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

her daughter Matilda, "who do you
think has arrived at the hotel?n
"Any of our friends?' inquired the
daughter.
81 wish could say he was" said Mrs.
Jenkins. ''No, Matilda, it is no less
than memb ! of the British nobility"
"How 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 I 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 moro to tell you, Ma
tilda. I've managed to get an invita-
tion 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 I ought not
to say it, you are very pretty-just the
very picture of what I was at your age;
as was saying, don't think it at all
improbable, at 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 ber' 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 chance to
envy my good luck"
every true" said her mother approv
7ingly, "but you know good deal must
be done before this can be accomplished.
You must endeavor to. look your pret-
test tonight. SO as to produce an inn
preston upon the young man, if, possi-
BILE. I think you had better wear your
green de laine."
"No. mamma; that doesn't become
me. Ishan 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-
quence how you look. presume you
don't expect the young lord will marry
you. But it is very important how I
look. If I can't go looking decent 1
won't so at all. OF course all the ladies
in England have gold and jewels 10
wear, and know he won't say word
to me unless / have something of the
sort"
Perhaps you ought, Matilda" said
her mother. 81 am sure it is nv sole
aim in life to promote your success, and
if could only live to see You the wife
of an earl should die in peace
Notwithstanding the apparent disi.l-
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 q 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. 1t SO CHANGED that Earl
Spencer was the only guest (the reader
must remember that it was small ceun.
try inu), and accordingly Mrs. jenkins
and her daughter had the distinguished
stranger quite to themselves. It suited
Mrs. Jenkins to appear quite ignorant of
the earls 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 to
find in the stranger. He looked much
more like third rate clerk. He wore a
flash waistcoat. an extensive cravat and
a gorgeous watch chain which might
have been gold, but looked more like the
snowy articles which remind one Of the
old proverb that ''all is not gold that
glitters,a
But Mrs. Jenkins was not o woman of
great discernment. She saw nothing but
what might be expected Of an earl, and
murmured in the ear of Matilda that his
appearance was very distingue-by the
way, she pronounced the word in a way
of her own.
Matilda nedded assent 70 her mother's
remark, and began to play Off her airs
and graces upon the distinguished gem
tleman. Her delight was great to find
that she was creating an impression.
The earl listened to her very attentively,
and even condescended to exchange a
little playful badinage.
81 should judge" said Mrs. Jenkins at
length, 'that you were not an Ameri-
can. There is something about You
which makes me think you an English
MANI"
..Ypu are right, ma'an,a said the earl,
II am from England.V
MAY ] ask if you have been long in
our countryf
L