The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-08-25
|'CATCHING AN I1EIRESS

he WOulu Try nllllSell 10 WIN tne
money if only to spite me.
When | arrived at the Knelford
station | was disappointed to hear
that my sister had not sent down
any carriage to meet me. The sta
ton master informed me, that there
was young lady who wanted to go
up to the Hall, and that we might
go together in the stage. At once
the thought flashed over me that
this must be Miss Mouutjoy, and l
was delighted ut the prospect of
showing her my disinterested cour-
tesy.
She was homely girl, but with
rather pleasant expression in her
eyes, and quite took IL fancy to
her.
All the journey l busted myself
making her comfortable rolled up
my elegant new overcoat to make
her footstool, and sat in the
draught of the door so as to protect
her and tried in numerous ways to
be attentive, chuckling at the
thought OF how l would forestall
Morrall
When we arrived at the hall l
busted myself in seeing about her
trunk, and was pleased to see how
unostentatious was the little box
studded with brass nails that served
as casket for her numerous Parisian
toilets, 50 different from the Sarato-
gas that most ladies owned.
Almost in the same instant there
was rush of the hospitable Knel-
ford party, hostess, guests and all,
out to welcome us, and l was borne
in, momentarily losing sight of my
Dulcinea, as entered.
"Here's your room, Egerton, all
ready" cried Leonie, "but we didn't
expect you until tomorrow.
The moved forward the cushioned
arm chair as she spoke in front Of
the meery wood fire that glanced
and flickered on the marble hearth
making the room look so indescrib-
ably cosey, with its warm-colored
hangings and warm crimson carpet
Come, make haste with your
dressing" she went on, busily
"Dont be all the evening"
"I'll be ready presently" 1 said
The cold water in my head was be
ginning to make itself visible
sneezed two or three times.
"Dear, DEAR" cried Leonie, "what
a cold you've got"
"It's nothing" said, and
sneezed again.
"Well, be as quick as you can.
want to introduce you to Miss
Mountoy."
Hang you I'm already acquaint
ed with Miss Mountoy."
Already Oh, you sly wretch
where have you seen her ?"
travelled with her | got this
cold in my head taking off my over
coat for her to rest her feet upon !"
travelled with her? Where
When ?"
"In the stage from Dolford's Cor
ner to-day"
"But she came day before yester'
day."
"Day before yesterday echoed
my astonishmont checking the fit Of
sneezing which just trembled in my
nostrils. "Then who was it came in
the stage with me, in the black al
paca dress ?"
"That girl Why that was the
new cook"
"The new cook Confusion seizt
it all and paid her fare, and gave
her my seat, and made love to her,
thinking all the while she was Miss
Mountoy !"
Leonie burst into an hysteric iii
of laughter.
"Oh, Egerton you with all youl
fastidious ideas, not to know II ser
want woman from Miss Mountjoy
Why Ida is tall and pale, with n
face like Greek statue, and this
girl is-oh, goodness graciousW
Some people would have flown
into q passion, some would have
groaned in Theatrical despair. ]
only sneezed, and sneezed, and bet
ter sneezed, as the canny Scots say.
"Send me up some mustard water
and bowl of hot catnip tea-and
I'll 60 to he'd p l said curtly.
"And not see Ida at all? And
Grant Moral has been here two
days" !"