The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-03-24

| sOinelOW tnc general traced suppressed mer-
riment in her tones
"She is brunette, them" he asked
anxiously.
Mrs. Comyns laughed softly. any deal
General Biddulph, she said looking at him
for one moment, ~ see You are not in
courant with the state of things. May
ask if you remember the late Mrs. Daly?'
Il have no personal recollection, certain
ly; but know her to have been beautiful
and amiable woman" he returned prompt
ly.'
"That was his wife; | niean the second.
"The sccond!'' repeated the genera
blankly
at is most extraordinary story. Majo
DAILY, in one of his eccentric moods, wan
dered up country, fell i'll, and was CAREFUL,
nursed and tended by native woman o
inferior rank With zeal worthy of bet
ter cause, Major DAILY sought her out wheT
he recovered, and he married her.
Mrs Comyns' soft low voice died away
/ The General -steed silent as a statue
''Then this girl, he said, at length, ''is-
is
sBlack," observed Mrs. Comyns, "blacl
as you hat on the chimney" A sound o
rapid movement came from the inner room
the door was burst open, and before thu
General had time to recover himself cir
stood in the opening. "Ah, here is Dessa
Dessa, this is your guardian; come ant
shake hands with him.
Speechless with astonishment and vexa
tion, the poor man gazed with horror Oh
the figure before him. Squat, short dress
ed in the most unearthly garb; with huge
gold rings dancing in her black ears, and
innumerable silver bangles shining on hel
dusky arms, stood the beauty of his dreams
the heiress, his ward He advanced feebly
with outstretched hand. The girls face
expanded into a broad grin, her white even
teeth cleaning like pearls in their ebony
setting"
"She is shy" said Mrs. Comyps, with a
smile still lowering around the corners Of
her mouth. 'You will be better friends
by and by"
Murmuring some incoherent farewell, the
General seized his hat, and hastily made
his escape from the room, and of out the
house. He strobe home overwhelmed
with the horrible discovery Modification,
anger and vexed pride surged in his heart,
and he longed at that moment for Major
Daly's head, that he might have relieved
his over-charged feelings. He would be a
laughing stock of the season. After so
much anticipation, what result He passed
the evening alone, he could not face the
club, and sought his pillow much de-
pressed and annoyed man.
As he sat at breakfast the next morn
ing, carefully studying his Bradshaw pre-
paratory to taking flight, Scott entered,
marched up to his side, and rendered a
tray with card upon it. The General
took it up mechanically. Miss Daily
He dropped the innocent pastebord as if it
had been scorpion.
II am engaged, Scott" he gasped, lean
ing back in his chair aghast Say very
sorry, but"
'Beg pardon, General; the young lady
was most anxious to see you.
The General groaned. "Show her in. y
He turned savagely to his Bradshaw,
What was he to say to the blackmoor
when she appeared? He could not sub
nit to be hunted down in this way. She
must be made to understand clearly that
he would have nothing to do with her,
and tonight he would start for Paris en-
route for some place. the further from
England the better.
The door opened. He shut the book
nervously. The apparition of the night
before loomed in the doorway. He turn
cd cold; it was worse by daylight than the
evening gloom. He shut his eyes for one
second, and when he opened them again
they fell on the sweetest, fairest face it
had ever been his lot to see. Before he
could recover from his surprise the owner
of the face was speaking.
General Biddulph, she said hesitatingly
''please forgive me for disturbing you so
early, but | could not rest until | had
seen you and apologized for my nOnsensi-
cal rudeness last night
The General looked mystified. ''To
whome have 1 the pleasure of speaking?"
he asked hurriedly.
81 am Dessa DAILY"
"Miss DAILY But,surely-I-that is"
"Please let me explain all, said Miss
DAILY, quickly, her pretty face suffused
with bushes II scarcely know how to
begin, when we landed yesterday some
people, friends of Mrs. Comyns, met her,
and when they were gone | learnt from
her that there was little excitement
about me, and-it was very foolish of them
they wished to see what / was like
They told her you knew nothing about me,
and spirit of mischief entered our heads,
we determined to play little joke on you,
and pass off Sunda here, drawing the
smiling black maid forward, "as me. 1t
was very wrong, but | hope you will for
give us.
The General drew himself up stitfiy, and
looked decidedly grim.
Il don't know what papa would say if
he knew how shockingly | had treated his
old friend, continued the culprit, her
pretty head dropping gracefully; ''but |
hope do hope you will forgive NE.
The general thawed. He took the
little hand outs;reched and pressed it
warmly.
.'Who could resist such pleader ?" he
replied calamity, the vision of lovcliness
before him dispelling his wrath. "But-
then you were not-scolding-your maid
last night?"
nNo, no." laughed the girl gayly; shat
was part of my plot, wanted you to think
was the most horrible creature in the
world. Sunda acted that scene all alone
for your benefit"
'She was most successful, said the Gen
eral, dryly; but l will be even with you
yet, Miss Dessa, for the trick you have
played upon me- 1 might have known
that Druce Daly's daughter would have
had good spice of mischief in her COM
position. Its just the sort of thing your
father delighted to do when We were boys
together
Dessa lifted her deep gray eyes to his.
"Then you have forgiven me?" she said
softly.
"Now-forever-always !"
The Generals ward was great snccess.