The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-12-26
MY DEAR G0DMOTHER.
A CHARMING LITTLE STORY FOR TUE PLEASANT
CHRISTMAS TIDE.

l think my story began at the moment when
my hat box was bundled out of the van of the
London train at the Crossbridge station, to
spend the Christmas holidays. 1t was certainly
before the extraction OF my second portman-
teau, for was too anxious about that to pay
any attention to the fact that porter at my
elbow had made several attempts to complete
an observation beginning: "Beg pardon, sir.
The lady is in the waiting-room, sir. If you'll
please step this way"
Lady2 What lady? wasn't expecting any
lady, and so 1 told him; but when the portman-
teau was found at last, and the train had
moved off, l turned to find him and myself the
only visible beings on the platform, and to
hear him still persuasively reiterating ''If
you would kindly step this way, SIR There
don't seem to be any other party about that
the lady might be expecting" And he looked
feebly along the down line and into the signal
box, and back into my face again for sugges-
ton.
"Whoever she expects, it's quite certain not
TO be me-" assured him.
II ask your pardon, sir, really do BIT the
lady she is that positive, that Just for the salts
flying of her mind, if you would step around.
I'd take it as a Kindness"
OF course l was not the person wanted, for
soon heard the lady say to the porter II told
you an elderly gentleman. Quite elderly"
AS glanced at the lady almost caught N.Y.
self wishing for a moment 1 had been the
right man.
1 wished it completely and unfeignedly a
moment later, when her travelling companion
Joined her at the waitiag-room door. This was
simply the loveliest young creature had ever
Set eyes on.
''Oh, Auntie, what are we to do2" heard a
girlish voice exclaiming. 'IS's too bad of
Colonel Wriothesey! Must we wait here till
the next TRAMP"
1t was an opening for me, and seized it.
'You are expecting Colonel Wriothesley 1
believe. He is friend of mine. You nav
have heard him mention my name-TraTersH
Major Travers-if l can be of any service in
his ABSENCE" The elder of the two took q
good look at me, as sensible woman should; a
cool, deliberate, considering gaze; then ac-
cepted the introduction frankly.
81 am a cousin of Colonel Wriothesley-M
Darsie Plerpoint-and was relying on him to
meet me here and take US down to Rocksedge.
This is a strange lard to us, and | am not
quite sure OF being able to find my way to my
own house when get there-as | have been
rash enough to take it without seeing it, 1
assured her of my intimate acquaintance with
the place and its ways, and she ended by in tro-
ducing "My niece, Miss Leyland, ;" wherein the
bud blushed as is not the wont of even buds
to bush in these days.
We had pleasant journey down, during
which Mrs. Pierpoint explained that she had
taken cottage for month at Rocksedge on
Colonel Wrlothesiey's recommendation, in
search Of quiet and sea breezes; and in turn
told her how came to be there, how was in
command of detachment at Fort L.mpet a
email military penitentiary, situated on for
lorn little spit Of land at one end of the strip
of pebbly beach along which Rocksedge ex-
tends its stucco lines of terraces and espla.
nades. 'sThen we are quite near neighbors,"
she was pleased to say, with charming smile.
~ believe my cottage, Tamarisk Lodge, is near
the fort, quite away from the town. l hope
you will come and see us soon."
drove the ladies home in my trap there
being nothing on wheels procurable at Rock
sedge without special notice, and received and
accepted an invitation to luncheon for the
next day.
Something to write about tonight at
least, thought, when retreated to my room
that evening after mess to dispatch my weekly
/, letter to my regular correspondent, the widow
of my late godfather, whom-at first IN fun,
and also partly to keep her position well before
my own mind, and afterward because I didn't
quite know what else to call her-I had always
addressed as "Godmother." Every Tuesday
night have l opened my leather writing-case-
her present when I was starting for India
taken out her photograph and propped it up
before me, and then addressing it, as it We're,
proceeded to pour out the weeks experiences,
% could have done to no living being be-
hides. ALI this, Notwithstanding the fact that