Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-12-31

Taylor lowered his chm. rolled up his eyes,
peered at his child over his spectacles as If
he were connoisseur studying an article
of virtu. and merely snorted, "Humph"
"Good news, papaSn asked Annie, re-
turning his stare over her coffee cup.
"Yes,p snapped the colonel sententiously.
Then he made charge at the broiled
chicken on his plate.
"What9"
you're not going back to school,"
"Nop' IL was an exclamation with a
rising infection, full of heavenly ecstacy
aud accompanied by clasped hands, a joyful
smile and a suppressed shrek of delight.
YOU'RE going to get married"
"Nop' This time the exclamation had
the falling infection. The clasped hands
dropped into her lap with duh, sickening
thud, as they say in the accident column
of the newspapers, and the suppressed
shrek of delight gave way to suppressed
mixture of moan and sob.
The colonel merely grunted, scowled and
drank deep of the contents of his cup.
"I-get marriedg Why, papal I've never
been in love- even once"
Great Scotti And what of itf There's
plenty of time for love-after you are mar
ried. Why, you're only seventeen"
"But-but-no young man has ever had
a chance to show me any attention and
make love TO me- she was saying earn
estly when her father interrupted with a
bang on the table with his fist.
well, / should say not. Young men
hereabout know your father too well to
fool with their lives in that way"
"Oh, papa, surely you do not intend to
deprive me of having some fun, as every
girl has before she marries, by flirting with
the boys"
"Funi You call that fun2" roared the
colonel II call it idiocy A sensible girl
gets married when the right man turns
up, and''--
But no man at all has turned up for me
that know"
''He hasn't, heyy Well, he wilt I'll
produce the right man. Don't trouble
your little head about small thing like
that"
"Oh, certainly not, il you are assuming
all the responsibilities. But might ! be
allowed 10 know who he isS Perhaps I've
never seen him y
"Well-no, you have not"
"That's one comfort. An entire stranger
no doubtt"
''Not at all. It's your cousin
"My cousins'
Your cousin-William Burnett, who
has been in Germany at school the last ten
years"
"The original of the picture hanging
above your desk in the libraryY'
'The same"
81 don't like him.
"You don't know if you do or not; you
never saw him.
why, his portrait''-
"You are not marrying the portrait.
That was done three years ago. No doubt
he has greatly improved since then. That
is a small part of the affair, however. A
girl can learn to respect any man who is
suited to her and-has money"
'sThen he is richs"
every"
"when did you kindly arrange all this
for met"
sFifteen years ago his father and / were
bosom friends. When his son was ten
years old and you were two we betrothed
our children. then took an oath that, SC
far as my power extended, my daughtes
should marry William Burnett when she
grew to womanhood.
Annie sighed. Then she meekly asked:
sswhen am 20 see this affianced hus
bands'
To-day"
She flushed and half started from her
chair.
..Todaysn
s.He has written that he expects to call
and close all arrangement IN person on
Jan. l; that is today"
so kind of him. Then am to under
stand that these arrangements have been
forming between you for some timer
Certainly; by mail.
cit wasn't fhnnoht advisable 70 consult