The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-08-11
VOL. XXIII.-NO. 40.

your son, do you?"
"Like Waldemar? If had him here
Td-Td-I don't know what would dc"
"You would tell him how glad you were
He loves you, does he not?'
"No; I would not be glad, and he does
not love me. He will not do what say.
1 am that vexed with Waldemar that 1
feel as if could take him by the feet and
mop out a cannon with him. The saucy
young dog! And he is just such young
rascal as | was when I was age God bless
him!
The old mans companion was much
amused, for she saw that the surly old
seadog had very soft place in his heart
for Waldemar in spite of his terrible Ian
guage. She almost thought she surprised
him wiping a tear away from his eyes.
Accordingly, in tone of the greatest con-
Germ, she demanded:
"Whatever has this poor Waldemar
done?"
"Done? Everything-nothingl He's a
wretch"
Everything? Nothing?"
eyes, he has gone and fallen in love
with stupid bit of girl without penny.
Rhoda withdrew her hand from the
captains arm andsaid, ooh, reproachfnlly,
''There, I've done it again. beg your
pardon, indeed do I'm not half as say
age as pretend to be"
'Oh, don't mention it. l am quite well
now We are getting quite close to 0use-
port, and perhaps you had better excuse
me taking your arm
"0f course, my dear. 1t is a terrible
place for talking. know I get my charac-
ter. L mean don't get it. But where is
your hcuse?"
"Not far off Will you call? Mamma
will be sitting at her knitting, or perhaps
reading. We are quite alone and 1 should
like mamma to thank yon for your good
ness"
"Well, pehaps will call-for minute
only, just to recover my breath you know"
'Here we are, then. Walk in please
Rhoda lifted the latch OF small gate
leading to little cottage sDugly enshrined
beneath a mantle of climbing roses and
honeysuckles
Mamma, cried Rhoda, as she rushed
into room at the side of the passage,
"here is Captain Russell. He has rescued
me from robber and brought me home.
He has been so good. You will forgive
me, will you not?"
The impulsive girl had her mother in
her arms, kissing her and trying hard to
soothe her.
The captain had followed and discovered
them thus
Mrs. Scryvenour, comely dame of
middle age, was startled when she saw the
captain, nor did his features show less sur
prise
"Rhoda Mainwaring"
Captain RUSSELL"
Rhoda shrank on one side. Her aston
ishment was perhaps the greatest of all.
How did Captain Russell come to know
her mothers maiden name? She had ex-
pected an altogether different greeting
II never expected such gust of wind
as that. 1t quite knocks one over by
the"
"Please do take seat. Hand Captain
Russell chair, Topsy"
"Topsyl" exclaimed Captain Russell.
"Why that is singular"
"What is that?" said Mrs. Scryvenour
as the captain threw himself in the chair
shown him by Rhoda.
"What is it?-that you call this young
lady Topsy. She said her name was
Rhoda"
80 it is, but as my name is Rhoda, my
poor husband, Mr.. Scryvenour, called her
Topsy as pet name, and she has kept it
ever since"
"Oh, that's not singular at all. The
singularity lies in the fact of that young
dogof Waldemar- my nephew, madam
having fallen in love with bit of a girl
I mean young lady named Topsy"
Mrs. Scryvenour took up an album
which lay on the table close by her hand,
and, hastily turning over the leaves, found
the portrait of young sailor, and passed
it to the captain in spite of Rhoda's excla-
nation of
"Don't! Please, mamma, don'tl"
81 do not like to encourage secret engage
ments, my darling. You know that was
always a sore point with me"
'!The young dog l would pull his
ears if | had him. That is my Waldo
mar Are you Topsy = Waldemar's
bride"
He turned towards Rhoda, and fixed
his piercing eyes upon her. She shrunk
to the sofa, and, covering her face with her
hands, replied sobbingly
eyes, sir. Forgive us; we did net mean
any HARM
CHARM cried the captain, rising from
his seat and approaching the sofa. 0Who
said you did I'm only rough old Jack
Tar. Forgive me''
As he said this he took Rhoda in his
arms and kissed her.
"By Joye! that Waldemar shows good
taste? fell in love with you myself Just
now as I had you in my lookout Yes, he
shows almost as good taste as his uncle,
who fell in love with your mother years
ago."
Mrs. Scryvenour was weeping with Joy
at the reconciliation which had just taken
place, and could not speak
"fes,' continued the captain, II showed
good taste, but your mother-she was
Rhoda Mainwaring then-did not seem to
think SO. And perhaps she was right.
She was but nineteen and I was thirty
four"
Rhoda gazed first at one and then at the
other
eyes, TOpsy, my darling, this is quite
correct. will tell you all about it another
time. AS for you, Captain Russell, I viii
not say anything about taste, either on
your part or mine. l loved my dear
Harold, Topsy's father, and-and that is
the sole secret in the matter"
"Never mind, madam; you made the
best choice no Doubt Rut If ever I oct
hold of that rascal of mine, I'll trounce
him. To love such darling little girl as
your Topsy and not to introduce her to me
is objectionable. Next time you write to
him, Topsy, just tell him So I'll have
him married and done for, my dear. And
I'll punish him by settling every penny Oh
you. Just see if don't.
And the old MIN kissed Rhnfla heartilu