Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-07-31


minute. If he is so impudent as TO
come again, the moment you see VINO
it is shut the door"
The next afternoon was Mrs. Brace
girdles day at home" Capt Fortescue
had not intended to go then; he want
ed the lovely Miss Bracegirdle to HIM
self. not surrounded by crowd OF ad-
mirers. But as he had not been able TO
see her the day before, he determined
to brave the crowd, and be content II
he got but one smile all his own. And
so he presented himself once more at
Mrs. Bracegirdle's door, this time
knowing her to be within. But when
it was opened and he confidently framed
the phrase, not as query, but an ass er-
ton, Mrs BracegirGle at home? nd
proposed Immediately to enter he
maid said shortly, NO. she is not, sand
quickly shut the door upon him.
No words can describe his feelings.
He stared blankly at the handsome
door, well shut and firm, that suddenly
had closed upon him and separated him
from his love. What could this awful
thing mean? Had Mrs. Bracegirdle
heard something-false. of course, and
uttered 10y some other base admirer of
her daughter-which had made her
take this cruel step? It was impossi-
BILE to guess. II was impossible to
knock again and ask; it was ridiculous
to stand staring at the door. He turn
d TO descend the steps and walked
down the street.
Before he had gone half way he met
hated rival, very fine fellow, whom
he had only begun to hate in the last
three or four days, since he had noticed
that Miss Bracegirdle sometimes gave
him very charming and encouraging
chances. Captain Fortescue walked on
slowly and listened for the confident
rat-a-tat-tat of his rival. He heard it,
listened and looked back. The door
opened and the visitor instantly ad-
mitted.
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 told himself that it would be only
fool or mailman who could pretend
to misunderstood so plain 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 ac-
cepting it. He was so desperately
enamored of her that he busted himself
In trying to see this cruel cut as kind
deed. His hopes were gone; but he
could not bear so suddenly TO lose his
idol. He determined he would not
worry her by his unwelcome presence
where she could not easily avoid him,
nor permit himself to be laughed at by
| his successful 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, doesn't it seem odd that for three
weeks Capt. Fortescue has not called ?"
ut does" said Mrs. Bracegirdle; land
yet, when l come to think of it, we
have not met him out anywhere, either.
He must be i'll, 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 little pale and out of sorts.
But, secretly, she was uneasy herself.
Capt Fortescue lad shown signs Of
being so hot wooer that it seemed
very improbable he would leave town
without word to them. At the next
opportunity she quietly made some in
quiries about him, and learned that
Capt. Fortescue was neither i'll nor out
of town. This was bad news, indeed;
for Mrs. Bracegirdle knew perfectly