The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-12-26

closing his case. She hesitated.
"Home with Auntie, think-I don't quite
know"
"Home? Where is that?" demanded, in
quisitorially.
sin London" she answered. and then she
changed the subject.
''Did do wrong in asking that question 1t
was only in the hope that some day we might
meet again."
She blushed deeper and deeper. II did not
know whether Auntie would like my telling
you, she murmured.
"Then consider it unasked; only, like a good
little girl, don't burden your soul with fib by
way of answer Your aunt has assured me
that she has not stayed in London for many
day."
May tossed her head and then looked saucily
penitent.
''Im not out yet, you see, and don't know
what ought to say when gentleman asks
my address with q view to future acquaint-
ance. I'm sure L shall be happy enough tosee
you. 1t has made great difference to our
stay here, meeting you and Amati."
We parted friends. Only as took my way
homeward, l did not feel exactly as if had
prospered greatly in my first step toward the
conversion of Lady Dorothy.
met Mrs. Pierpoint that evening, as was
smoking n lonely cigar on the Esplanade. AS
a rule she avoided the town, and don't know
what brought her there, though won't swear
that distant glimpse of yellow Japanese
parasol had not brought me. 1t was STILL
warm-tinted evening, and the tishing-boats
rocked on CLASSY sea- the line of the net
marking one long curve of ripples in the wa
ter. All the population of Rocksedge were
congregated on the Esplanade watching to see
the net drawn in. The little brown, bare
legged children scrimmaged about on the wet
pebbles below and Scrap barked excitedly at
them from the edge of the sea-wan above.
Mrs. Pierpofnt had chosen seat apart, and
welcomed me with faint smile. She had
come TO town to try and get rid of her head
ache, but might stay if did not mind dull
companion. So we sat and talked softly to-
gether in the still, clear evening, and when she
rose to go home l went with her.
May tells me she made foolish mystery of
our plans when she saw you this morning. l
was very angry with her, silly girl The fact
is, we don't quite know ourselves where we
shall stay in town. 1t is an odd time to be
there, but May has a chance of getting some
violin lessons. and we can stay on to get peep
at the autumn exhibitions. When have sue
ceeded in finding rooms will send GU our
address, if you care to have it."
Colonel Wriothesley could help you in your
quest Nobody knows town better than he. l
expect him here in day or two"
didn't make that speech, III swear. 1t was
some demon who got possession OF me for the
moment and spoke with diabolical significance
through my voice. 1 saw and, OH how l
wished hadn't seen-her start and color, as
no mention of an ancient and respectable rela-
tive need cause any woman, conscience-free, to
blush. | blurted out some commonplace stu
pidity in haste, to save her the embarrassment
of a reply, but the walk homeward was ended
in silence, except for a few forced fragments
of conversation. When we parted she gave
me NO invitation to enter, nor did her eyes
meet mine as she held out her hand. 'Shall
we see you tomorrow and to my fancy there
was wistful apologize ring in her words {:
'You promised May to come. She will be DIS
appointed, and wonder
''Thank you, Twill come"
SIN the afternoon shall be glad to see you,"
and she bowed and let the gate close gently on
me, while las miserable and conscience-smit-
ten as if had been found out in anything
turned slowly homeward to compose another
letter to Lady Dorothy.
This is what said:
81 can only answer your anxieties about me
by the truth-the truth about myself, mean.
Perhaps you have already guessed somewhat of
it from the letter that this follows. AS for Mrs
Pierpoint, am as far from knowing anything
about her as was then. You limited, half in
joke, that she was not what she pretends to be
plainly spoken, that means that she is an ad-
venturess of whom wise man would keep
clear. think you are right; at least have
been trying all day to convince myself that you
are wrong, and have succeeded in discovering
what? That il she is an impostor, instead
Of unmasking her, l, for my part am ready to
turn round and make common cause with her
against you and the rest of the world-if she
will have me for an accomplish The murders
out, and l can but throw myself on your
mercy. 1t is somewhat Of relief to have my
own folly set clear and plain before my eyes,
and to have fathomed its depths Dorothy
kindest and wisest of fairy godmothers You
have helped me before this out of many diff
ficllty-out of many more than you ever sus-
pected; but here even you are powerless. You
are indignant with me, and ashamed of my
folly? SO ought to be, and the worst symp-
tom is l am no such thing Here am at FIVE
and-forty, steady-going old veteran, hope
lessly in love with woman not young nor
beautiful Gas beauties ge-I have my own
opinion on that s1bject), of whom know abb
liant touch on the pianoforte, a delicious con-
tralto voice, and laugh like somebody met
years ago down in Yorkshire.
'No, am not ashamed, and decline to be
pitied.
"What is to come of itT you ask. I Fave
not an idea. OF one thing only | am certain
believe it or not-Mrs. Pierpoint is in total
ignorance of my folly, and shall remain 80.
She thinks, indeed, that am unjustifably
curious about her past life, and there it ends.
Perhaps the advent of Colonel Wriothesley
may brighten her away-I deyoutly hope it
may. If not 1 shall keep discreetly apart
from Tamarisk Lodge till their stay here
comes to an end. Not from one remaining
spark of prudence or common sense, but sim
ply because Mrs. Pierpoint cares not one whit
for me, and l don't want to provoke her into
telling me 30, as should most assuiedly do if
gave myself the chance"
May and her aunt welcomed me as usual
when paid my promised visit next day. I'm
afraid my performance was not as correct as it
might have been had not been absorbed in
watching the changes OF expression that
drifted across that handsome, inscrutable
face of Mrs. Pierpoint at the window.
1 caught her beautiful eyes fixed on me,
too, once. 1t was when May had left the
piano and returned to her cello. I Liked to
watch her as she played-with her long white
arms and fingers, her intent luminous eyes,