The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-12-18
SUN, COUNTY. MD, FRIDAY,

would chaperone one of the most beau
tiful girls in Washington society.
The colonel's wife was in culver of
excitement; she was romantic to her
finger tips, and knowing something and
guessing good deal of the state of af-
fairs between May and Capt. Arm
strong, she had planned a little sur
prise.
The captain had arrived in Washing
ton that afternoon, and it had been a
very easy thing for Mrs. Farwell, who
knew when he was expected, to get an
/ invitation sent to him.
Early in the evening she had given
the colonel orders to go to Ralph's hotel
and ask him to accompany them to the
ball. urging as reason that it would
be an act of Kindness to the young man
since his uncle's family were not in the
city. The colonel had agreed to her re-
quest, but with such twinkle in his
eyes that she said as she helped him
into his coat:
you would be invaluable to the czar
of Russia, Charles
"Why?''
Because you have such faculty of
seeing through plots. y
That is because am so intimately
acquainted with the plotter," he an
swered.
After he had gone she arranged the
rest of her little plan. She decided she
would not tell May anything about her
invitation to Ralph, but would man
age to have her downstairs when he
came. With that end in view she got
her to dress early, but it must be con-
fessed that she had the grace to feel
slightly ashamed of her plotting and
felt half inclined to call the girl back,
after she had sent her down to the par
lor with the injunction to waylay her
uncle and send him directly up to dress
the moment he came inside the door.
She quieted her conscience with the
reflection that after all she was probably
doing those two people favor by Civ
ing them a chance to come to an under
standing.
May. all unsuspecting, went dutifully
down to the parlor, and seating herself
in a large chair before the CRATE pre-
pared to enjoy the fire and the quiet of
the deserted room.
She knew that Capt. Armstrong had
arrived in the city but she did not ex-
pect to see him until the next day.
While standing before the mirror in
her room, she had been woman enough
to wish that he might sbe at the ball
and see her in all the glory of delicate
silk and lace. She knew that she was,
to express it modestly, looking very
wells and she knew from six weeks
experience in Washington society that
many others would be there that would
think SO too. Sometimes during the
months that had interviewed since she
left the fort she had been troubled by
the old doubts about her discretion
that last night. She told herself that
after the scene she made Capt. Arm
strong could do nothing less than write
some such note as he did, She never
really believed this version of the case.
Still tonight she was conscious of a
wish that he might be witness for a
little while before speaking to her, of
the attention she received from some of
the most brilliant Washingtonians,
What woman had not rather confer a
favor by loving than to have the favor
conferred upon her,
So lost was she In revery that she
hardly heard the opening and closing
of the hall door, but she was most
effectually aroused by hearing her
uncle say, as he opened the door of the
room she was in: 81 suppose the
women are so deep In the mysteries of
their toilets that they have forgotten
all about sending for you, I've got to
get into my state trousers, suppose,
SO you'll have to amuse yourself-why
moi bless me! here's May looking like
the queen of all fairies. May, you
haven't forgotten Captain Ralph?''
Capt. Ralph saw figure in shining
white rise from deeply cushioned
chair and turn toward him, The radiant
vision dasslea him for moment, then
pang Of sharp disappointment shot
through him. The look of blank sur
prise was not the look he had hoped to
see on her face.
He advanced and shook hands rather
mechanically, then with remark