The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-12-21
Il was half asleep in the window she

!
murmured, "and could not escape. You
will pardon me?"
"Oh, we can have no secrets from you'll"
said Sidney, brightly. And then another
pair of feminine eyes glowed over the be-
witching array of gems, only their depths
betrayed slight tinge of envy.
of course it's a secret from Blanche" re-
marked Sidney. "Good-by, mother; good
by, Grace. Father isn't home. is he. moth
err" he asked abruptly.
NO, Sidney"
And he has the key to the library safe.
don't care to lug fortune around a rail-
| road depot. Miss Vernon, will you be re-
| sponsible for this little bundle of radiance
| until this EVENING""
bright, eager look flashed into the dark
| face. as If its possessor felt happy at the
| confidence reposed in her by handsome.
| impetuous Sidney. Mrs. Danforth looked a
| little anxious. as if some suggestion of love
might actuate The sentiments of her son
and her guest. 1t was not in her bright
nature to allow trifles to annoy her however,
| and she smiled an adieu to Sidney. with the
words:
Don't miss the train. You know CAPTAIN
| Tarble is stranger in the city, and he will
| be expecting you" and then she went to at
| tend to some domestic duty with pleasant
| jest to Grace Vernon to look out for burg
| lars and her precious charge.
The eyes of the latter dilated, and her
bosom heaved, once alone In every feature
of her dusky face the siren showed envy as
she opened the jewel case and gloated over
the gems it held, and seemed to ponder
modify. fercely intently. Then she started.
A sudden impulse seemed to seize her, and
she went to her room, dressed herself for the
street, and half an hour later, heavily yelled.
reached the store of an obscure jeweler on
retired business street.
Mamma" Blanche Danforth asked that
afternoon, is Miss Vernon going to remain
with us for the holidays?"
Il have invited her, dear. Why2 You
look displeased"
Il am a little, I must confess" replied
Blanche, slight frown on her pretty face.
DO you know, mamma, I am beginning to
distrust her?"
"Blanche!"
Il can'thelp it. When she first came here
your kind interest in her made me feel
pity for her, but | do not like the dark look
in her eyes sometimes, and Sidney"
"Ah! what about Sidney. dear?"
Il believe she is in love with him, and is
| trying toto entrap him"
Mrs. Danforth laughed merrily, but her
heart was not in her mirth. Somehow,
Branches words opened her eyes. and that
evening she sat down to think it all over,
like the prudent far seeing mother she was,
and she decided that after the holidays she
would find new home for Miss Vernon.
She knew very little of Grace Vernon
personally. One day, month back. the lat
ter had come stranger to the Danforfh
mansion. She asked its mistress if she re-
Tho
her dearest schoolday friend She had mar
ried and gone with her husband to India
There she had died. leaving child, but for
fifteen years Mrs. Danforth had not heard
anything of the family.
Grace then told her that she was the
daughter of Alice Lane Vernon. Her father,
too, was dead. She was an orphan, and, re-
turning to America, she had remembered
how lovingly her dead mother had spoken
of Mrs Danforth. She had letters to prove
her claim, and the great loyal heart Of Mrs.
Danforth had opened to the orphan waif
from far-ef shores, and she bade her make
the mansion her home until some permanent
arrangement could be decided upon for her
welfare.
A great woman for old-time attachments
was this same Mrs. Danforth. At every
festive occasion she invited not the fitting
butterflies of fashion to drone through a
formal dinner, but some old-time friend,
often one who had not her share of worldly
wealth, and she always tried to make their
visit "a real good time"
This Christmas, in addition to Miss YER
non, she had invited Captain Tarble and
his daughter. She had never seen either,
but Mrs. Tarble, now dead, had been her
boarding school chum, and she loneed to
600 tho child of hnr 1no6 friopd vrbo with
her father, an old ocean captain, had been
abroad for some years.
Good-natured Mr.. Danforth had smiled
quiZzically.
Sea captain. Ell, wife?" he chuckled.
We'll, it will be a variety; but if he says
'shiver my timbers! and pass the grog!
and all those nautical terms, he'll shock
your polite friends"
That night lacked two of Christmas Eve.
That night at eight o'clock Sidney Danforth
drove up to the mansion in a carriage from
the railroad depot, and with him were Cap
tain Tarble and his daughter.
Blanche" he murmured, as he met his
sister in the dining-room later, did you
ever see such a bewitching creature as
Ethel Tarble? l have met my fate!"
Look out, brother! Miss Vernon's jeal-
Gus eyes are upon YOU"
Sidney Danforth started. worried ex-
preston crossed his face. With frown he
recalled IL certain impulsive declaration he
had made to Grace Vernon two DAYS pre-
vious Then light he tried to dis
pei the impression.
pleasant party they all made, seated at
the dinner table. The bluff old mariner
charmed them with his quaint sayings. Shy,
beautiful Ethel seemed to attract Sidney
like lodestone. Miss Vernon saw, and her
heart ragged fiercely.
Did you ever know Mrs. Vernon, Captain
Tarble?" spoke Mrs. Danforth later that
evening in the drawing room. She and