The Dickinson press., 1884-06-21

tat of his rival. He heard it, fingered
and looked back. The door was opened
and the visitor instantly admitted.
The unhappy man who had been
turned away from that same entrance
sighed heavily, and went away down the
sunny street, hanging his head. He old
himself that it wouldbe only a fool, r
mailman, who could pretend to mis-
understand so plain o refusal as this.
Perhaps it was meant kindly, he
thought; and groaned at the thought.
Miss Bracegirdle was no coquette and
did not care to have men offer her their
love when she had no intention OF &C.
cepting it. He was so desperately en-
amored of her that he busted himself i'll
trying to see this cruel cut as a kind
deed. His hopes were gone; but he
could not bear so suddenly to lose his
idol. He determined he would not wor-
~ her by his unwelcome presence where
she could not easily avoid him, nor per-
nit himself to be laughed at by his 6
cessful rival. So he excused himself
from certain engagements at houses
where he knew he should meet her.
He gave up dancing, and took to cards
instead.
"Mamma," said Miss Bracegirdle one
day, s'doesn't it seem odd that for three
weeks Captain Fortsescue has not
called?"
"It does," said Mrs. Bracegirdle,
"and vet, when l come to think OF it,
we have not met him out anywhere,
either. He must be ill, or more likely
he has gone out Of town. He Will call
when he comes back.
This she said, noting that her daugh-
ter looked q little pale and out of sorts
But secretly, she was uneasy herself,
Captain Fortescue had shown signs O
being SO hot q wooer thatit seemed
very improbable he would leave
town without q word to them.
At the next opportunity she
quietly made some inquiries about him
and learned that CAPTAIN Fortescue was
neither i'll mol out of town. This was
bad news indeed, for Mrs. B%racegirdle
knew perfectly we'll that her daughters
heart was seriously touched; and, a
Captain Fortescue was perfectly "ellgl-
BILE" all had promised fairly. Nov
that fair promise was destroyed. There
was nothing to be done except to try
by other distractions, to erase the IN
pressions which Captain Fortescue hae
made. Mrs. B%racegirdlc devoted her
self to her daughter more tenderly thai
ever; and the girl understood her.
Amid all the gaity and the many en-
gagements which came with every day
there was a melancholy about the hous,
which had never been there before. l
was impossible for them to Danish it al
together. Even Master Harry, acheer
full youth of about fourteen, becam'
awaresof it at last, and declared his sis
ter was not "half as jolly as she used t.
be-" One day, when his mother ant
sister were taking q quiet half-hour be
fore dressing for dinner, he came int
| the room, carrying an umbrella.
II say, mother, this umbrellas bee
in the stand for a month. The fellow
it belonged to has forgotten all abou
it, I expect; don't you think I nigh
have it?"
, "Isn't it yours" said Mrs. Brace
; girdle. II gave you q silver-handle'
one last year"
go, L lost that long ago." replied til
youth, coolly; land I may as we'll hay
this instead. It's like mine, but ever S
4 much sweller. There's aname engrave'
on it; but 1 could have that scratched
out"
"Let me see the name," said Mr.
B%racegirdle. She took it, and rea
"Fortescue."
g An odd look came over herface. Sh
!, said nothing for o moment, but SCENE
I plunged in thought; then she rose, an
n went downstairs to the dining-roon
l. She rang the bell, and the stern-eye
maid appeared.
v eliza" she said, "can you remem
: Der the appearance Of the young ma
9 who come one day, and asked for a
e umbrella? He came twice, 1 think 20
said, and asked for me the second time
Will you describe him, if you can"
"He was quite a gentleman to look a
c ma'am," said E]aza; "but this sort mos
h ly are. Tall, and broad shouldered an
e military looking, with blue eyes, vel
short, fair hair, and a long, heavy, ia
moustache."
"That will do, Eliza said Mr.
B%racegirdle, "you can CO.
" AS SOOu US LllAd LtO 1elG IHe 1ooli
G Mrs Bracegirdle sat down and wrote
note. Then she tore it up and wrot
another, which is merely aninformal il
t v%itation to lunch the next day.
Then she called Harry down to he
Harry" she said, Il want yon to g
to Captain Fortescue's rooms and tax
e this note and the umbrella. See him
e you possibly can, and try to explai
about this unhappy umbrella and thu
e wretched stupid Eliza
g Then she told Master Harry the stor.,
e at which he laughed immensely.
"Now, you must not laugh, but thin
how you can do the thing nicely, Harr.
a You can manage it admirably, if yc
choose. 1t is too absured to put c
IS paper. And make Captain Fortescr
it promise to come to lunch, just to sho
e he bears no malice"
is Harry put on his best anners an
it accomplished his task we'll, though |
1t felt much aggrieved at having to gi'
e up the umbrella. Captain Fortescl
70 came to lunch; and this time Eliza q
1T mitted him, and blusled as she did s
London World.