The Penn's Grove record., 1888-02-04

thought so; that was DeSsa giving her
ayah u lesson-in fact pulling out the
poor creatures hair in handfuls." The
General uttered an exclamation Of dis.
may. 81 think 1t is only right to let
you know what she is" the lady con
tinued, holding out her hands to the
fire, though to him the room was in.
sufferably hot, "unless you are prepared;
perhaps you are. Has Major DAILY told
you anything about herr"
The General was reluctantly com.
PEELED to reply in the negative.
"Just IS I expected; he is too lazy to
do anything of the sort. My own
opinion is that he is too delighted to
get rid Of her for a time. / am not
surprised"
'sBut she is so beautiful said The
General, alphabetically, the picture of
his visionary ward rising clearly before
him.
Mrs. Comyns turned her head aside.
"She is a tribe dark" was her reply;
and somehow the general traced sup.
pressed merriment in her tones.
"She is a brunette, thenP" he asked,
anxiously.
Mrs. Comyns laughed softly. "My
dear General Biddulph," she said,
looking at him for one moment 81
see you are not an couTant with the
state Of things. May l ask il you re-
member the late Mrs. Dalyp"
81 have no personal recollection, GER
tainly; but I know her to have been a
beautiful and amiable woman" he re-
turned promptly,
"That was his first wife; I mean the
second"
"The secondl" repeated the General
blankly.
ut is a most extraordinary story.
Major DAILY, In one of his eccentric
moods, wandered up country, fell i'll.
and was carefully nursei and tended
by a native woman of inferior rank.
With zeal worthy of q better cause.
Major Daily sought her out when he re-
covered, and he married her,"
Mrs. Comyns' soft low voice died
away. The General stood silent as a
statue. "Then this GIRL" he said, at
length, "is-is-"
"Black," observed Mrs. Comyns,
"black as your hat on the chimney
A sound of rapid movement came
from the inner room, the door was
burst open, and before the General had
time to recover himself a girl stood in
the opening. "Ah, here is Dessa.
Dessa, this is your guardian; come and
shake hands with him."
Speeches. with establishment and
vexatlon, the poor man gazed with hor-
ror on the figure before him. Squat.
short, dressed In the most unearthly
garb, with huge gold rings dancing in
her black ears, and innumerable silver
bangles shining on her 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, htv
white even teeth cleaning like pearls
in their ebony setting"
"She is shy" said Mrs. Comyns.
with a smile still lowering around the
corners of her mouth. you will be
better friends by and by"
Murmuring some incoherent fare
well, the General seized his hat, and
hastily made his escape from the room,
and out Of the house. He strobe home
overwhelmed with the horrible discOv-
cry. Modification, anger and vexed
pride surged in his heart, and ne loneed
at that moment for Major Daly's head.
that he might have relieved his over
charged feelings. He would be a laugh.
ing stock of the season. After 70 much
anticipation, what RESULT He passed
the evening alone, he could not face
the club, and sought his pillow a much
depressed and annoyed man.
As he sat at breakfast the next morn
ing. carefair studying his Bradshaw
preparatory to taking digit, Scott en-
tered. marched up to his side, and ten
dered a tray with a card upon 1t. The
General took 1t up mechanically. "Miss
DAY." He dropped the innocent
.pasteboard al If it had been a scorpion.
81 am engaged, Scott" he gasped,
leaning back in his chair aghast. "Ssy
very sorry, but"
"Beg pardon, General; the young
lady was most anxious to sac YOU"
The General groaned. .'Show her
in" He turned savagely to his Brad
shaw. What was he to say to the
blackmOor when she appearedr He
could not submit to be hunted down IN
this way. She must be made to under
stand clearly that he would have moth
ing to do with her, and tonight he
would start for Paris enroute for some
place, the further from England the
better.
The door opened. He shut the book
nervously. The apparition OF the night
before doomed IN the doorway. He
turned cold; it was worse by daylight
than in the evening gloom. He shut
his eyes for n second, and W en- he
opened them again they fell on the
sweetest, fairsst face it had ever been
his lot to see. Before he could recover
from his surprise the owner of the face
was speaking.
General Blddulph," she said hesita.
tingly, ''please forgive me for disturb
ing you so early, but I could not rest
until L had seen you and apologized
for my nonsensical rudeness last
night"
The General 1)oked mystihed. ste
whom have l the pleasure of speak.
ing2" he asked hurriedly. =.
~ am Dessa DAY."
Miss DalyI But. surely--I-that
is"
"Pleass 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, end when they were gone
learnt from her that there was a little
excitement about me, and-it was very
foolish of them-they wished TO see
what 1 was like. They told her you
knew nothing about me, and a spirit of
mischief entered our heads, we deter
mined to play a little joke on you, and
pass off Sunda here" drawing the
smiling black maid forward, "as me.
1t was very, very wrong, but I hope
you will forgive us"
The General drew himself stifiy, and
looked decidedly grim.
81 don't know what papa would say
IL he knew how shockingly | had treated
his old FRIEND" continued the culprit,
her pretty head dropping gracefully;
''but l hope-Id do hope you will forgive
me-"
The General thawed. He took the