The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-10-09

"What misfortune has befallen you ?'
asks Mr.. Wilding, turning to regard his
his friend curiously. "Has anyone molested
you or made a playful attempt to cut your
throat You look rather down on your
luck"
"I have been talking to one of the pret-
tiest girls l ever saw, says Bohun. "And
she was mad
ga faint drawback, certainly. Pretty,
you say?"
"Lovely. She has the sweetest eyes in
the world. And the oldest part of it was
she didn't look in the least out of her mind.
1t was only her conversation. She told
me, for instance, she was the "Queen of
Hearts"
"That was very frank of her." says Mr..
Wilding. Anything else?"
eNot much"
"Did she ask your name?'
ayes, l told her l was the King of the
Cannibal Islands"
"I didn't think it was in you, says Mr..
Wilding, with calm but ardent admiration.
"Of course, the poor lady was gratifed at
finding herself in the society of one of her
own rank. The idea was full of delicacy."
II talked to her for long time Then
sha Iaft ma sAn,a,shAt- t-ah-n.aflH-zh.,4- thot
was to be expected, you know. By Jovef
says Mr.. Bohun, excitedly, "there she isl"
"Where?" turning with some feint show
of interest to gaze exactly in the wrong
direction.
'Not there, my dear fellow; over there.
Standing close to Norman. Don't you see
herr"
"Who?" says Wilding, betraying the livi-
liest CONSERVATION. "Do you mean to tell
me you told that young lady you were the
King of the Cannibal islands,
EYES," says Bohun, "why not?"
"Well," says Mr. Wilding, surveying
his friend with growing delight, "you've
about done it this time at all events.
That lovely lunatic of yours is Miss Nor
man, Georges youngest sisterl''
Mr.. Bohun is conscious of cold chill
that seems to pervade his entire system,
rendering him almost faint.
"If this is one of your jokes" he says to
his friend serenely, with a last supreme
effort at composure, II must say l con-
slider it rather illtimed,
"On this occasion only, my dear fellow,
you have the joke all to yourself" replies
the friend, with what appears to Mr.. Bo-
hun brutal enjoyment of the situation. 81
give you my honor she is as sane as you
are and-unless she was married since last
ho, 1op,o ,s Norr,on
"Wilding remove me. Take me any
where out of this, mumurs Bohun feebly,
taking his companion by the arm.
"No place like the supper-room for a
case like yours" says Wilding, preparing
to lead him thither.
Meantime Miss Norman having, as al
ready stated, gained her brothers side,
says in little painting whisper:
"Oh, George! how glad l am to be near
you again. In spite of all my efforts to
the contrary, confess these poor people
frighten me horribly"
"You are nothing but little goose,
Carrie, says her brother, patting her hand,
'and 1 am quite disappointed. 1 fully
thought you would have enjoyed it"
"Well, so 1 do, dear, immensely. 1
have been having quite lovely time A
young mana very splendid lunatic-did
me the honor to converse with me for half
an hour, during which time he made vio-
lent love to me. -
II should like to have seen your face"
says George. "Who was he?"
II don't know. That was the funniest
part of it. L thought l knew all your pa
tients but 1 suppose he is new arrival.
He is young, about twenty mine, very hand
some and doesn't look the least bit mad"
Il wonder who it is you mean," says
George, thoughtfully.
"He called himself the King of the
Cannibal Islands" explains Miss Carry,
"Ahl That puzzles me even more, |
didn't think l had King in my establish
ment."
"He is tall, gentlemanly and, as I told
you exceedingly handsome. 1 quite like
talking to him. Once, indeed, he grew
little empressee and then was frightened,
but on the whole he behaved wonderfully
well. l assure you, rather liked him
than otherwise, and was so sorry for him,
poor fellow
~ can't think who on earth it is" says
George, bewildered by this fattering de-
scription.
"Why, there-there he is, cries Carrie,
excitedly, 'tjust going out of the room with
Mr. Wilding. Don't you see him? Lookr'
"Eh?" says George, and then ensues an
ominous pause. Georges lips relax-they
widen -quiver-and presently Miss Nor
man becomes aware that her brother is
convulsed with laughter.
"What is it?'' she asks little austerely.
No one likes being laughed at. "What is
amusing you?"
"You, says George, still continuing his
heartless mirth, sand your new patient"
"Well, isn't he mad?" impatiently.
awe are all mad, my dear, no doubt, on
different subjects, but as yet that young
man you have just pointed out to me is
loose upon the world
"George, what do you mean?" asks Miss
Norman in terrified tone. "Who is that
young MANI"
"He is a rising barrister, of good family
and small means, and his name is Robert
Bohun, replies George, in voice full of
open amusement.
earSQ99ht rSQ9h Gds9E5ga DE- DE- Say y2g are not in
have said the most dreadful things to him
4 have made myself quite ridiculous-I
told him I was the Queen of Hearts.
At this George laughs still more immod-
erately.
aWhat shall do ?" says Miss Norman.
aDear George" coaxiugly, II think I
should like to go to my ROOM"
Nonsense, child, come and have glass
of champagne instead After all, what
does it signify? Ell find Bohun and in
troduce him to you and you can both laugh
it over in five minutes"
"Introduce him p Indignantly. II won
der how you can even suggest such thing
to me. OF course shall never be able to
look him in the face again. Ny only hope
is that he and have seen the last of each
other tonight.
"Well, come and have your champagne
anyhow" says George; and Miss Norman,
still so distracted as to be almost unaware