The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-11

u1u-16Ib u1AucolAs ho WAS 6V6u nay" ing down the law to the colonel, when there broke in upon their chant a third-a Major Ritherdon, one of Macdonald's brother officers and a steward of the sports. "Dean," he said warmly, after word of greeting, "why did you not write for another ticket?"
 "Another ticketw the dean re- peated. "For what purpose? You were good enough to send me two."
 "For your sister," replied Rither- don in perfect innocence.
 "For whom?" Unfortunately the dean spoke so loudly that a score of ears in his neighborhood were opened, and half as many tongues grew silent. "For whom, Major Ritherdon?"
 Of course Ritherdon saw that some- thing was wrong. "Well, she-I did not learn her name," he stammered. "Only that she was your sister, my dear dean."
 "And you have brought her in here?" the dean cried roundly. He had thought that in this sacred en- closure at least he would be safe. "Then let me tell you, sir, that she is an impostor !" he repeated in wrath. "I have no sister living. have never seen the woman before, Colonel Watts"
 "Oh, Fergus, laddie!" cried shrill voice.
 The dean turned as if he had been shot, and found that terrible woman, black gloves and all, at table behind him. "Oh, Fergus, laddie, don't be unnatural l" she cried.
 Purple went the deans face. "Womanw he thundered. But there. What he said more was lost-lost and swallowed up along with propriety, good manners, and everything else in the extinguishable peal of laughter which went up to the Maltese heaven. "Oh, Fergus, laddie!" The woman's words as applied to the portly digni- tary, her tone of exaggerated pathos, and the huge black bordered handker- chief she waved-all fed the flame. Even Mary laughed. Only two stood within hearing and were grave. They were the dean himself, whose rage was boundless, and Major Macdonald.
 Suddenly, as suddenly as it had arisen, the laughter died down, and was succeeded by an awful silence. It is well that society does not often for get itself; the return to sanity is so dreadful. What was any one to do? Apologize to the dean? Turn the woman out? Go on as if nothing had happened? No one knew; and Mary Young saved them the trouble Of thinking long.
 She rose. Something - perhaps some lace on which her eyes had fallen had driven the laughter from her lips, so that as she put her chair aside she looked as handsome as ever, but also little stately. "I think" she said, holding out her hand to the col onel, before her father had regained his voice, eff you will excuse us, papa shall take me away, Colonel Watts. We two will have our laugh out at home."
 Half dozen voices were raised at once in humble protest. But the one for which the girl was listening was not among them, though Andy Mac douald's heart was full of pride in her. He would have had his wife be- have exactly as she had behaved, if the thing could have happened to his wife. But then there was that "if." Such things had never happened to the Ladies Macdonald.
 Yet the general feeling was with Mary, though the Druitts, her dear friends, might sheer. Thanks to her courage, the dean's dignity had come through the ordeal almost unscathed. The interloper, whom some of the "young uns" had begun to "draw," was left to herself, and presently with drew.
 By that time the dean and Mary were at home. She had kept her face turned from him during the drive, and they had not exchanged 8 word. But when they stood in their sitting room, they looked at one another.
 "Papa," Mary said, her voice break ing and the tears rising to her eyes, "what is this? Whatever does it mean?"
 "My dear," he answered with hu- mility wonderful for him, "I know no more than you do."
 "But-but you see what it is do- ing2" she said piteously.
 He could only nod, and she went to hor r0om and cy.iod hnr ovnc nut
 The dean took her words, and rightly, for an appeal. But he was as a bull in net. He felt himself en- tangled and resented the dimsy web which foiled him, yet he did not see how to free himself. He might have had recourse to the law, but he did not know how itseould help him. He might have expl4ined matters to Andy Macdonald, but sfhe major had not l. A | TT