The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-05-02
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HALF A SHEET.

From TinSIey's Magazine.
"Just look the strife began,
Jealousy the fame did fan,
True loves course ne'er smoothly ran,
So they say"
Percy Fletcher is a young barrister.
His ''learned brethren" call him an ''infer-
nally lucky fellow" because, unlike so
many of them, he is not brieAess. But
they forget that it is in great measure due
to his own abilities and hard work that his
present position has been so quickly won.
As regards appearance, he is tall and fairly
good-looking; that is to say, his profile is
handsome one, but his full face is spoiled
by his eyes, which are too small. His hair
is light and curly, he shaves his moustache
and only wears pair of bushy whiskers.
Not one man in hundred would acknowl-
edge him to be 'jolly looking fellow" and
vet it is face that takes with ladies. Ask
any of them what it. is they admire, and
hear what they will say "He has such a
glorious profile, and then his eyes"
"Why, his eyes are the very worst part
about him." "Well, perhaps they are not
what you call good, but there is a some
thing-I don't know exactly what-about
them that 1 like, and then they look so
nice when he screws them up, and this is
all YOU will be able to learn. There was
one young lady who, above all others, ad-
mired him, and who, some three months
before the time we make his acquaintance,
had given her promise to be the future
Mohal IN,
ton, only child of old Linton, late of Lark
Lane, now Derby Villa, Harrow, whose
pride and pretensions were unbounded.
He worshiped "Debrett" and the "Peer-
age" and his great ambition was to marry
Mabel to title. 1t can therefore be un-
derstood what blow her engagement to
Percy was. The intimacy, courtship and
proposal had all taken place while Mabel
was on visit to her rich, childless aunt
in Bayswater, and old Linton knew nothing
about it until it was a fat acconspH The
erich, childless aunt had good deal to
do with wringing reluctant consent from
Linton pere, for next to a title he loved
money. Thus matters stood when two
DAYS before the April morning on which
we make Percy's acquaintance Mabel's aunt
had given a dance Mabel and her father
were to stay in the house for it, and Percy,
of course, received an invitation. In due
course he appeared in the ballroom, and
was somewhat astonished to find his young
lady whirling round the room in the arms
of a stranger, more especially as he had told
her he would come early, and asked her to
keep the waltzes for him. As soon as the
dance was over he went up to her and
asked to look at her card.
"Why, Mabel, what's the meaning of
this ?" he inquired, as he saw the initials
G.. 1. against four of the best waltzes. l
thought you had promised them to me 2
$50 had; it's all right-don't be angry,
dear-take No. 9; it's only the lancers, but
we shall have time to talk"
"Well, that will do to begin with, and
then but Mabel was borne away on
her partners arm before he had time to
finish. Percy's pride was hurt, and, in no
very amiable frame of mind, he walked
round the room, until he discovered a
cousin of his whom he had not met for
some years. He sat down beside her, and
then the thought struck him that he could
pay Mabel out in her own coin, and he put
his name down on his cousins card for a
good many dances. When No. 8 arrived,
and he and Mabel had taken their places
in the set, matters did not mend much, for,
though Mabel appeared repentant and
sorry, Percy was cold and naughty, and
would not give her much chance of an ex-
PLANTATION.
"You seem to have found very agree
able acquaintance should say friend
this evening, Mabel. [ don't think l have
seen him before, have 1? All, 1 see he's
coming next to you in this set, so you will
be able to continue your conversation.
Don't mind me; you know we can talk any
time.
"Oh, Percy, please don't say that; it ism t
like you. Something has vexed you, |
know. 1t is only friend of papa's, Lord
Gerland Ivor; he brought him with us this
evening, and insisted on my dancing with
him whenever he asked me. thought
you wouldn't mind, Percy, when you know
it was papa's doing, not mine"
"Mind? Not bit of it. Why should
I? You of course are at liberty to dance
with any one, just the same as | am"
"Percy, you are unjust and cruel. |
have saved all the other waltzes for you.
II am sorry to hear it, for l shant be
able to have them with you, as | am en-
gagged for them all to that lady in blue
you saw me dancing with just now"
Mabel only said, every well, dear; as
you like; but ] am so sorry"
Percy pretended not to hear, and directed
his conversation to the lady on his left
during the remainder of the set. On Its
conclusion he left Mabel in the conserva-
tory on the plea of having to look for his
next partner. As he walked away he con-
graduated himself that he had been as firm
as rock, and had taught Mabel a lesson
that he was not to be treated in that man
ner, and yet all the time feeling very un-
comfortable, and wishing he had made it
up with her. For the remainder of the
evening he danced with his cousin, until
people began to notice the fact.
He did not see Mabel again till she was
leaving the room on Lord Ivor's arm, with
her father on the other side. She gave
him one pleading, loving look just as she
was going through the doorway, which he
pretended not to see. He did not stay