Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-02-27
CAPTURING AN EARL.

'I.a mew exclaimed Mrs. Jenkins to
her daughter Matilda. "who do you
think has arrived ut the hotelp"
ANY of our friendsp" inquired the
daughter.
III wish could say he was" said
Mrs. jenkins. mo. Matilda, it is no
less than member of the British
mobility"
GLOW do YOU know. motherp"
because | happened to he in the
post-Ollice few minutes since, and
with my own eyes saw letter upon
the wheel directed Earl Spencer Jones.
Iboro hotel. So went right over 10
the hotel and found that it was so.
The andlady pointed out the young
man to me. Oh. Matilda. he is such
an elegant young man. and all that air
of high breeding ard so on, which you
only lind in the nobility"
IDEALLY. mother, you quite excite
my curiosity"
but I've got more to tell you.
Matilda. I've managed to get IN in-
vitation from the landladv to come
over ani take tea. so hat we shall he
Introduced To him. Only think of that!
And if-Only think--he should take
fancy to you. and, Matilda. though l
ought not To say it, you are very
pretty-just the very picture of what
u was at your age; as was saving. ]
don't think IT, at all improbable, at
least impossible, that YOU should at
tract his attention, and think what
fine thing it would be if you should DC.
come a countess"
Mrs. jenkins paused to take breath
after this long and rather loosely
joilted speech to see what effect it
would have upon her daughter. The
latter seemed quite us much affected N
she could wish. She was like her
mothcr. not only in form. but in mind,
and her mothers words had stirred her
ambition.
LA. how fine that would be!' she
exclaimed. II guess Ellen Hawkins
would not show her airs any more.
The mean creature. | wouldn' take any
notice of her except just to invite her
10 the wedding. so that she might have
a chance to envy my good luck"
Very true" said her mother, mp.
provingly; but you know Il good deal
must he done before this can be nc
cOmpish Il. You must endeavor ia
look our prettiest tonight, so as &c
produce an impression upon the young
pnan. if possible. | think YOU had
better wear your green de lame"
mo. mamma that doesn't become
me. | snail wear my plum-colored
silk. and you must lend me your gold
Chain"
But" said Mrs. jenkins reluctant.
ly, Il was going to wear that myself. /"
Il 4. a. wl,Ny,
tossing her head. "that it is OF much
consequence how YOU look. presume
you don't expect the young lord will
marry You. But it is very important
how | look. If l can't go looking
decent won't go Mt all. OF course,
all the ladies in England have gold
and jewels To wear. and l know he
won't say word to me unless l have
something of the kind"
perhaps you ought. Matilda" said
her mother. II am sure it is my sole
aim in life to promote your success.
and if could only live to see YOU the
wife of an earl 1 should die in peace"
Notwithstanding the apparent disin-
tercstednesS OF this remark. it is proba-
Bile that unless Mrs. jenkins expected
to share in the prosperity of her
daughter she would have cared consid-
erablv less for her alliance with the
nobility.
That was busy day for Mrs. jenkins
and her daughter. 1t took them up to
the very moment of departure TO ar
range their toilet. At length, re-
splendent with the best their ward
robes could furnish. they went over to
the hotel. 1t may he remarked, by
the way. that Mrs. jenkins with the
tunning natural to snch AN admirable
manager. had not whispered IA word of
her Interior designs 10 the landlady.
She even cautioned her daughter not
to address the nobleman by his title in
the hearing of any one else.
Six O'Clock found them seated in the
hotel. Ii so CHANGED that Earl Spencer
was the only gneSt (the reader must
remember that it was a small country
inu). and accordingly Mrs. Jenkins
and her daughter had the distinguished
stranger quite To themselves. II suited
Mrs.Jenkins to appear quite ignorant of
the earrs siation--even of his nation
atty. unless he should himself reval it.
Ii would have been somewhat did
cult to decide where in lay the marks
fessed to lind in tine stranger. He
looked much more like third-rate
clerk. lie wore flash waistcoat. an
extensive cravat. gorgeous watch
chain which might have been gold. but
looked more like the SNOWY articles
which remind one Of the old proverb
that ''all Is not gold that glitters."
But Mrs. jenkins was not a women
of great Giscernment. She saw moth
Ing but what might be expected of
mn earl. and murmured In the ear Of
Matilda that his appearance was very
distingue-by the way. she pronounced
the wore, in way of her own.
Matilda nodded assent to her
mothers remark. and began TO play
off her airs and graces upon tho dis
tinguished gentleman. Her delight
was great to find that she was creating
an impression. The earl listened to
her very attcntively. and even condo
Bcended to exchange littlo playful
badinagc.