The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-12-26
we had met but once, for two days, at the time
of her marriage with my godfather.

with Lady Dolly, the little mink of school
girl who had bewitched my godfather into
marrying her, and so disposed effectually OF
all my prospects of heirship; prospects, L am
bound to admit of the most airy and baseless
nature.
Within half an hour after my arrival at the
forlorn, ont -at-elbows old castle, had struck
up friendship with the little childish bride
that was to last my life. She was so romantic
IN her devotion to her handsome middle-aged
bridegroom, so splendid in her scorn of any
advantage that his wealth might bring her, and
so determinedly loyal to my interests when it
came to question of settlements, that it is
less than wonderful that she should touch my
| heart as no woman could before or since. The
day after the wedding l sailed for India, and
| we never met again.
| In my letter to my godmother l made as
amusing story as l could of my meeting with
Mrs. Darse Pierpont, and even assayed word
| picture Of pretty Miss May Leyland, which l
| guessed would bring me into dire disgrace. My
| godmother, good soul, obllvlous OF the years
| that had rolled over my head since we parted
had let slip in one of her last letters hint of
certain romantic scheme in petto.
My godfather had remembered me hand
| somely beyond all expectation in his will but
| the bulk of his property was naturally left to
| his wife for her lifetime She in her child
| less widowhood had adopted pretty penniless
relation, "the sort of child 1 was myself" she
| wrote; and L knew what her frequent mention
of Mays goodness, and pretty ways, and gem
eral delightsomeness meant; and | gave no
| sign in return.
was punctual to the time named at Tama-
risk Lodge next day. The drawing-room was
| empty, and had time to look about me and
| note the traces of its occupants with approval
Leaning up against the wall, was violoncello
| that grinned me welcome from its every
string l was gazing amicably at it, thinking
of certain cherished household god of my
| and I wbiStlipp inyp1pt rily
| for
Beethoven, @ minor No. g." remarked
| Mrs. Pierpoint's voice behind me. ''You don't
mean to tell me you play the violin ! thought
l saw something like its case when We came
yesterday, but did not like to ask. That's
Mays cello. She will be here presently"
| Then in she came, fresh as a rose.
We had glorious practice. The two ladies
knew all my favorites as well as did, and had
piles of things. new and old, that it was per-
| feet feast for me to plunge into. Mrs. Pier
points music was something out of the COM
mon, too. She played us Chopin, while May
poured out afternoon tea, and let my cup get
cold untasted as 1 listened. When we parted,
| Mrs. Pierpoint had given a half doubtful con-
sent to my suggestion of drive to Shingle
Bay next day, and luncheon with me after,
with an inspection Of my collection of Indian
curios to follow. We were to meet for prac-
tice in any case before long, and a blssful
vision Of days to come stretched out before me
| as l took my way back to my quarters.
| The days flew by with harmony on their
wings; how fast hardly guessed, till found
with start that Godmother Dorothy's letter
had fallen due for once without my having
counted the posts to its arrival | was en-
gagged to dine at Tamarisk Lodge that day. We
had some music in the evening, and after that
strolled out together on the terrace under the
summer moon.
found myself telling Mrs Pierpoint great
deal about myself, and learning very little
about her in return. She had seen great
deal of the world, and her life had been sad
one-that was all gathered. My life had been
a lonely one, too, she OWNED instinctively-
here, half unwittingly, let Godmother Doro-
thy's name fall. 1t was followed by a sudden
chill and silence, as if cold mist from the
sea had blown in upon us. My companion in
deed was shivering. MAY May !" She called,
''come in 1t is damp, the dew is falling"
MAY obeyed, her wavy locks Strengthened and
stiffened by the salt air, her cheeks rosy. We
went back to the softly-lighted room and
slipped our coffee and talked commonplace for
a few minutes; then May disappeared, and her
aunt sat down to the piano, as il to avoid any
further speech She sang song after song in
the rose-tinted gloom-sang them to me, every
word, and listened until my heart grew full,
| and my eyes wet, and the years seemed to roll
their long length backward, and instead of
the elderly bronzed old majo had left in my
| lOOklllb glass blldJ dItefuOO0, was Une Care
less subaltern, with the world before me and
heartful of hopeless love for little Lady Dolly
again.
When entered my room there on the table
lay letter from my godmother, with the Paris
postmark. An odd misgiving came over me as
opened it, but it was just the same as ever
amusing, friendly, sympathetic with bright
little comments on my bits of news.
81 utterly decline to be interested in your
| new friends" it ended. "I mistrust that wan
dermg widow, without baggage or escort, and
should not be surprised to hear that Colonel
| Wriothesley knew no more about his charming
cousin than do. 1 must decidedly exercise
| my godmotherly privilege, and come down to
look after you as soon as I can get free. The
meeting at the station reads 80 very like put
up thing. Miss Leyland may be the sweetest
bud that ever bloomed, but buds are not such
harmless playthings as roses, remember.
Good-by, my dear boy. Take good care of
yourself till the arrival of your loving god
| mother"
1 laid the letter down, laughing to myself.
There was an awkwardness, o sort of forced
liveiness, in the whole of the last paragraph,
very unlike the rest of the letter. 1t read as
| if go9mother had felt obliged to say something
when she had nothing good to say, and 1
fancied detected fash of mild spite in the
reference to Miss Leyland that bore out the
supposition. Poor dear godmother II she
| only knew how Indifferent 1 was to the charms
of that dangerous little bud, except from an
artistic point of view. AS for Mrs. Pierpoint,
she had only to be seen and known to dispose
of all criticism. AS soon doubt that the stars
are fire, in fact much sooner, than suspect her
| to be of q Brummagem origin. 1 forthwith
opened my letter-case and told Lady Dolly so
Indignantly three posts before my letter was
due.
Then, with parcel of new music for ex-
cuse, l sailed forth to call at Tamar;sk
| Lodge and obtain material on which To form
my opinion. devised few neat diplomatic
little questions that should extract sufficient
particulars of the birth, parentage, and social
position of my new friends to set godmother's
doubts and-must it be confessed ?-my own
likewise at rest for ever.