The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-10-16
miscellaneous.
Jennie's W him.

81 won't go!"
Miss Jennies pretty face flushed as sic
spoke, and she stamped her delicate little
feet
Papa will be very angry" observed the
elder sister, a pale blonde, with q quiet,
patient voice, whose tone suggested that
papa's anger would be visited on her head
rather than on the rebellious Jennie, who, to
tell the truth, generally succeeded in having
her own way.
II don't care" cried Jennie; nothing in
the world will make me attend this garden
party"
"Why be so obstinate, Jennie?" remon-
strated Ada. You know papa has set his
heart upon it, and would make you go if he
were at home."
"But he is not at home" said Jennie, with
a defiant laugh, land mean to please N.Y.
self"
every WELL" returned Mrs Reed, with Il
sigh of resignation ;"if you have fully made
up your mind not TO go, suppose it is no
use continuing the discussion"
"Quite useless" said Jennie, as she rose
from the breakfast table and began chirping
to her canary.
She was bright-looking girl of about
nineteen years of age, with regular features,
and slight, graceful figure.
Her father was very proud of Jennie's
beauty, and on this account preferred her to
the more sedate and tractable Ada.
Jennie would be sure to make an excellent
marriage, he thought, if she would only be
reasonable.
He knew that the son of one of the most
wealthy men in the district would be at the
garden party, which had caused the little
discussion between the sisters, hence his anx-
iety that Jennie should be there.
Unfortunately for the fulfillment of his
wishes, he had been called away suddenly
from his home, thus leaving Jennie to her
her, although Jennie loved her dearly all the
more dearly perhaps because she could defy
her authority.
All the other girls in the neighborhood
would be setting their caps at Jocelyn Ire
hearne, Jennie told herself, and she was firm
In the determination to stay away and show
her independence.
The day came, and with it, the lady who
was to chaperon the two girls, in gala attire,
which formed a rather startling contrast to
Jennie's rather shabby gown.
"What not yet dressed ?" cried Mrs. Mar.
shall, in surprise. "My dear, how late we
shall be!'
"Jennie is not coming" observed Ada, eu-
terng the room at that moment, in pretty
white dress and large hat with long,
dropping feather.
mot coming. What nonsensew cried
Mrs Marshall. go and get ready at once,
you little goose You must be out of your
mind to think of staying away Do you
know that Jocelyn Trehearne will be there ?"
II ought to know-1 have heard it often"
said Jennie bluntly. "If he wishes to fling
l,o,, liz, ol,in ,f IS -. al,
Hamiton's garden party, there will be plenty
to choose from without me"
ooh, Jenniew cried Ada, scandalized by
the not very pretty or graceful speech.
very well, if you won't CO. | am sure
will not try, to persuade YOU" said Mrs.
Marshall, and she swept out of the room her
silken draperies rustling in way that was
suggestive of carefully restrained annoyance
"Mrs. Marshall is offended" said Ada look
ing distressed.
"She will be if you keep her waiting" re-
turned Jennie, and she playfully pushed her
sister out of the room.
Then going to the window, she watched
the carriage as it rolled away, a triumphant
smile on her pretty face. When it was out
of sight she went upstairs and changed her
black alpaca for pretty holland dress with
red trimmings, for Jennie had no inclina-
ton to be fright because she had denied her.
self the pleasure of attending the garden
party.
"I'll practice for an hour" she said to her.
self on returning to the drawing-room, land
then take the third volume of the new
novel down to the brook and enjoy myself.
Nobody will disturb me there and / am sure
| shall like it a great deal better than that
stupid garden-party," and Jennie nodded
her bright head at her own reflection in the
mirror and tripped to the open piano.
She would practice for quite two hours, she
told herself, taking out her little watch-a
birthday present from her father. There
would be plenty of time she had promised
herself, afterwards.
"How hate that Joceyn Trehearne," she
thought as her white ringless fingers glided
over the keys of the piano.
This was scarcely fair, as she had never set
eyes on the gentleman in question.
But it was enough for Jennie that he kept
her away from the garden-party by attend
ing it, and deprived her of pleasure that
seldom came in her way.
But she had shown her independence, 30
Jennie told herself, as she arose from the
piano, and putting on her hat left the house,
and walked slowly towards the brook, which,
although at some distance, could be seen,
through ZIG ttees, spur unS III Tue sunlight
1t was very quiet and peaceful down by
the brook, and, sitting on the trunk of a
fallen tree, Jennie read her book with
such deep interest that she did not notice how
the clouds were gathering in the sky, until a
sudden darkness made her lift her pretty
head and look about her.
"Why, l declare it is going to rain" she
cried, and rising hurriedly, turned her foot
steps in the direction of home.
She was sorry that the weather was CO.
ing to turn out SO bad, as 1t would, in a
measure, spoil the pleasure of Mrs. Hamil-
toms garden.party by driving her guests into
the house
But, at all events, they would not get wet,
and Jennie herself was in for regular
shower-bath.
If it would only keep off till she reached
Old Martha's cottage Old Martha was one
of Jennies pensioners. The girl increased