Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-08-27
PRICE ONE CENT

ustIAtSSS0. A uOu u tnlnh MISS Illus IN
after bein' able to see company to-day.
ladies.
"Sick," queried one Of the ladies with
a knowing look at her companions.
Sick, eh?n
We'll, that is all the NOR reason. in.
terrupted Mrs. Deacon " uite. stepping
within. that is all the more reason that
we should see her. Go tell your mistress
a delegation awaits her coming" and
without more ado the committee filed
into the parlor.
They looks as il they'd got funeral
on hand" whispers the help TO Miss
Titus, "or prayer meetin' or sumthin'
very solemn.
"But cant be seen,r groaned Miss
Titus. Just look at my facet"
Il told 'em you was sick, said the girl.
commiseratingly viewing the face upon
which the pinching. scalding. and
"lotion-ingr had done their perfect work.
Il told 'em you was sick, and you can
jes hint like bout aiysipelas or scarlet
fever, or anythin' what leaves red,
pimpley skin, you know.
"Yes, yes. sighed Miss Titus, re-cream-
ing her almost raw skin, and then plenti-
fully bedaubing herself with powder. Il
suppose will have to make some such
an apology for my appearance, as she
heroically descended TO the parlor
"Gracious me-" exaculated Mrs. Brown,
feeling for her smelling salts, whatever
Is the matter with your face Sarah ANN"
Miss Titus gazed at the concentrated
faces of the committee and gasped out
something which might have been Cere-
bro-Spinal-M -Menengetis, Erysipelas, or
anything else under the sun.
ALLOW me to congratulate you, Mrs.
Smith, presently said Mrs. Deacon
White, wishing heartily for a bit of
camphor the while, though, for bride,
must say you 60 present most de-
plorable appearance.
"A bridel" ech ed Miss Titus, the
blotches upon her ace turning the hue
of fine royal puI1l "Me brideln
"There is no ne. / FOR further secrecy,
Sarah Ann," re- ponded Mrs. Brown.
"The fact of Deacon Smith being shut up
here for days makes the acknowledgment
of your marriage a necessity, it seems to
me.
Deacon Smiths Shut up here for daysl"
gasped Miss Titus, showing strong symp-
toms of hysteria. @Why of all thingsl"
At this juncture the frowzy head of
the help appeared at the parlor door.
Deacon SMITH ma'aml" she an
nounced with giggle, land he says as
how hewants to see you alone, all by
yourself, ma'am.
The look of virtuous indignation upon
the faces of the rising committee,
added to Miss Titus's confusion.
Il wouldn't see him for the world, T"
she cried. "Tell him I'm i'll, dying, any
thingl" covering her disfgured face with
her hands after one despairing glance in
the mirror.
Excuse me, said suave voice, and
into the parlor strous Deacon Smith, not
withstanding the protestations of the
help, but having just returned from u
business trip of several weeks Miss Titus,
have only a few moments ago heard the
talk concerning our marriage-ohl" per-
ceiving the group of ladies, i trust ]
have not intruded upon meeting Of the
Aid Society"
The deacon seemed to pronounce that
one word with peculiar intonation.
"Our marriage!" whispered Mrs. Dea-
con White to the embarrassed Mrs.
Brown. do you hear that, and sti1 Sarah
Ann will keep on denying it, suppose.
Deacon Smiths ears caught the whis-
per.
"Our rumored marriage, he corrected
with smile, = a rImor without one par
ticle of foundation, permit me to say.
Miss Titus, overwhelmed with various
emotions. burst into tears.
The deacon with look OF wonderful
resolution upon his face, walked over
to her covering figure, and STOPPING,
endeayored to possess himself of her
face hiding hands.
The committee, rather sllamefacedly,
hereupon took their hurried departure.
Miss Titus, said the deacon, not
without some embarrassment. i long
have admired you, and" But why
should ] relate what Deacon Smith said
upon that delicate occasion, or what, pre-
sumably, was Miss Titus's answers
@Jes' think, " exclaims the postmistress
a month or SO later, "jes' think what q
few tattlin' busybodies kin bring about!
Now there's that marriage of Miss Titus's
and Deacon Smith'sl He says how he
never would hev the courridge to offer
even his company to her, but fer that
talk. and to think as how she he'd been
hankerin' arter him fer years.
Mrs. Brown laughed ironically.
Il guess the deacon's courage had been
aroused by the rumors of Miss Titus's in-
vestments," she retorted unamiably,
"more than by the other talk. 4"
@But the most amazin' thing about il
all, chimes in Miss Trotter reHectively,
sis the change in Miss Titus's looks.
couldn't help speakin' of it to her, while
a fittin' on the weddin' dress and says
she, with that peculiar smile of hern n
alters did say there was somethin' taken
about Sary AIMS smilel, and says she,
lookin' at herself in the glass, Happiness
is Gods own cosmetic, Miss Trotter. II
viii do what lotions, creams, or the form
ulas of any skin specialists win fail to do
says she.
Lotions, creamsl" exclaims the post
mistress, light dawning upon her busy
brain. 1T wasn't perfumery, then, arter
all. Land sakesl" But for once she kept
her own counsel and a neighbor's secret,
for to this day Mrs. Brown and Miss Trot-
ter have failed to draw from her the
meaning Of that one exclamation.