The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-04-04
A FORTUNATE FAN.

The side door of the Academy of de-
sign was accessible during the recent
pedestal fund loan exhibition on Mon
day morning preparatory to the OPEN
ing. The policeman at the door mar
rowly scanned every one who entered
or departed and demanded name or
card.
This official afterward remembered
that an exceedingly marked man
entered. apparently with no bundle
about him. He was very handsome,
with black eyes and prematurely gray
hair, which he wore long.
"Your name, SIR" said the police
man stopping him and cycling him
keenly.
my name, ehr' said the stranger
rather angrily, "eh! Colonel Beauclerc."
At this moment lady came down.
stairs. She was well known to the
policeman as one of the managers, and
rs she met the gentleman, she said
cordially:
.'Oh, Colonel Beauclerc, 1 am so
happy to meet youi am tired to death!
such scene of confusion upstairs, and
we open tonight! Would you carry
back this fan for me, aud give it to
Miss Lomax? II is quite Invaluable,
belongs TO Mrs. McElrOy, and l hope
it will be put in choice place, but
have absolutely brought it down with
mellow careless! 1t arrived too late
to be judged and catalogued, but l am
determined to get it in. Would you
| take it up for me?"
Certainly. Miss Mirabeau; delight
ed! To whom shall give it?" said the
colonel, restored to the policeman's
confidence.
''To Miss Lomax; and for worlds do
not fail, for Mrs. McElroy is already
dreadfully offended because some of
her exhibits were refused place. Iu-
deed, believe she and Mr.. Smith have
had some words, and she has loaned
such beautiful things that I would not
have her feelings hurt for the world.n
but do not know Miss Lomax,"
said the handsome colonel, admiring
the handsome face before him, and
thinking that workaday rig was
rather becoming to Miss Mirabeau.
.'Oh, you will easily find Miss
Lomax," said Miss Mirabeau; ''any one
will tell YOU" So she passed on, leav-
ing Colonel Beauclerc with the fan in
charge.
He assembled the stairs, and was met
by big dog at the door of the inner
room. Ladies were standing at. the
glass cases arranging missals, others
were busy hanging fans, others putting
away priceless boxes, chatelaines,
watches, jewelry of every age, from
the mummy necklace down 10 the ear
rings of Eugenie. The artists were
hanging pictures. Mrs. Wheeler was
experimenting the embroideries, and
the miniatures from their places looked
at him with their sentimental, last GEN.
tury smile. 1t was a confused me-
lange.
As soon as he had found the lady who
seemed to be responsible for the fans
he asked for Miss Lomax.
"Miss Lomax!" said she. 81 think
she has just gone in to see those famous
swords of Brayton Ives. Would you
go in? Perhaps we can find her.
ii think l would like to look at the
| fans" said he.
So he stopped and chatted over the
/ "Vernis Martins" the Spanish fans,
| the carved bone, and admired Mrs.
| Astor's collection. Then he wandered
off to examine the Jade and finally
rendered up to the lady in charge his
own exhibit, small but very beautI-
full piece of antique jewelry.
Then he felt in his pocket and dis
covered the fan, the little, long, black,
package, which he had been instructed
to leave with Miss Lomax.
"But where was Miss Lomax?" She
had become invisible. "Oh, there she
is nowr' said the lady with whom he
had spoken; ''lhat young lady with the
light hair"
| And here the colonels memory be-
comes hazy. He thinks now that he
laid the fan down on the glass case
while he went for Miss Lomax. He
pursued that ignuis-fatuus through all
the rooms. He found her i'll the picture
gallery and told her the story of the
fan.
.'Oh, yes," said she, 1--WE have saved
place for that fan Of Mrs. McElrOy's.
Do give it to me, for she is furious"
The colonel suddenly frightened.
felt for the fan. but could not find il
in his pocket. Then he remembered,
that he left it on the glass case. He
and Miss Lomax wandered back to the
case. but the fan was gone. Just al
that m6ment Mrs. Majorihanks came
fitting by, pale and nervous.
we have lost lace lichu, said she,
"worth ever SO many hundred dollars
Oh, what shall dO?'
Miss Lomax looked at the colone
and the colonel looked at Miss Lomax
"Stolen! stolen!" said Miss Loma1
hysterically.
An hour was spent in inquiries anC
in agitatcd search, complicated by the
feverish whisper of Miss Lomax tha
the irate Mrs. McElroy was walking
through the rooms looking daggers a
everybody.
"What If she should bear that W,
have lost her fan?n said two or three
ladies, surrounding the colonel, ant
amiablv dividing the guilt with him
They were all ready to excuse him ant
blame Emily Mirabeau. She shoul'
not have asked him To take charge o
the fan, and 50 on.
\ The colonel assumed the responsi
bility at once.
ii alone am to blame" said he, "an'
il money can pay for that ac-I mean
that Spanish fnn-I will pay for it,"
but she said that $4,000 would no
pay for that FAM" said member of III
insurance company who passed. 81
is an heirloom"
The colonel groaned.
At that moment one of the executiv
committee passed and whlspere
caution. If there was pickpocket i
the bnilding great care must be OF
served, and undoubtedly both the lac
fichu and fan would be found. So tn
. colonel, in no enviable frame of minC
p departed to meet Miss Mirabeau an
to communicate to her the dreadful IL
telligence. To his surprise she wa
remarkably sweet and bore her fu
. share of the guilt.