McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-07-03

from MS love. w nat COuI0 TINS 8Wful
thing meanp Had Mrs. Bracegirdle
heard something-false, of course, and
uttered ty some other base admirer Of
her daughter-which had made her take
this cruel stepf It was impossible to
knock again and ask; it was ridiculous
to stand staring at the door. He turned,
descended the steps and walked down
the street.
Before he had gone half way he met q
hated rival, very nice fellow, whom he
had only begun to hate in the last three
or four days, since he had noticed that
Mis- Bracegirdle sometimes gave him
very charming and encouraging
glances. Captain Fortescue walked on
slowly, and listened for the confident
rat-a-tat-tat of his rival. He heard it,
fingered and looked back. The door
was opened and the visitor instantly
admitted.
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 a fool,
or a mailman, who could pretend to
misunderstood so plain refusal as
this. Perhaps it was meant kindly, he
thought; and groaned at the thought.
Miss Braceglrdle was no coquette,
and did not care to have men offer
her their love when she had no inten-
ton of accepting it. He was so desper-
ately 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 pres
ence where she could not easily avoid
him, nor permit himself to be laughed
al by his successful rival. So he ex-
cused himself from certain engage
ments 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 Captain Fortescue has not
called.
cit does," said Mrs. Bracegirdle,
''and yet, when come to think of it,
we have not met him out anywhere,
either. He must be ill, 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 a little pale and out of sorts.
But secretly, she was luneasy 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 in
quiries ABOUT him and learned that Cap
tain Fortescue was neither i'll nor out of
town. This was bad news indeed, for
Mrs. Bracegirdle knew perfectly well
that her daughters heart was seriously
touched and, as Captain Fortescue was
perfectly 'seligible," all had promised
fairly. Now that fair promise was de-
stroyed. There was nothing to be done
except to try, by other distraction, to
erase the Impressions which Captain
Fortescue had made. Mrs. Bracegirdle
devoted herself to her daughter more
tenderly than ever; and the girl under
stood 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. It
was impossible for them to Danish it
altogether. Even Master Harry, a
cheerful youth of about fourteen, be-
came aware of it at last, and declared
his sister was not 'shaf as jolly as she
used to be-" One day, when his
mother and sitter were taking q quiet |
half-hour before dressing for dinner, he
came into the room, carrying an UNI
brella.
81 say, mother, this umbrellas been
in the stand for month. The fellow
it belonged to has forgotten all about
it, l expect; don't you think I might
have it?''
"Isn't it yoursp'' said Mrs. Brace
girdle. 81 gave you silver-handled
one last year,
so, Host that long ago." replied the
youth, coolly; ssand may as we'll have
this instead. It's like mine, but ever so
much sweller. There's name engraved
on it, but could have that scratched
OUT
'sLet me see the nam 80 said Mrs.
Bracegirdle. She took it, and read,
"Fortescue."
. An odd look came over her face.
She said nothing for a 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.
s'Eliza," she said, 'can you remem-
Der the appearance of the young man
who came one day and asked for an
umbrella? He came twice, think you
said, and asked for me the second
time. Will you describe him, if you
CAM"
"He was quite gentleman to look
at, ma'am," said Eliza, s'but this sort
most are. Tall, broad-shouldered and
military looking, with blue eyes, very
short, fair hair, and long, heavy, fair
moustache."
"That will do, Eliza" said Mrs.
Bracegirdle, 'you can CO."
As soon as Eliza had left the room,
Mrs. Bracegirdle sat down and wrote q
note. Then she tore It IN and wrote |