The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-06-05

"You are Mrs. Charters husband. said
It was about Christmas of the year oil
which have last been speaking-I hope
the readers ideas of my chronology are not
utterly disarranged-that my views arrived
at the extreme which 1 have indicated
About two months later came the catas
trophe.
1t was Mrs. Naples who suggested to me
the idea of going to the Young Maenner
chor carnival on our own private account
had fully intended to go, though had
only thought of going in party; but al
once approved of her scheme. For oi
course agreed that it would be much more
amusing for us to go together with single
cavalier and attack not only the world oi
our acquaintance, but also our familiar
and intimate circle.
"My dear" said I, ''if we can manage il
carefully enough we'll have all the men
and especially my husband, stunned and
frantic" And laughed with delight
when thought of the manner in which
would perplex the wits of my poor Penny
whose perceptions were never at any time
extraordinarily acute The first step was
to decide ON a cavalier; the rest to arrange
our plans.
may pause for moment to say that il
must not be supposed that when have
spoken of our little set that l have meant
to imply that my field of operations had
become limited. l was still at the height
of popularity and success-as much quoted
and flattered as ever. Yet it is true that
did not touch all points within my reach,
and dare say that might soon have lost
my fame and become wholly identified
with the pleasure seeking set which most
affected.
Thus, though could at that time have
picked ont almost any man in society to
assist Mrs. Naples and myself in our little
adventure, turned over in my mind only
the men of whom have lately been speak.
ing. Mrs. Naples seemed rather to wish
for Captain Brague, but thought it would
not be quite polite for me to undertake
such an adventure in his company, for ]
! knew, though it affected me very little,
that we had been considerably talked
about. 1t was fagrantly unjust, for the
captain and had never become even inti-
mate, though we had been together good
deal, and the only fault that ought to have
been found with us by society was that we,
neither of us, had anything particular to
do; it made no difference that we some
times preferred to do it together.
Even my mother appeared to be anxious
about mo on his account. She was now
living by herself in comfortable little
house, my sister (who had in the most un-
grateful manner refused to take advantage
of the opportunities which In the en-
deavor to do my duty by her had offered
to herr having left the maternal roof to
live in lancaster Actually she married
a farmerl My mother, accordingly, had
more time to bestow on me-when she
could catch me-and in our conversations
she exhibited good deal of uneasiness
about my way of life. "You are too rapid,
my dear Ethel" said she. "Such place
will ruin your health If you don't take
care. and there's always the chance that
you may get into some other kind of
trouble" But met her objections with
an unansverable argument when pointed
out to her the difference between my sis
ter's affairs and mine, and asked her which
of her daughters she considered to be the
most fortunate.
So, as say, determined not to call
upon the captain for assistance. and agreed