New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-22
THE DEANS SISTER.

silly important because they arc bound to the East
or from the East. pour into the hote, taxing
loudly in the passages-about Shepherds or 20
lombo-and driving into corners the tlmld resi-
dents TO whom Yesterday Durnsford's was home
They cngross, these newcomers the jalousied WIN,
dows they mOnopolize the shady balconies ana
standing on these turn up their noses even AZ uov-
crnment House. As for the luncheon table, tney
swoop down upon it like harpes. and drive the
waters crazy Beppo resigns himself 10 tears.
Angelo. a man Of Steiner stuh LOCKS himSll IN
the china closet, and utters dainty oaths IN hngua
Franco.
All this occurs on an average once week ana
rs often the hotel lions. with certain EXCEPTIONS
become lions couchant and passant. ON certain
Friday in last February the storm RACED aoouE sle
house with quite phenomenal fury: ana therc Wcre
two exceptions, and two only. They were the
Dean of Dromorc and his daush,er ono II tr, wnS
the window behind them or snatched away the
dish while their hands hung fatefu over the ripeSt
mandarin did any of the things to them which h
drove common pcope-nay. even Lazy Drullt anu
her niece-to beat an early retreat.
But then the dean one of a thousand; man
Of porty. handsome presence. tall frcSh.coloIeu;;
command. Blne-iackets and marines looked after
him in the street. and the former spoke OF hlm as
that there king At the Union Club 1T, It was vas
President Crew the Cardinal Legate in multi
bus, and the Bishop of Gibraltar; 1t was certain
that he had condescended to the Governor, ana SET
the Admiral right on point OF tactics
Even now, as he sat chatting with an old friend
who had come in by the Surat, he had an indul-
ecot ,Inilo fr the saturnalia that reigned about
him But he was otherwise unmovcd by If;
And so you going TO India for another spell
OF duty he was saying.
Yes, it is better than being laid on the shelf
the colonel replied. And you? You are taking
life easily, suppose? How long have you been
here? His eyes strayed as he spoke TO someone
sitting opposite him.
How long, the dean said. noting the direction
Of the glance with q covert smile. y month
more or less. The place suits me. That is my
daughter you are looking at by the way
She is is she? Then you have an uncommonly
pretty daughterr the old soldier retorted blunty.
Much trouble with the subalterns dean?
The clergyman laughed softly. No no Not
much Mary is good girl-a very good girl
Nv snap w SGhr surprise sU% oh dear MOI
All" replied the colonel slowly and with Pc
cular intonation not yet" -
The dean shook his head in gentle Reputation
of the idea. But his eyes twinked
who is hep asked the other :,
lie is brigade-maior here, Major Macdonald
Andrew Macdonald
Ilal A son of Lord Macdonald of Glenmore, is
he not? Eldest son.?
'Ye-cs' the dean admitted grudcingy. I be-
lieve he is the eldest And If his friend chose to
pat him on the shoulder and TO chuckle somewhat
rudely why he could not help it, For this was no
common colonel but man with half the alphabet
before his name or after it: man not lightly 10
he repulsed Yet some seeing him, mean and
meagre little creature, paving the dean ana Know
ing nothing of all those letters. went away sorrow
fully, forced to think that even this hon had not
escaped with dcw-claws uncut.
After lunch, the qpartette went out to stroll on
The S s as bd y o aS"g the Bops
many eyes followed Mary Young and Endorsed the
gallant colonels opinion. Her face possessed that
Shy brighness-not Of the eyes alone: for that you
may find under many an unsghtv Maltese hood
which is the charm of a girl at once
healthy and sensitive. Her clear complexion,
perhaTS her wavy brown hair. we're her fathers;
but the soft lines Of mouth that seemed ever
trembling on the verge of tears or laughter were
her own. She wore a sailors hat and tight
G4ti ia,,p toll cd a
stick
For Major Macdonald though he twirled his
moustache-it was reddish. and his face was
freckled-and staggered a little as he passed the
club he made but poor show lie had no Longer
a will of his own. and the men at the club
window knew it. He had lost his heart and Mary
knew It, lie had nothing to say, and Thought
himself inexpressibly stupid lie made no resist
ance even when the dean presently shook nm OIL
but went away TO NOPE alone. But courage.
Major Perhaps some one found the gallant
veterans wit and wisdom poor substitute Tor
your stupidity; and was scarcely sorry when the
boat which bore his knghtShip TO his vessel was
lost among the or so that were dartlng thls
way and that, like many green and blue
dragon-fies at play on the ripping surface
The father and daughter stood awhile, looking
over the Quarantine llarbor. and debating whether
urb Beyond It. It. They had just decided to do SO.
when Mary espied Davies, the deans servant,
hurrying toward them. What is II p asked the
dean when the man had come up with them.
Your sister has arrived. sirr he replied, breath
lessly.
The dean looked down at him moment faint
expression of amusement ON his face and such
was the kindly criticism Of his attitude that the
painter of his portrait could have wished for no
better opportunity L am glad, he said at last,
in measured accents. i am glad that you are not
given TO gossiplng. Davies
The servant looked astonished. as we'll he might,
and colored. But he answered. les SIT anu
touched his hat.
L say, Davies, I am glad that you are not gwen
TO gossping,' repeated the dean blandly' because
IL Won were YOU would have learned, though you
have not been with me long, that have no
sister And consequently that 1t IS Impossible
there should be any sister oil mine at-ohe hotel'
I think you said
We'll, sir, she-I mean there is a lady lunching
In your room sir. / was told to let YOU know
that she had arrived the NAH explained
launching in our ROOM cried Mary, her Gu
riosity aroused Good gracious, papa do come
II must be some one who knows us very WELL
If Davies's story be correct, replied the dean lean,
with oninous meaning, IT must be some one VINO
knows us very we'll We Will go and DO the
honors' IT., a.. ..o,,.
Strada San Marco while the servant, puzzled and
chapfallen toiled slowly up the steep pavement
behind them. Who can 1t b." asked Mary
softly.
My dear answered her father with tinge Of
asperity how can / tell? And what does 1t
matter? / do not think that we nave many
friends of whom we have reason TO he ashamed
Arriving at the hotel they found Angelo await
ing them on the stairs. His Southern face was
aglow with eagerness to please. Your Excel
ItnC9 slSeSi h"' ~
effusively rubbing his hands as he prepared 10 go
before them TO their stting-room. Snc was 700
late for the table d'hote. and the crowd-ah, my
eyes it was tremendous She takes chop ana
tomato sauce in your EXceencys ROOM
chop and tomato sauce And in their room
The passage was duslzy. The deans face-pcrhaps
il was better so-coud not be And he said
nothing. But probably ne thought great deal
Probably he was not altogether unprepared for
the sight which met his eyes When Angelo threw
open the door. tall, mddle-aged lady, dressed
in black was sitting at the table facing them.
Her long block cotton gloves lay by her plate.
Her fan and sunshnde were also on the white
cloth She looked up nervously, saw them and
rose There was q smell Of gravy in the room.
For all this, we have said. the dean pre-
pared But not for what followed-for the in
finders immediate advance with hands out
stretched 'Fcrgus' she exclaimed; and then as
he still stood motionless. she repeated piteousy.
hat o1a6