The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-11-28

tunity to show il"
Thank you, ma'am," the earl replied
with alacrity. Il will certainly call.
At what time do you SUPP
cat whatever hour will prove most
convenient to you," was the gracious re-
ply.
Indeed, ma'an, you are very kind.
Suppose we name it then"
"Thank you, my-I mean sir. We
shall look forward with great pleasure
to your coming"
s'Those people are extraordinarily po-
lite, ," thought the young man after their
departure, as he sat in his room smoking
cigar. 81 really think they have taken
quite fancy to me. My good looks, ]
think it must be, for / haven't a single
recommendation besides ON earth. Well,
if / find the girl has money may i'm
prove my advantage and offer myself in
matrimony. Money would be very ac-
ceptable just at present"
Had Mrs. Jenkins heard this solilouuy
she would probably have come to the
conclusion that there was something
wrong about her calculations, but fort
unately for our hero this was not the
case.
It will be readily imagined that Mrs.
Jenkins exerted her culinary skill to the
utmost in preparing for her illustrious
guest. AS he saw the numerous dainties
spread out before him he felt glow of
joy pervade his frame, and determined
on the spot to lay siege to the heart of
Matilda.
The reader will easily imagine that his
advances 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 mo-
ther less gratified. The good lady held
her head higher than ever, and speedily
anticipated the time when, as mother
in-law of an earl, she would take pre-
cedence of all who had hitherto ventured
to look down upon her.
.'You know, Matilda" she said, ssthat
when you are a countess shall of course
be dowager countess or countess dowa.
ger, really don't know which. wish
! could find somewhere book of the
British peerage; then / 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 re-
vealing her aspirations, even if she were
obliged to remain in ignorance little
while longer.
One point, however, puzzled her a
little. Notwithstanding the very in
innate 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 suppose, Matilda" she re-
marked to her daughter, "that he is de-
termined to remain incog. SO as to make
sure that you marry him for himself
alone. Ihave read Of such cases in sto-
ries, but I never expected to have any
thing like it in my own family. Really
i 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 pru-
dent advice, and although her curiosity
was as strong as her parents she care
fully guarded against betraying it to the
earl.
At last one memorable day she burst
into her mothers room with a triumph
ant glow on her face.
Has he proposeds" exclaimed Mrs.
Jenkins in great agitation.
Eyes, mother" was the reply of the
eyerioyed Matilda. aHe told me that
he loved me to distraction.
~ congratulate you, countess that is
to be, said her mother. s'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
aWer' repeated Matilda, ssSureiy You
don't propose going across the Atlantic
at your time of life?"
"At my time of hfem said Mrs. Jen-
kins sharply. "Indeed do. I don't
mean that You shall have all the enjoy
ment. But did the earl fix the day for
the msrriagef"
He left that TO me-"
''Then fix it as soon as possible, You
must not let him slip through your fin-
gers"
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 restrain
herself, addressed her son-in-law:
Il trust, my lord, that you will never
psgret this day.
my lord!" repeated her son-in-law,
exhibiting unequivocal surprise.
Certainly you cannot expect to re-
main incog any longer?"
'But ! have no claim to the title,
ma'am."
"No ciaiml" exclaimed the mother and
daughter, turning pale. :Are you not an
eaEl?'
"That is only my Christian name"
Sand what Is your employmentY'
asked Mrs. Jenkins on the point of faint
ing.
am a mouse 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 en-
sued. 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 re-.
mote than eyer,-Caroline F, Preston in
Boston Globe.