about the robbery from the first,
was not idle.
Inquiry among the servants showed that
a woman had been seen lettering at the end
of the avenue that evening. Sarah Bill
locks, the dairymaid, had seen something
moving" near the spring house as late as
half-past eight So all the servants now at
Briar Hill-foreign and domestic-were
impressed into service and dispatched to
search the grounds.
Mark Croxton, with roll of music in
his hand, was just in the midst of the
Lancers, eloquently calling upon all to
prepare for the 'tgrand chain," when in
burst Aunt Alice and Cora with the news
that the thief of the pearl pocketbook had
been found.
There was rush to the door and
momentary pressure there; and then the
crowd fell back and group of servants
some grave and excited, some giggling-
were seen surrounding a pale, frightened,
slender and very pretty girl-our unlucky
friend Mary Lotus.
Mark Croxton was thunderstruck. He
followed his first impulse prudent, at
least, and, I am afraid, cowardly one
and stepped behind one of the two pillars,
from floor to ceiling, at either end of this
stately room, and so was effectually hidden,
where, at the same time, he could observe
all that followed
Mary Lotus cried bitterly, and of her
explanations those about her could make
nothing, and practical Aunt Alice suggested
search. She frightened and resisted, but
this only made matters worse, and in
moment stout Sarah Billocks, after pushing