The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-03-28
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
rowlv 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 eyeing him
keenly.
"My name, ehr said the stranger
rather angrily, "eh! Colonel Beauclerc. :"
At this moment a lady came down.
stairs. She was well known to the
policeman as one of the managers, and
as she met the gentleman, she said
cordially:
"Oh, Colonel Beauclerc, l am so
happy to meet you. am tired to death!
such a scene of confusion upstairs, and
we open tonight! Would you carry
back this fan for me, and give It to
Miss Lomax? 1t is quite Invaluable,
belongs to Mrs. McElrOy, and | hope
it will be put in a choice place, but 1
have absolutely brought it down with
mellow careless! 1t arrived too late
20 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 l 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 a place. In
deed, | believe she and Mr.. Smith have
had some words, and she has loaned
such beautiful things that | would not
have her feelings hurt for the world" !"
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,n said Miss Mirabeau; 'any one
will tell YOU" SO she passed on, leav-
ing Colonel Beauclerc with the fan in
charge.
He ascended the stairs, and was met
by big dog at the door of the inner
| room. Ladies were standing at the
glass eases arranging missals, others
were busy hanging fans, others putting
away priceless boxes, chatelaines,
| watches, jewelry of every age, from
the mummy necklace down to the ear
rings of Eugenic. The artists were
hanging pictures. Mrs. Wheeler was
experimenting the embroideries, and
the miniatures from their places looked
tury smile 1t was confused me-
lange.
AS soon as he bad found the lady who
seemed to be responsible for the fans
I he asked for Miss Lomax.
Miss Lomax!n said she. II 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 | would like to look at the
fans" said he.
SO he stopped and chatted over the
.'FerniS Martins,n 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, a small but very beautl-
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 now.n said the lady with whom he
| had spoken; "that young lady with the
| light hair"
And here the coloners 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 in 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 it
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 at
that moment Mrs. Majoribanks came
fitting by, pale and nervous.
I'VE have lost lace iichu," said she,
worth ever so many hundred dollars.
Oh. what shall do?"
Miss Lomax looked at the colonel
and the colonel looked at Miss Lomax.
Stolen, stolen!" said Miss Lomax
| Historically.
An hour was spent in inquiries and
in agitatcd search, complicated by the
feverish whisper of Miss Lomax that
the irate Mrs. McElroy was walking
through the rooms looking daggers at
everybody.
What if she should hear that we
have lost her fan?" said two or three
ladies, surrounding the colonel, and
amiably dividing the guilt with him.
They were all ready to excuse him and
blame Emily Mirabeau. She should
not have asked him to take charge OF
the fan, and so on.
The colonel assumed the response
| bility at once.