Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-09

In dine time Capt Carr and Daley arrived q
Mrs. Barton's abode, and received a rather
frosty welcome. The old lady did not like
girls, she said. but her nephew was q favorite,
and as Daisy came with him, Aunt Adelaide
was less chilling than she might otherwise have
been.
Fancy Mary letting you come all the way
from America by yourself" she said. There's
no knowing what mischief you might have got
into on the way."
Daisy blushed crimson. and could barely
falter that Mr.. and Mrs. Carter, American
friends, had bro ght her over.
Having SEN his niece settled at Mrs Barton's,
Capt Carr returned to overbridge, feeling it
first incumbent on him to say "a word in
season. "Let this be lesson to you. Daisy.
not to act on impulse. Ii might have been no
end awkward; but Jack Kerr is thorough good
sort, and will never say q word about YOUR mis-
take to any one. Goodbye; write and tell me
when you hear from the Denes.
Certainly life at Aunt Adelaide's was not ex-
citing. Daisy spent dreary fortnight with
her. and then came a letter from her friend
Alice, saying that Mr.. Dene's father he'd after
all. recovered from his dangerous illness, and
was well enough for them to leave him. and
that she anxiously expected Daisy at Feltham
Park. So. bidding Mrs. Barton farewell. Daisy
left Chester without any great regret She
had written TO her mother full account of her
unhappy mistake, but felt it wars unnecessary
to tell anyone else.
Several weeks passed very pleasantly at
Feltham. Alice Dene and Daisy had MANY
things TO talk of, old jokes to laugh over, old
friends TO discuss. Once or twice Daisy felt
half tempted to tell her friend of her dreadful
mistake at Overbridge, but her courage always
failed. The memory of it still made her feel
miserable, and even in the privacy Of her own
room brought hot bushes TO her cheeks. Mrs.
Dene was delighted to have an opportunity of
showing her new home TO an old friend, and
they rode and drove about together. and. as
the neighborhood was a sociable one, there
were luncheon and dinner-parties to vary the
monotony. There was also the county ball to
look forward to, when all the houses round
would be filled for the occasion. Mrs. Dene had
collected a large and merry party, of young
men and maidens," and felt that her pretty
friend would certainly be one Of Che bellies of
the ball 1
When the night of the bali arrived. Daisy
could not bring herself to wear again the white
dress she had worn at 0verbridge--it would be
TOO painful, she felt; so she chose a very pale
pink, which was almost equally becoming. In
a very short time after entering the ballroom
her card was nearly filed; the men of the
house-party all begged for dances, and Daisy
was feeling most bright and happy, when sud-
denly she saw a sight that covered her face
with bushes, and almost brought tears to her
eyes.
1t was only a tall, good-looking, soldierly
young man, but her confusion was great as she
recognized Uncle Jackr-no-"Capt Kerr"
She hurriedly looked for Mrs. Dene to beg to
be allowed to 60 home-a sudden headache"
any plea would do, by which she might effect
her escape; but nowhere could she see Alice.
She felt miserable, wretched, wished the floor
would open and swallow her. Il hope he won't
see me-" she thought-but at that moment
Jack Kerr turned and saw her. A bright smile
OF recognition lighted up his pleasant face,
and. before she could escape, Capt. Kerr stood
in front of her.
..nov have n ao,ooo, l., .,,.oa 81 ,.;.Lo,.
waiting for an answer, took her card and wrote
In the first vacant space one word-"Jack'-
then bowed and moved on.
Daisy felt that now escape was impossible.
She danced each dance, but as the one for
which Jack" had written his name approached
she became more and more silent and nervous.
till her partners wondered why Miss Douglas
was so absent and preoccupied.
When Capt. kerr's dance began he silently
offered her his arm. They joined at once the
throng of walters. and Daisy could not help
enjoying the real pleasure of a good valse to
charming music with a partner whose step
suited hers perfectly. At the close OF the dance
Jack led her into a conservatory.
Now let us have talk he said. First he
asked her to tell him all she had been doing
since they met, then gave her news Of the Altar
tons, DC. Jack talked SO naturally and calmly
that Daisy's shyness soon melted, and she found
herself chattering away TO him as happily as if
the miserable mistake which had caused her
such unhappiness had never occurred. As he
babe her goodnight, later on, he said:
II am going TO stay for some time in this
neighboI no ID. Will you introduce me to Mrs.
Dene? l want to ask her permission to call"
pray do come" Mrs. Dene answered to his
request. The handsome, pleasant-mannered
young man impressed her favorably at once.
Jack Kerr spent fortnight in the neighbor-
hood OF Feltham, and scarcely q day passed
that he did not appear there on some excuse or
other. Frank Dene and he found many tastes
in common, and several mutual acquaintance.
and he was always welcome. Daisy grew, un-
consciously, to look eagerly for his coming and
to feel the day dull indeed when he did not APP.
pear.
This is my last day." he said as they walked
together in the garden. Daisy was out gather.
ing snowdrops when he arrived, and he asked
Mrs. Dene if he might go and find her. do
you know why l came, Daisy?" Then seeing
her downcast, blushing face, he continued: ..Al
first / felt very sorry to find out our mistake,
but 1 soon became glad to think you were
really not my niece. Do you know why, Daisy!
She shook her head. please don't talk OF
that dreadful mistake"
Il was glad, dear, because I felt wanted
You to be something nearer and dearer than q
niece. Do you think, Daisy, you can care for
me enough to be my little wife?"
Another half hour in the garden; then Jack
said:
Goodbye, Daisy, 1 must 60 back to Over
bridge. Shall give your love to Mrs. Altar
ton?'
''Yes, please" .-..
'And I can tell her I'm going to marry
Jacks niece" "-Arqosy.