Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-12-12
ANNAPOLIS MD, SATURDAY EVENING DECEMBER la, 1891
4 LUCKY JOKE.
THE STORY OF AN APRIL FOOL HOAX
WHICH PROVED A BLESSING


crnelly. fiendishly dull at San Jeanl"
~Duil, ehi" Her elder brother-elder
by good score Of years-shrugged his
shoulders. You find it dull, do you
Well. you must remember that you in
sisted on coming, in spite Of all our re-
monstrances. You thought it was mil
itary post, eh, and that there was some
fiirting TO be donei Well, you've found
out your mistake by this time.
"Yes, / have. frankly admitted Miss
Manton, clasping her hands on top Of her
curly head. And l wish TO goodness |
was back in dear old Chicagol But in
the meantime must try and keep my
self alive.
Hugh Manton regarded her sternly.
"Who was that letter tor" he asked.
"To Phyllis Perkins, the heschoolma'am.
"Humph! didn't know she was fa-
vorite Of yours.
Neither is she. F"
"Why are you corresponding with
her?"
@rm not That letter was not from
me; it was from David Belfield. the ex-
press agent--or at least SO she will sup
pose. He wants to see her--or at least
so she VIII think--up at the station. And
she'll go to him. She's just fool enough
for that How he will starei And how
she'll long for the cracks in the railway
platform to open wide enough for her to
he able to slip through and vanish from
his sightI"
And Milly laughed exultingly.
Her brothers eyes met in a dark
frown.
SIS that your idea of fun 2" said he.
Milly nodded.
"A splendid joke, said she. "Such a
piece of prim perfection as that Yankee
schoolma'an Is. haven't forgotten yet
what a scornful look she gave me that
night | was teasing poor little Reggy
Willis at the sheet and pillowcase party.
II David Belfield gives her another such
glance when she presents herself unin-
vited at the station I shall feel myself
avenged ALI is fair, you know, on the
1st Of April; he's very sick, don't you
understand9" she added roguishly. "He
thinks he's going to die and has some
thing to confide TO her first. Oh, you
may depend upon it, Hugh, she will lose
no time.
"But it is after train time, Milly; she'll
have to walk.
"Of course she will; that's part of the
jokel" added the beauty.
WElo-a., ,x1sl<ofB
"Yes, II miles But she won't mind. =
Look here, Milly, cried Manton, very
angrily, you've done mean and cruel
thing. did not think it was in woman
TO play such contemplate trick as
that
"Oh, you're setting up to defend the
Yankee schoolma'am, are your" replied
AIillicent defiantIy. Apparently she is
the queen of all hearts.
Il don't care copper about Miss Per-
kins, said Msnton, and you know that
as well as / do. But l like to see fair
play. And mean to go and tell her that
all this is malicious joke on your part.
go by all means, said Milly calmly.
"But think you'll fnd yourself too late.
Don't look at me so savagely. A long
walk won't hurt her, and short disap,
pointment will only do her good.
"For deliberate cruelty and conscience,
less fraud" slowly uttered Manton,
give me woman.
He strode hercely out to the sawmiIl
where the strong throbs of steam ma.
chinery shook the building, and busted
himself among his workmen, while Milly
with yawn, betook herself to crump
led novel and box of somewhat stale
chocolate bonbons.
She had come to visit her brother al
San Jean under the impression that the
far Pacific coast was a very lively sort oI
place, with plenty of picnics, yachting
parties, and Government officers to pass
away the TINA
To her amazement she discovered that
San Jean was wild and solitary nook,
far from the luxuries of ciyilization-s
Sahara in the woods.
Her brothers wife was eminently un
copgenial to her, being mere domestic
machine.
Miss Perkins, the district schoo
teacher, took no pains to conceal hel
scorn Of the gay city coquette, and Mill
cent was drearily counting the days unit
her mother should send a remittance
sufficient for her to return to Chicago.
She had tried her best to get up fir
tation with the foreman of the steam
sawmill, and with David Belfield, thu
handsome young official at the railwa,
express Office, but neither of them seemed
inclined to respond; and MilIy Manton
like Mariana in the -Moated Grange,
could have cried out in sheer desperation
. ! am weary, weary would that wers
deadi"
sSick alone and has something to say
to me that must be said Oh, wondel
what it can bel said Phyllis Perkins Il
herself. as she sped with the long, swing
ing stride Of true daughter. of the wild
erness through the flower enamelet
woods
The sun hung low on the edges Of tn,
forest when at last she ran up the rud,
wooden steps Of the unpainted pine build
ing above which lowered tile rudel,
traced sign: "San Jean Station.
AL was STILL The heat of the sun ilas
drawn little bubbling spots Of resin on
Of the green boards. and the sweet sprin.