Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-05-19

SAID, taking seat DeSlQe ner.
''But have not" she answered, with
decision.
(Which have I offended-the gov
ernor's niece or the orphan music
teacher?" he asked, with saucy smile.
Both. 1t was daring impertinence
to the one, and piece of insolence to-
ward the other.
''Well, Idon't see what I'm to do about
it. 1t isn't the sort of thing yon can ex-
pect man to take back.
mo- she said, looking absently into
her cup, then suddenly realizing that this
was not just what she should have said.
she hurried to add, amid confusion of
bushes: That is, of courses, you must
take it back; least you mustn't say
anything more sab bSht it."
''Neycr2n -
''Never.''
"But that's impossible. /"
Mr.. Hilder."
ssMiss Elton.n
81 think we've had enough Of this. !. 1t
was my fault, am willing to admit that.
1t was wretched taste on my part, and /
have suffered all sorts of things in conse-
quence" She waved her hand toward
her cabin as she spoke, indicating that it
was thus her hours of retirement were
spent. 'Let me go back to the first
question" she continued E'You asked
me whether there was anybody to make
it pleasant for me on shore. There was
no reason but my own Derversity why /
should not have answered at once. No,
nobody that am at all sure will care to
make it pleasant for me. ] have dear
old uncle who has always been very good
to me; but when he hears how naughty I
have been don't know what he will say
to me" and she puckered up her white
forehead into an expression of compunc-
tious perplexity.
"Well. he said, after waiting some
/ time for her to resume, lis that ala"
'That answers your question, does it
not2"
my question as originally put--yes, I
believe it does: but it has been so ampli-
! fed that you can hardly expect me to be
satisfied with that meagre answer
"Amplifed don't understand"
Those two ingenious hypothesis, for
instance-were they both pure fiction, or
which was the true statement2'
Both pure inventions, she returned,
laughing and blushing again. II am not
that brilliant creature, governors niece,
nor yet that more useful and respectable
one, teacher of music. The governors
1 niece was just bit of satire. | travelled
few weeks oncein company with such
a person, and the constant iteration with
which she dwelt upon her title, and the
amount of respect it seemed to inspire In
the minds of those who heard it, gave me
! the impression that it was the highest
rank an unmarried woman could attain
in America. think the impression must
be well founded, too, as / noticed it pro-
duced quite an effect upon you"
Not the effect you imagine. / was
startled for a moment, | confess, but sim
ply because of slight coincidence
"A coincidencei Do you know her2n
! and hot blush and look of consterna-
ton sat together upon the fresh young
face of Miss Elton.
''Never saw her; but there was plot
to make me cross the ocean with such q
person and lot of other women, which
| defeated by running away.
'Ohl you ran awayg" she breathed the
words out in a startled. half-whisper.
Yes, they went in a Cunarder. and
my friend Drake and slipped off and
! took the steamer at Havre"
She looked at him with widely opened
! eyes for moment. during which he de-
cided for the fiftieth time that the eyes
were brown and not deep gray, as he
had decided the other fifty times.
why did you run awayf" she asked,
after a moments amused consideration.
well, you see / was with my sister
and two or three others; just nice little
! party, all the ladies married, so fellow
didn't have to be always on parade We
had jolly, comfortable time until we
got to Paris on our way home, and there
sister took it into her head to join a
woman who had been roaming around
the continent with lot of girls on an
extensive husband hunt--one of those
women who never look at a single man
without picturing him to herself walking
up the aisle with a white tie. with half
dozen groomsmen at his back, and who
has always just the girl on hand who
will walk up the other aisle in white satin
and meet him demurely at the alter. [
had no fancy for being cooped up
on a steamer with such an experienced
old angler
And the governors niece was one of
the girls!''
Some governors niece, so / heard
Now, what is the naughty thing you've
been doingl Come, confidence for CON
fidencen -
For sole answer, however, Miss. Elton
leaned ba.sk in her chair and began to
laugh immediately. Julins looked st
L Al.