Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-06-20


and listened for the conf dent ras-a-tat-
tat Of his rival. He heard it. fingered
and looked back The door was opened
and the visitor instantly admitted ].
rs 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 q
mailman, who could pretend to mis-
understand SO plain a refusal as this.
Perhaps it was meant kindly, he
thought and groaned at the thought.
Miss Bracegirdle was no coquette ,apd
did not care to have men offer her their
love when she had no intention of ac-;
cepting it. He was SO desperately en-
amored Of her that he busted himself in
TRYING to see this cruel cut as q kind
deed. His hopes were gone, but he
could not bear so suddenly to lose his
idol. He determined he would not wor-
ry her by his unwelcome presence where
she could not easily avoid him, nor per-
NIT himself to be laughed at by his sue
scessful 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. e.
Mamma" said Miss Bracegirdle one
day, doesn't it seem odd that for three
weeks Captain Fortsescue has not
caIled?" q. " Is 1@:>@ !
at does" said Mrs. Bracegirdle,
"and yet, when + 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 chat her daugh-
ter looked a little pale and out OF sorts.
But secretly, she was uneasy herself.
Captain Fortescue had 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 inquiries about him
and learned that CAPTAIN Fortescue was
neither III nor out OF town. This was
bad news indeed, for Mrs. Bracegirdle
knew perfectly we'll that her daughters
heart was seriously touched; and, as
Captain Fortescue was perfectly "eligi-
ble," all had promised fairly. Now
that fair promise was destroyed. There
was nothing to be done except to try,
bv other distractions, to erase the inn
pressions which Captain Fortescue had
made. Mrs. Bracegirdle devoted her
self to her daughter more tenderly than
ever; and the girl understood her.
| Amid all the gaity and the many en-
gagements which came with every day,
there was melancholy about the house
| which had never been there before. 1t
was impossible for them TO Danish it al
together. Even Master Harry, acheer-
full youth of about fourteen, became
aware of it at last, and declared his Sis
ter was not 'half as Jolly as she used to
be-" One day, when his mother and
sister were taking quiet Lalf-hour be-
fore dressing for dinner, he came into
the room, carrying IN umbrella.
Il shy, mother, this umbrellas been
in the stand for o month. The fellow
it belonged to has forgotten all about
it, I expect; don't you think might
have it?"
isn't it yours?" said Mrs. Brace
girdle. II gave you silver~handled
one last year.
80, I lost that long ago." replied the
youth, coolIy; land I may as well have
this Instead. It's like mine. but ever 80
much sweller There's name engraved
on it; but I could have that scratched
out"
"Let me see the NAME" said Mrs.
Braceeirdle. She took it., and read
"Fortescue."
An odd look came over her face. She
said nothing for moment, but seemed
plunged in thought; then she rose, and
went down stairs to the dining-room.
She rang the bell, and the stern-eyed
maid appeared. $685..
':Eliza," she said, "can you reme1n-
Der the appearance of the young man
who come one day, and asked for an
umbrella? He came twice, I think you
said, and asked for me the second time.
Will you describe him, if you can?".
HE was quite gentleman to look at,
ma'am, said Elaza; "but this sort most
1y are. Tall, and broad shouldered and
military looking, with blue eyes, very
short, fair hair, and long, heavy, fair
moustache.' ~ E,G . y
"That will do, Eliza, said Mrs.
Bracegirdle, "you can CO. T.
| As soon as Eliza had left the room,
Mrs Bracegirdle sat down and wrote a
note Then she tore it up and wrote
another, which is merely an informal in
vitation to lunch the next day. ~.
! Then she called Harry down to her.
Harry she said, II want you to go
to Captain Fortescue's rooms and take
this note and the umbrella. See him if
| you possibly can, and try to explain
about this unhappy umbrella and that
wretched stupid Eliza r7@ ~.
Then she told Master Harry the story
at which he laughed immensely.
"Now, you must not laugh, but think
how you can do the thing nicely, Harry.
You can manage, it admirably, if szou
choose. It is too absured to put on
paper. And make Captain Fortescue
promise to come to lunch, just to show
he bears no malice.
Harry put on his best manners and
accomplished his task well, though he
felt much aggrieved at having to give
up the umbrella. Captain Fortescne
came to lunch; md this time Eliza adj
mitted him, and blushed as she did SO.
London World. 5.z III .s.. 8.
The Jews are beginning to Wayer IN
their religious isolation from other sects.
Indications Of this have from time to
time apneared Of late wears, and now