The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-01-16

Bourchier could not catch; but Mrs. Orm-
skirk's silvery tones were so clear that he
could not avoid hearing her reply:
eyes, tomorrow.
Then she dropped Lord Rockminster' S
arm and took Bourchier's with slight air
of embarrassment.
"You are leaving early, Mrs. 0rmskirk, !"
he said coldly.
eyes; am tired" she replied briefly.
eLet us make our way down stairs at
once"
But when Mrs. Ormskirk's carriage
drove up slight contretem,ps occurred.
The footman proved to be in state Of
hopeless intoxication. Bourehier at once
informed Rosalie of the state of affairs,
adding that it would be better to dispense
with his services altogether.
at is really too provoking" she said.
"Major Bourchier, | must ask you to drive
home with me. / am in most laughable
predicament Do you understand how to
work lift ?"
Bourchier started, and then hesitated
moment "Yes, 1 think So
"That is fortunate" she said in re-
lieved tone. cat Megatherium Mansions
the liftman is often not to be found SO late
as this, and I generally depend on my own
servant l am too nervous to work the
thing myself"
Bourchier was naturally overjoyed to do
her this trifing service, and he felt that
the tste-a-tete drive to Megatherium Man
sions would almost indemnify him for the
loss of that coveted waltz He seated
himself with alacity in the widows cosy
brougham and they were driven off rapidly
too rapidly, he thought-to their desti-
nation.
As Mrs. Ormskirk had surmised, the
liftman was nowhere to be found; the
night-porter, who could not leave his post,
being the only creature about at that late
hour
II must ask you to escort me to the
seventh floor" said Rosalie, smiling, as she
seated herself in the lift. A small lamp
lighted the machine, and shone down on
her poudree head, piquant face, and radiant
eyes.
"The ball was a dismal failure-wasn't
it?" she said, looking up at him as he
worked the ropes.
"Yes-n-no-not altogether" he an
swered, losing his head somewhat. ''It
would have been the happiest evening of
my life if" He stopped and fixed his
eyes on her face.
eyes, Major Bourchier?" she queried
softly ''if what"
"If you had not cheated me out of my
waltz, Rosalie," he burst out impulsively.
Mrs. Ormskirk blushed and fingered her
fan nervously.
''Oh Rosalie," he said, dropping the rope
and seating himself at her side, "why will
you play with me like this? You know L
love you. You know have loved you for
years" He had seized one Of her small
hands and pressed it to his lips before she
could withdraw it. He had forgotten all
about the danger ofprecipitancy. "Rosalie,
listen to me-"
"Not now; not here p she interrupted
with touch of her old coquetry. "Fancy
any one having the hardihood to make
declaration of love-in a lift And you
used to be SO, so romantic p
.What does it matter where or when one
speaks if the love be genuine? | love you
truly, Rosalie, and l have been very pa
tient; but [ could not bear to see that idiot
Rockminster-
"Maior Bourchier, l cannot allow you
to speak in that tone of one who may one
day be my husband"
"Your husband ?"
"Lord Rockminster proposed to me this
evening" she said, dropping her eyes.
"And you accepted him?'
aWell, not exactlyr' she replied, with
a malin smile "but I may. have not
given him his answer yet. 1 shall to-
morrow"
This, then, was what she meant when
she spoke those two words to Rockminster.
Bourchier's face turned red with anger.
"Rosalie," he said hotly, ''you are
heartless coquette have done with you
forever.
II am indeed sorry you should think so
badly of me, Major Bourchier. "But,
she added, with the lightest touch of sar-
casm, ''that is no reason why you should
keep me a prisoner to tell me SO. The
lift is at standstill.' y
Is was true In his eagerness Bour-
chier had dropped the rope, and the lift
was stationary.
"I won't keep you prisoner moment
longer than l can help. Mrs. Ormskirk, "
he said, jumping up. He pulled the rope
vigorously, but the lift did not move.
"Dont you understand the mechanism"
cried Rosalie, IN sudden alarm.
Eyes, of course" he retorted trife ir
ritably; "but-but there seems something
wrong with il"
Mrs. Ormskirk sprang to her feet with
a little scream of terror.
''Oh, Major Bourchier, we shall be kill
ed, | know we SHALL There is something
wrong with the lift We may be dashed
to pieces-the thing may fall-or-or
something. Oh, what will become of us?"
she went on, bursting into tears. "Can't
can't you save me, Vincent p
"Don't be frightened, dearest" he said,
trying to speak cheerfully sit may not be
so serious as you think. Do you know if
this is an hydraulic lift If SO, the stop
page may be caused by the failure of the
water"
~ don't know-I don't know what a
hydraulic lift is" moaned Rosalie, sobbing.
"Such thing has never happened before.
Oh, Vincent, can't-can't you save me Z"
"Would to Heaven could | would
die for you gladly"
81 don't know about dying for me, she
sobbed out, "but-but there seems very
good chance of you dying 'oih me"
Bourchier smiled.
al don't think things are quite so bad
as that, Rosalie."
aHow do you know? Why, any minute
we may be dashed to pieces l have heard
of such things"
His arm was still round her waist; in
her terror she did not seem to notice it
at least she made no attempt to withdraw
herself from his embrace.
"Life seems all the more enhancing now,
of course" he ventured to say, trying not
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