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

you which makes me think you an Eu-
Elishman."
You are right, ma'am." said the
earl. II am from England"
May ask if you have been long in
our countryP"
Mrs jenkins hardly knew whether
10 say sir on not, but finally decided
not To do So.
Only Il few months" was the reply.
"a few months" thought she.
''Then he must certainly be travelling
incog. or we should have heard OF his
being here by the papers. "
When they were really to DEPART the
managing lady turned TO the English
man and said:
Il should be very happy indeed to
sec YOU at our house 10 tea tomorrow
evening. if you have no other engage
ment. | have always had very high
idea of the English aud am glad to have
all opportunity to show it."
"raank you ma'am." the earl replied
with alacrity. II will certainly call.
At what time do you supp
AT whatever hour will prove most
convenient 10 you" was the gracious
reply.
Indeed ma'am you are very kind.
Suppose we name 1t them"
''Thank YOU. MY mean sir. We
shall look forward with great pleasure
To your coming"
Chose people are extraordinarily
polite" thought the young man after
their departure, rs he sat in his room
smoking cigar. IL really think they
have taken quite fancy to me. NV
good looks think it must he, for
haven't single recommendation be-
sides on earth. Well. if tind the girl
has money may improve my advant.
are and offer myself in matrlmony.
Money would be very acceptable just
at present"
Had Mrs. jenkins heard this solilo-
guy she would probably have come to
the conclusion that there was some
thing wrong about her calculations,
but fortunately for our hero this was
not the case.
1t will be readily imagined that Mrs.
jenkins exerted her culinary skill tn
the utmost in preparing for her il
luStrious guest. As he saw the numer-
Gus dainties spread out before him he
felt glow of Joy prevade his frame,
and determined on the spot to lay
siege to the heart of Matilda.
The reader will imagine that his adj.
vances were readily met by the young
lady. who was quite enraptured by the
conquest which she had achieved over
the heart of au earl. Nor was her
mother less gratitied. The good lady
held her head higher than ever, aud
speedily anticipated the time when. rs
the mother-in-law of an earl. she would
take precedence of all who had hither.
TO vcntured to look down upon her.
You know, Matilda" she said. that
when you are countess l shall OF
course he dowager countess or count
esS dowager, really don't know which.
wish ] could find somewhere a book
of the British peerage. then | could
find out without any trouble" she
thought of going to the bookseller and
asking him TO send for the book. but
On second thought decided that it
would he most prudent not to run any
such risk of revealing her aspirations,
even ii she were obliged to remain in
ignorance n little while longer.
One point, however, puzzled her o
little. Notwithstanding the very init
mate terms of the earl with her family,
he never ventured any allusion to his
rank or his English estates or the
amount of his income, which Mrs.
jenkins would have been very glad to
learn.
But. l suppose. Matilda" she re-
marked to her daughter, THAT he is
determined to remain incog. so as to
make sure that you marry him for him
self alone. l have read OF such cases
in stories. but never expected to have
anything like it in my own family.
Really. | think it is quite romantic.
On the whole guess it would be best
to say nothing about it until you are
fairly married"
Matilda acted upon her mothers
prudent advice. and. although her
curiosity was as strong IA her parents.
she cnrefully guarded against betray-
Ing it TO the earl.
AT last one memorable day she burst
into her mothers room with triumph
ant GLOW on her face.
Has he proposed?' exclaimed Mrs.
Jenkins in great agitation.
Yes, mother" was the reply of tho
overjoyod Matilda. He told me that
he loved me Ia distraction"
Il congratulate you, countess that
is to be-" said her mother. by the
way. did he say anything about his
rankp'
Not n word. mother"
IL am not at all surprised. Be sure
then that you don't give him hint
that you know anything about it. How
much we shall enjoy going to Englandr
'Wew repeated Matilda. Surely
ycI don't propose going across the
Atlantic ut your time of lifeP"
"At my time of ife!' said Mrs.
Jenkins sharply. Indeed l do. l
don't mean that you shall have all the
enjoyment But did the earl fix the
day for the marriage?"
HE left that to me-"
Then fix it as soon as possible.
You must not let him slip through
your fingers"
That day three weeks the important
ceremony took place in Mrs. jenkins
cottage. Scarcely was it over than
that worthy lady. no longer able to re-
strain herself. addressed her son-in-aw:
Il trust, my lord. that you will
never regret this day."