Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-01-29
CATCHING AN HEIRESS.
The Unfortunate Mistake Made by
Would-Be Lover.
He Tries to Appear at His Best, Is Sweet
on His Sisters Cook and Catches Moth
ing But Distressipgly Bad Case
of Influenza.

OF lnuuenzas
I came down to Knelford on account Of a
letter l had just received from my sister
Leonie, tells a story-writer in an English
magazine. She stated that Miss Mountjoy,
the heircss, was to be at the hall, and that
il | was on the ground in time might have
a fair show to get hold of her fortune.
Grant Morrall, who had been my rival all
ways, was coming down later, and had no
doubt that he would try himself to win the
money if only to spite me.
When l arrived at the Knelford station
was disappointed to hear that my sister had
not sent down any carriage to meet me-
The station-master informed me that there
was young lady who wanted t. 20 up to
the hall, and that we might go together in
the stage. AT once the thought flashed over
me that this must be Miss Mountjoy, and
was delighted at the prospect of showing
her my disinterested courtesy.
She was homely girl, but with rather a
pleasant expression in her eyes, and quite
took fancy to her
All the journey busted myself making
her comfortable; rolled up my elegant new
overcOat to make her u footstool. and sat in
the draught of the door so as to protect her,
and tried in numerous ways to be attentive,
chuckling at the thought of how would
forestall Morrall!
When we arrived at the hall busted my
self seeing about her trunks, and was
pleased to see how unostentatious was the
little box, studded with brass nails, that
served as casket for her numerous Paris
ian toilets, so different from the Saratogas
that most ladies owned.
Almost at the same instant there was a
rush of the hospitablc Knelford party, host
ess, guests and all, out to welcome US, and
was borne in. momentarily losing sight of
my dulcinea as / entered.
Here's your room, Egerton, all ready"
cried Leonie, "but we didn't expect you un-
til tomorrow"
She moved forward the cushioned arm
chair as she spoke in front of the merry
wood fire that glanced and flickered on the
marble hearth, making the room look so in
describably cozy, with it's warm hangings
and warm crimson carpet.
"Come, make haste with your dressing"
she went on, buslly. "Don't be all the
evening"
"pll be ready presently" said. The cold
in my head was beginning to make itself Wis
ible-I sneezed two or three times.
Dear, dear" cried Leonie, "what cold
you've got"
"Id's nothing" l said, and I sneezed
again.
"Well, be as quick as you can. 1 want to
introduce you to Miss Mountjoy."
"Hag youl I'm already acquaidted with
Bliss Mountjoy.'
ALREADY! Oh, you sly wretch; where
have you seen herl"
Travelled with her. got this cold id my
head taking off my overcoat for her to rest
her feet upon"
Travelled with herl Where9 When?"
SD the stage frob Delforb's corder to-
day."
But she came day before yesterday"
"Day before yesterday" l echoed, my
astonshment checking the fit of sneezing
which just trembled in my nostrils. Then
who was it cabe Id the stage with
black alpaca dress"
1.-THE girls Why, that was the new
cook"
''The dew cook! Codfusion seize it all !
and l paid her fare and gave her by seat
and badc love to hen; thinking all the while
she was Bliss Bountjoyl'
Lconie burst into hysterical fit of laugh
ter.
"Oh, Egerton you, with all your fastid-
ious ideas not to know u servant woman
from Miss Mountjoy! Why, Ida is tall and
pale, with face like q Greek statue, and
this girl is-oh, goodness gracious!
Some people would have flown into pas
sion, some would have groancd in the
atrical despair 1 only sneezed, an,
sneezed, and better sneezed, as the canny
Scots say.
"Sed be up sub bustard water ad bowl
of hot gatnip tea-ad I'll go to bed ~ said,
curtly.
"And not see Ida at all? And Grant Nor
rail- has been here two days!'
"Grad Borrall be haggedI"
So turned Leonie out of my room be-
fore she could utter any further remon-
strances.
l kept my room one week with that hid
eous influenza, cheered only by aching
bones and throbbing temples. Mary Jen-
nings, the "new cook" sent up several
dishes, land hoped the gentleman who was
so kind to her was bet er," but l deigned
neither to taste her knick-knaclzs nor an
swer her message, and when, at length, L
emerged from my room, looking very much
the worse for wear, Miss Ida Mcuntjoy
was receiving the congratulations of all the
guests at Knelford. She had promised to
become Mrs. Grant Morralll
Of course, the pretty country place had
no more attractions for me; but, when l
casually spoke of my intention to take an
early departure, Grant Morrall looked very
wise and chopped that Mrs. Wharton dis
charging her new cook so suddenly had
nothing to do with my going"
1 looked daggers at him, but condescend-
ed no reply. And Miss MountjoY's soft
little laugh added to my discontinue.
Women never can keep a secret from one
another, and dare say Leonie had told her
all about it.
Charming Fishers of lIen.
Recently there was gathering Of young
married couples in Louisville and the con-
versation turned on the manner in which
the wives had secured their husbands. One
had paved the way TO the altar by making