The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-11-20
CAPTURING AN Earl.

II wish | could say he was" said Mrs.
Jenkins. mo, Matilda, it is no less
than member of the British nobility"
GLOW do you know, mother?'
Because happened to be in the post
Office few minutes since, and with my
own eyes saw letter upon the wheel
directed Earl Spencer, Jonesboro hotel,
So | went right over to the hotel and
found that it was so. The landlady
pointed out the young man to me, Oh,
Matilda, he is such an elegant young
man, and all that air Of high breeding
and so on which you only find in the
nobility"
Really, mother, You quite excite my
curiosity"
"But I've got more to tell you, Ma
tilda. I've managed to get an invita-
ton from the landlady to come over and
take tea, so that we shall be introduced
to him. Only think of that! And if
only think-he should take fancy to
You, and, Matilda, though r ought not
to say it, you are very pretty-just the
very picture of what was at your age;
as l was saying, don't think it at all
improbable, Mt least impossible, that you
should attract his attention, and think
what fine thing it would be if you
should become countess"
Mrs. jenkins paused to take breath
after this long and rather loosely jointed
speech to see what effect it would have
upon her daughter. The latter seemed
quite as much affected as she could wish
She was like her mother, not only in
form, but in mind, and her mothers
words had stirred her ambition.
LA, how fine that would be!' she ex-
claimed. 81 guess Ellen Hawkins would
not show her airs any more The mean
creature, wouldn't take any notice of
her, except just to invite her to the we'd
ding, SO that she might have a chance to
envy my good luck
every true" said her mother approx,
ingly, but you know good deal must
be done before this can be accomplished.
You must endeavor to look your pref
test tonight, so as to produce an i'm
preston upon the young man, if posi-
bic. l think you had better wear your
green de laine."
"No, mamma; that doesn't become
me. shall wear my plum colored silk,
and you must lend me your gold chain. "
But" said Mrs. Jenkins reluctantly,
81 was going to wear that myself"
Il don't see," said her daughter, toss
ing her head, "that it is of much conse-
T
don't expect the young lord will marry
you. But it is very important how l
look If I can't go looking decent ]
won't go at all. Of course all the ladies
in England have gold and jewels TO
wear, and 1 know he won't say word
to me unless l have something of the
sort"
Perhaps you ought, Matilda" said
her mother. Il am sure it is my sole
aim in life to promote your success, and
if l could only live to see you the wife
of an earl should die in peace"
Notwithstanding the apparent disin-
terestedness of this remark it is proba-
BILE that unless Mrs. Jenkins expected to
share in the prosperity of her daughter
she would have cared considerably less
for her alliance with the nobility.
That was busy day for Mrs. Jenkins
and her daughter. 1t took them up to
the very moment of their departure to
arrange their toilet. At length, resplend-
ent with the best their wardrobes could
furnish, they went over to the hotel 1t
may be remarked, by the way, that Mrs.
jenkins, with the cunning natural to
such an admirable manager, had not
whispered a word of her Interior designs
to the landlady. She even cautioned
her daughter not to address the noble.
man by his title in the hearing of any
one else.
Six o'clock found them seated at the
hotel table. It so CHANGED that Ear
| Spencer was the only guest (the reader
must remember that it was small coun
try inn), and accordingly Mrs. jenkins
and her daughter had the distinguished
stranger quite to themselves. 1t suited
Mrs. Jenkins to appear quite ignorant Of
| the earl's station-even of his national
ity, unless he, should himself reveal it.
1t would have been somewhat difficult
to decide wherein lay the marks of high
birth which Mrs. Jenkins professed tc
find in the stranger. He looked much
more like third rate clerk. He wore {
! flash waistcoat. an extensive cravat anG
gorgeous watch chain which might
have been gold, but looked more like thu
snowy articles which remind one of thu
| al -, Al
glitters."
| But Mrs. jenkins was not woman O.
great discernment She saw nothing bu
what might be expected of an earl, ant
murmured in the ear of Matilda that hi
appearance was very distingue-by tn,
way, she pronounced the word in wa,
of her own.
Matilda nodded assent to her mother
remark, and began to play off her air
and graces upon the distinguished gen
tleman. Her delight was great to fine
that she was creating an impression
The earl listened to her very attentively
and even condescended to exchange ;
little playful badinage.
II should judge" said Mrs. jenkins a
length, that you were not an Ameri
can. There is something about you
which makes me think you an English
man?'
"You are right, ma'am," said the earl
Il am from England"
MAY ask if you have been long il
our country
Mrs. Jenkins hardly knew whether t.
say sir or not, but finally decided not tc
| do so.
''Only a few months" was the reply.
"a few months" thought she. '.Ther
he must certainly be travelling incog.
or we should have heard of his being
here by the papers,"
When they were ready to depart thc
managing lady turned to the English
RAN and said:
Il should be very happy indeed to sex
you at our mouse to tea tomorrow even
ing, if you lave no other engagement. ]
have always had very high idea of the
English, and am glad to have an oppor-
tunity to show it"
Thank You, ma'am," the earl replied
/ with alacTity 81 will certainly call