The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-12-10

with alacrity. 81 will certainly call.
! At what time do you SUPP"
! cat whatever hour will prove most
convenient to you," was the gracious
reply.
Indeed ma'am you are very kind.
Suppose we name it then"
Thank you, MY mean sir. We
shall look forward with great pleasure
to your coming"
Those people are extraordinarily
polite, :" thought the young man after
their departure, as he sat in his room
smoking a cigar. Il really think they
have taken quite a fancy to me. NV
good looks l think it must be, for I
haven't single recommendation be-
sides on earth. Well, if find the girl
has money may improve my advant-
age and offer myself in matrimony.
Money would be very acceptable just
at present"
Had Mrs. Jenkins heard this solilo-
guy she would probably have come to
the conclusion that there was some
thing wrong about her calculations,
but fortunately for our hero this was
not the case.
1t will be readily imagined that Mrs.
jenkins exerted her culinary skill to
the utmost in preparing for her il
lustrious guest. AS he saw the numer-
efs dainties spread out before him he
felt glow of joy prevade his frame,
and determined on the spot to lay
siege to the heart of Matilda.
The reader will magine that his ad-
vances were readily met by the young
lady, who was quite enraptured by the
conquest which she had achieved over
the heart of an earl. Nor was her
mother less gratified. The good lady
held her head higher than ever, and
speedily anticipated the time when, as
the mother-in-law of an earl, she would
take precedence of all who had hither-
TO ventured to look down upon her.
you know, Matilda" she said, shat
when you are countess shall of
course be dowager countess or count
ess dowager, really don't know which.
wish I could find somewhere book
of the British peerage, then l could
find out without any trouble" She
thought of going to the bookseller and
asking him to send for the book, but
on second thought decided that it
would be most prudent not to run any
such risk of revealing her aspirations,
even if she were obliged to remain in
-innaronao a1ittla- -trhila la,,esA,,-
One point, however, puzzled her
little. Notwithstanding the very init
mate terms of the earl with her family,
he never ventured any allusion to his
rank or his English estates or the
amount of his income, which Mrs.
jenkins would have been very glad to
learn.
But, 1 suppose, Matilda" she re-
marked to her daughter, that he is
determined to remain incog. so as to
make sure that you marry him for him
self alone. 1 have read of such cases
in stories, but never expected to have
anything like it in my own family.
Really, think it is quite romantic.
On the whole guess it would be best
to say nothing about it until you are
fairly married"
Matilda acted upon her mothers
prudent advice, and, although her
curiosity was as strong as her parents,
she carefully guarded against betray-
ing it to the earl.
At last one memorable day she burst
into her mothers room with triumph
ant glow on her face.
Has he proposed?" exclaimed Mrs.
Jenkins in great agitation.
Yes, mother, was the reply of the
overjoyed Matilda. He told me that
he loved me to distraction"
Il congratulate you, countess that
is to be-" said her mother. by the
way, did he say anything about his
rank?"
Not word, mother"
Il am not at all surprised. Be sure
then that you don't give him hint
that you know anything about it. How
much we shall enjoy going to EnglandP
"We" repeated Matilda. Surely
you don't propose going across the
Atlantic at your time of life?"
..At my, time of lifeE' said Mrs.
jenkins sharply. Indeed I do. 1
don't mean that you shall have all the
enjoyment. But did the earl fix the
day for the marriage?"
He left that to me-"
Then fix it as soon as possible.
You must not let him slip through
your fingers"
That day three weeks the important
ceremony took place in Mrs. Jenkins
cottage. Scarcely was it over than
that worthy lady, no longer able to re-
strain herself, addressed her son-in-law:
Il trust, my lord, that you will
never regret this day"
my lord" repeated her son-in-law,
exhibiting unequivocal surprise.
Certainly you can not expect to re-
main incog. any longer?'
But l have no claim to the title,
ma'am."
No claimr' exclaimed the mother
and daughter, turning pale. care you
not an earl?"
THAT is only my Christian name"
':And what is your employment?"'
asked Mrs. jenkins, on the point OF
fainting.
II am house-painter, madam, but
being little unwell was ordered by
the doctor to spend couple of months
in the country"
We draw veil over the scene that
ensued. The lofty fabric of pride
which Mrs. jenkins had built up fell to
the ground and her chance of being
allied to the British nobility seems
more remote than ever.-CGrotine f.
Preston an Boston Globe.