Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-07-26

Withcrses could not long b stranger
within their gates to the queen citizens,
and every afternoon and evening found
him enjoying hospitalities Of the most
cordial character. At the club he had al
ready become hail fellow with all the
younger element, and had made himself
decidedly popular among the elders, and
every man who had not met that Jolly
Capt. Noel was eager TO be presented TO
him. He was ready for pool, billiards,
bowling or n drink the moment he got
within the stately doorway; and, as he
sang, whistled, laughed, chatted and
cracked innumerabls jokes during the
various games, was a capital mimic, and
could personate Pat, Hans or Crapaud with
telling effect, his presence was pronounced
by every one as better than solid week OF
sunshine-s the Queen City rare
ly, IL ever, experienced.
Poor Lane, on the contrary, was nearly
worrying his heart out. He had gone to
the Vincents' the very evening on which
he had seen the father Of the family of for
New York, and had nerved himself to put
his fortune TO the test--to tell her of his
deep and devoted love and to ask her 70 be
his wife. That she well knew he loved
hcr, without being told, he felt sure must
liked and trusted him, the captain had not
the faintest idea as to the nature Of her
feelings toward him. He was a modest
fellow, as has been said. His glass told
him that, despite pair Of clear gray eyes
and decidedly soldierly cut to his feat
ures, he was not what women called a
handsome man; and, what was more,
there were little strands Of gray just be-
ginning to show about his broad forehead
and in the heavy mustache that shaded
his mouth, Lane sighed as he remembered
that he was in his 36th year. How could
she care for him-fifteen years her senior?
Lane rang the door bell that night and felt
once more that his heart was beating even
as it did at o'clock when he was ushered
into the awful presence of her father.
Miss Vincent has not left her room to-
day, and is not well enough to como down
tonight, sir" said the servant who came
to the door, "and Mrs. Vincent begged to
be excused because of Miss Mabel's need
ing her."
IL am very, very sorry" stammered
the captain. please say that Mr. Lane
called" (they had known him so well for
two months as Mr. Lane that he could
not yet refer to himself by his new title),
"and--and would call again tomorrow,
hoping to hear Miss Vincent was much bet
ter"
And then, detected and miserable, and
yet with something akin to the feeling one
experiences when going to dentists to
have tooth drawn and the dreaded WELD
er of the forceps proves to be away, Lane
retreated down the broad stone steps until
he reached the walk, gazed up at the dim
light in che window which he thought
might he hers, mathematical himself for
his lack Of self possession in not having
asked whether there wasn't something he
could bring gher-something she would like
for the simple hearted fellow would
have tramped all night all over the town
to find and fetch it--and then happy
thought occurred to him: "Women al
ways love flowers" He ran to the next
street, boarded "a west bound car and was
soon down town at his favorite florists.
'Give me big box of cut fowers--the
handsomest you have" he said and while
they were being prepared he wrote a few
lines on a card, tore it up, tried again on
another, and similarly reduced that to
fragments. and finally, though far from
content, limited the expression of his emo
ton to the simplest words:
'Do get well by Saturday at latest
cannot go without seeing you. f. L."
where shall we send them, sir?' asked
the florist, as he came forward with the
box in his hand.
'Never mind; I'll take it myself" was
the answer, as the captain popped in the
little missive.
And when he got back to the house the
light was still burning in the window in
the second story, and the doctor had just
left, said the sympathetic Abigail, and had
said it was nothing serious or alarming;
Miss Mabel would have to keep quiet q
day or two; that was all
But what hard luck for poor Lane, when
the days of his stay were so very few! All
Thursday morning was spent at me rem
devious, counting over property and com
pairing papers with Noel. Then, while that
gentleman went to the club for luncheon
the captain hastened to the Vincents' door
to renew inquiries, and was measurably
comforted by the news that Miss Mabel
was much better, though still confined to
her room. Would he not come inI Mrs.
Vincent was out, but she thought-did that
most intelligent young woman, Mary Ann
that perhaps there was a message for
him Like Mr. Toots, poor Lane, in his
anxiety to put no one to any trouble, came
within an ace of stammering: Its of no
but checked himself in time,
and stepped into the bright parlor in which
he had spent so many delicious hours list
ening to her soft, rich voice as she sang,
or as she chatted blithely with him and her
frequent guests. 1t was some time before
Mary Ann returned Evidently there was
a message for the girls face was dimpied
with smiles as she handed him little note.
Miss Mabel says please excuse pencil, sir;
she had to write lying down. Miss Holton
has just gone away, after spending most
of the morning"
Excuse pencill Lane could hardly wait
to read the precious lines. How he longed
to give the girl a five dollar bill! But this
wasn't England, and he did not know how
Mary Ann would regard such Proifer.
She promptly and discreetly retired, leav-
ing the front door open for his exit, and
the sweet June sunshine and the soft warm
breath of early summer flowing in through
the broad vestibule.
How good you are to mel' she wrote.
"The flowers were-and are still-exqui-
site ] shall be down stairs a little while
to morrow afternoon, if the doctor is good
to me as you are. Then l can thank you,
can | not? Nj. L. w
The hours dragged until Friday after
noon came. lie had TO go 10 the Win
erses' to dinner on Thursday evening, and
IA dreary. ostentatious, ponderous feast it
was Noe, in his full dress uniform, was
the hero Of the hour. He greeted Lane
trifle nervously.
II meant to have telephoned and begged
you TO bear me out, old man." said he,
but this thing was sprung on me after
got home. Cousin Matte simply ordered
me to appear in my war paint, and l had to
do it. You are to 90 in to dinner with her,
by the way; and wish you were en- grande
tenue instead of civilian spike tail. Here's
Amos"
And Amos marched him around to one
guest after another-''self made men, sir"
heavy manufacturers and money makers,
with their overdressed wives Lane strove
hard TO be entertaining to his hostess, but