The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-01-15

he would not worry her by his unwelcomt
presence where she could not easily avoid
him, nor permit himself to be laughed at by
his successful rival. So he excused himself
from certain engagements 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? ?"
at does" said Mrs Bracegirdle; land YET
when come to think of it, we have not met
him out anywhere, either. He must be i'll, OF
more likely he has gone out of town. He
| will call when he comes back"
This she said noticing that her daughter
looked little pale and out of sorts. But
secretly, she was uneasy herself. Captain
Fortescue had shown signs fleeing so earnest
a wooer that it seemed very improbable he
would leave town without q word to them
At the next opportunity she quietly made
some inquiries about him, and learned that
| Captain Fortescue was neither ill nor out of
town. This was bad news, indeed, as Cap
tain Fortescue was perfectly eligible" and
all had promised fairly. Now that fair prom
Use was destroyed. There was nothing to be
| done, except try, by other distractions, to
| erase the impression which Captain Fortescue
| had made. Mrs. Bracegirdle devoted herself
| to her daughter more tenderly than ever, and
the girl understood her.
Amid all the gayety and the many engage
ments which came with every day, there was
| melancholy about the house which had
never been there before. 1t was impossible
| for them to Danish it altogether. Even Mas
ter Harry, a cheerful youth of fourteen, be
came aware fit at last, and declared his sis
ter was not half as jolly as she used to be-"
One day when his mother and sister were
taking quiet half hour before dressing for
dinner he came into the room carrying an
umbrella.
II say, mother this umbrellas been in the
stand for month. The fellow it belonged to
has forgotten all about it, expect don't you
think | might have ?"
at isn't yours2" said Miss Bracegirdle. 81
gave you silver-handed one last year"
"Oh, lost that long ago." replied the
youth coolly, land may as well have this
instead. It's like mine, but ever so much
sweller. There's name engraved on it but
j could have that scratched out"
Let me see the NAME" said Mrs. Brace
girdle. She took it and read "Fortescue."
An odd look came over her face. She said
nothing for 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.
Eliza" she said, "Can you remember the
appearance of that young man who came one
day and asked for an umbrellas He came
twice, think you said, and,asked for me the
second time. Will you describe him if you
CAM"
lie was quite a gentleman to look at,
ma am, said Eliza but this sort mostly are.
Tall and broad-shouldered, and military
look, with blue eyes, very Short fair hair,
and long, heavy, fair moustache."
THAT will do, Eliza" said Mrs. Bracegir
die, "you can 60"
AS soon as Eliza had left the room, Mrs
Bracegirde sat down and wrote note Then
she tore it up and wrote another, which was
merely an informal invitation to lunch the
next day.
Then she called Harry down to her.
Harry" she said, II want you TO go to
Captain Fortescue's rooms, and take his note
and the umbrella. See him if you possibly
can and try to explain about this unhappy
umbrella and that stupid Eliza"
Then she told Master Harry the story, at
which he laughed immensely.
Now, you must not laugh but think how
you can do the thing nicely, Harry. You
can manage it admirably if you choose 1t is
loo absurd to put on paper. And make Cap
tain Fortescue promise to come to lunch, just
to show he bears no malice"
plished his task well, though he felt much ag-
grieved at having to give up the umbrella
Captain Fortescue came to lunch, and this
time Eliza admitted him, and blushed as she
did so.--LOHd0R World.