Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-27

"Psps, you know, d General"
she hssisatsd, - II conscious Of tne
imprudsncs Of being 90 communicative.
with perfect stranger, but then, - }!
inspired BY trust, she added, " General
| Maripe.o
"Ah! Than have not the pleasure
Of being acquainted with him personally.
Yet l think know his name. 10 be
not member Of Parliament 2"
"Yes, you ars--o, arm sure ! have
seen you some There, or else your pho.
togrsph."
"Iam--n The rector drew his dress
ipg-case from beneath one Of his nu-
merous wraps, opened 1t, took out his
csrd-case, from which be extracted
card and handed 1t to his lovely fellow
passenger. She accepted it with .
smile, glsncing with feminine curiosity
at the dressing case, with its choice and
costly contents.
II am going to London, fora friends
| weddipg-Ah, you are laughing. You
gentlemen always say We girls never
think Of anything but weddings, and
getting married, and all that kind Of
thing" continued Miss Ada, in her
lively, chatty way.
| swell, il is o matter to DO looked at
in q serious light" said Rev. Septimus,
q mixture of rebuke and sympathy in
his tones. The reverend gentleman
was pleasantly aware that bis voice was
| remarkably melodious, and he did not
at all dislike to hear himself talk, es-
pecially to ladies, who appreciate these
nice points.
81 am fright" Miss Ada went on,
"because l have pspa's wedding-pre-
sent bere--it is so lovely. I almost
wish ] was going to get married myself
to have such splendid present. 1t is
q necklace. / must show it to you, be-
cause you are so kind, and although you
are not really friend Of pspa's, | hope
you will let him thank you for having
taken care Of me when We get to the
station. How long shall we be?"
"About twenty minutes now" said
the rector, consulting his gold watch
a gift from his parishioners.
"Thanks--so much. Ses," and the
charming young lady, In that frank,
trustful way evidently natural to her,
unfastened small morocco-leather bag
which the rector had not noticed, and
poduced from it an oblong red-leather
case. This she opened, displaying .
superb diamond necklace. Isn't it
sweet--isn't it lovely? ?" she cried with
the joyous delight Of child handling a
new playthipg, her eyes sparkling as
bright as the precious stones would
scintillate under cleaning lamps.
The rector. to please her, took the
case, and looked at the necklace. lie
was no judge of such toys, but seem.
ingly it was Of rare value.
"You must be careful, my dear
madam" he said, returning it to her.
"Tbere are so many thieves about,
many of them crafty and practiced in
their evil trade, and that small bag
does not look very safe."
"Oh, nobody will imagine have it
with me-" answered Miss Ada, laugh
ing carelessly, replacing the case in her
handbag. "And papa will be sure to
meet me at Crofton-the next station,
you know. do so wish you knew
papa. | am sure you would like one
another so much. And | am quite
sure you would be delighted with
mamma"
The rector laughed. 1t was pleasant |
to have found favor in the eyes Of so
pretty creature, even if she were |
sly ly making fun of him.
~ feel very highly grati6ed," he
said with benign smile. The lively |
prattle helped to tighten the tedium Of |
the journey, even if it led to nothing.
And sometimes agreeable acquaintance
are accidentally met with in the most |
unexpected way. Nobody can ever truly |
prophecy what may happen. This is
an odd jumbled world of change and
surprises, even to those who step softly |
over its smoothest places. The amia-
BILE rector was not an imaginative man,
but many thoughts and fancies capered
sportively through his brain at this mo-
ment, airy and nimble, perhaps, as but
terflies Pickering through summer sun
shine or elfn sprites dancing idly in the
moonlight.
You think me silly for chattering
away like this" cried Miss Ada. Z" But
l really can't help thinking must have
heard Of you, or seen some portrait of
you somewhere; lyou seem so like a
friend-you know what l meant is so
bard TO explain. But no matter. They
all laugh at me for being so childish, so
babyish. As / am the only child
don't you see l have always been
spoiled?"
81 can easily imagine that" re-
piled the Rev. Scptimus with an air Of
delicate gallantry.
"Ah, you are laughing at me, like
all the rest" half pouted Miss Ada.
Laughing? Dear, dear, DEAR"
protested the reverend gentleman.
"Yes. absolutely. But would you
mind telling me the exact time, please
forgot to put on my watch, coming
away in hurry" said the charming
young lady. II am so impatient to
see my friend, my dear Marie. We
have 20 much to talk about"
"No doubt" The mental picture
conjured up on the minds camera Of
two beautiful girls eagerly chatting,
cooling, exchanging condolences about
their lovers, their dresses, their toys
and amusements, was to . certain ex-
tent fascinating vision. However he
drew out his watch and named the
precise time.
81 am rude enough to admire your
watch" exclaimed Miss Ada in her
baby fashion. The rector feared she
was just little addicted to flirting, but
it is pardopable sin if not carried too
far. He smiled.
"Yes," he responded. a gift
from my parishioners."
THAT shows how they appreciate
YOU" said Miss Ada with an upward
glance through her long eyelashes.
A valuable gift, am sure"
at is. l believe it is worth from
sixty TO eighty guineas," said the rec
tor, pArdonable pride in his air snd