Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1891-05-19
CAPTURING AN Earl.

II wish could say he was, sAid Mn.
jenkins. NO. Matilda. II l. no les
than q member % the British nobility"
"llow DO YOU know. mother
"Because happened 10 !. Ia tho post
Oflicc few minutes since. and with my
own eyes ! saw u letter upon the wheel
dircied Earl Spencer. Joncsboro hotel
~ wrnt night over to the hotel and
found that II was 80. The landlaiy
I.ointe'l out the young man to me. oh,
Matilia. be- Il such an elegant young
man. and all that air of high breeding
anl - ca which You only find In the
nobility"
Really. mother, you quite excite my
curiosity"
"But I've got more 10 tell you. Ma
,illa. I've managed o. set an invita-.
ton from the landlaiy 81 come over AMI
take tea. 80 that W. shall D. introduced
90 him. Only think of thati And IL
only think-hc should take = fancy 10
YOU, and. Matilda, though ought not
o. say u. you arc very prrtty--just the
very picture u what was at your Agc;
a. was saying. don't think II n, all
improbable, 90 loas, impossible. that you
should attract his attention. and think
what hnc thing 10 would H. " You
should ls,sme q cuuntcsS.-
Mr.. jenkins pauscl 90 take breath
after this long aud rather loosely Jdntej
speech a. -. what effect IL would hay.
upon her daughter The latter sccme!
quite a. much affected a. che could wish.
Sho was like her mother. not only In
form. but In mind. aud hcr mothers
words hal stirred her ambition.
LA. how tine that would bc'' she cx.
claimed. Il guc-s Ellen Hawkins would
not show her air. any more. The mean
creature. lwouldh't take any notice II
her. except just to invite her 20 the Wi
ding. ~ that shc might have a chance "a
envy my good luck.
"vcry true" .ail her mother approv
ingly. "but You know a goal deal must
D. done lsl0rr this can Is accomplished.
You must enlrayor 10 look your prrt.
ticst tonight. 80 ~ o. produce an im
pr,,si0n uIon the Young man. N I-pssi.
ble. ! think you hal bc,icr wear youi
gr,-n do laine
"No. bahama. that Doesn't b'cums
nc. lshAll wear ny plum colurrd silk,
and you must lsnl N your gold chain.
"ilut." aid Mr.. jenkins reluctantly.
Il wus going to wear that myself"
Il don't 49," sail her daughter. tos.s
ing L,r hc.l. "that 10 4, 20 much cons.
qu,ncc how You lu"k presume you
don't expect the young lonl will marry
you hut Il d, very important how ]
look. n cant ~ looking decent ]
won't go a. all 90 cour.c All the lA,lio'
in England have gold ani jrw,is h.
wear. ani know b. won't say a word
a. mc unless have something ~ the
Art"
PERHAPS you ought. Matilda, -ail
her mother 4 am surr IL l. my ~,
aim Ia lie 90 promote your succ-s,. AMI
u I could Only 1.-Two a. -. yOu the wife
q an earl should die In peace
Notwithstanding the apparent disiu
tsrsteducs. u this rrmark IL /. proba
10, that uule,s Mr.. jenkins rHJ-ctsl 10
share in the prosperity - her daughter
he would have carcd considerably loss
for her alliance with the nobility.
That va. busy lay fur Mrs. Jenkin,
and her daughter I, took them up 10
The very momcnt q their departure o.
arrange their toilet. Atlcngth. rcsplcnl.
mt with the b~st their wardrobe. could
furnish. they went over to the hotel. II
may b. rrmhrke,l. by the way. that Mrs..
jenkins. with the cunning natural 10
such an admirable manager. hal not
whisI-r,-l a wurl u her ultsror designs
to the landlady She even cautioned
h,r daughter not a. addrcss the noble
man by hi. title In the hcaring % any
one else
Sin oclock found them SEATED at the
hotel table. II ~ chanc-l that Earl
Spencer was the only gue-' (the rra.ief
must rrmcmb-r that IL was q small coun.
try inn. anl accordingly Mr.. jenkins
AMI her daughter had the distinguished
stranger quite to themselves. II suits'l
Nh. Jcnkin. ~ appear quit" ignorant 81
the eafls .tltion-cycn - Sis national
ity. unless he should himself reveal IL.
II would have b-sn somewhat difficult
to decide wherein lay the marks of high
birth which Mr. jenkins profc--od %
End Ia the stranger. lie looked much
more like Third rate clerk. He wore a
lash waisicoai. an extensive crayat and
a gorgeous watch chain which might
have bccn gold, la, lookcl more like the
snowy articles which remind one - the
old pruycrb that "all i not geld tina,
glit,rrs"
hut Mrs jenkins was not q woman oi
great disocrnment. She saw nothing but
what might h. expected oi an earl, aud
murmurcl In the raT ~ Matilda that hi,
appearance was very distingue-by the
way. she pronounced the word In way
q her own.
Matilda uo,ldo,l ascent % her mother,
remark. and bcgan 10 play of her air
and gracc, upon the distinguished gym.
il,man. Her delight was great 10 hn1
that she wa, CREATING an impression.
Tie earl listened b. her very attcntiyely.
and even cunde-c-nle,l Ia exchange .
little playful badinagc.
IL should judge" said Mrs.. jenkins at
length. "that you were not an Amer.
can. There Il something about you
which makes me think you an English.
mann
"You are right. ma'aln." aid the earl,
Il am from England"
May Ass II you have been long in
our cOuntyy'
Mr.. jenkins hardly knew whether 10
lay air OF not, but finally decided not 10
DO ~.
"Only few months" was the reply.
~ few months" thought she. "Then
be must certainly IL travelling iIcos.
or We should have heard Of his being
here by The paper.-
When they were ready 10 depart the
managing lady turned To the English
man and sail:
II Should IL very happy indeed " 80
you al our house 20 tea tomorrow even.
ing. II you have no other engagement.
have always Lad a very high idea Of the
English. and am glad 10 have an opror'
tunity 10 show It,
Thank You. ma'am," the earl replied
with alacrity. Il win certainly call.
Al what time do you sup
AT whatever hour will prove most
convenient 10 you" was the gracious re
ply.
"lndeei. ma'am, you are very kind.
Suppose we name u o then"