Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-04-23
THE CHOCOLATE GIRL,
nv y. W. WALTON.

Mrs. Tressyln, her niece and maid.
were on her way to the Springs; Mrs.
Tressyln, who was an invalid, to drink
the waters, her niece, who was young
aud beautiful, to be in "the swim," and
the maid to wait on them both.
But at Baltimore they found a tele-
gram recalling themaid-cause sufficient
10 have completely changed the whole
programme had Mrs. Tressylin's niece
been like many other nieces in the world.
But she WIS not
"Now this shall make no change in
your arrangements, aunt she said.
"You must go aud drink the waters and
i will be your maid myself
you, Lulu, You my maidl"
"Yes-why not? You think these
baths the very thing you need, and why
shouldn't | help you to them IL can
You have been mother to me too many
years for me to think Of hesitating. |
can surely forego the pleasures of society
few weeks. Any way, I'll try
And what would the world say to my
niece being my maid2"
"A great deal, probably, IL she knew
it; but it's not our bust ness to tell her.
II she discovers the fact III not deny it,
assure you.
"Have your own way, child; I'm too
weak to resist; but"
An expressive shrug concluded her re-
mark.
The following day they had arrived at
the Springs, secured their rooms, and the
"maid had unpacked the trunks.
"Will you deign to inspect your SER
want, Mrs. Tressylin2 How do you like
the looks of mei" And Lulu. in pretty
white cap, turned from the glass in which
she had been surveying herself to hear
her mistress comments.
Mrs. Tressylin had never seen her niece
look half so pretty; the snowy whiteness
Of the cap brought out the peach bloom
tint of her cheeks, while its dainty frill
lay lightly on the ripping hair it could
scarcely repress, much less hold in
bounds
"Why, Lulu, hadn't the least idea
you would look that-well! I've a mo-
tion to keep you in caps and never take
Nora back.
Without doubt there was great differ
ence between her and Nora's looks; the
difference there is between def jar and
q Dresden vase.
There were many guests at the Springs
this season; Mr.. Patrician, Mr. Parvenu
Mr. Moneybags and Mr.. Narrownlraiis
were all there with their families. There
were pretty and plain maidens, gallant
knights and knights not gallant, old peo.
pie, children, bachelors. benedicts and
dashiug young widows--in fact. it was q
popular booth Of the popular fair.
There were the Scrills of Buffalo, and
the Dressels and Dorseys, to whom Miss
1ressylin had letters Of introduction in
her trunk. given her by friends in Wash
ington. How nice it would have been to
be feted and dined and driven out by
theml But the waters were proving ben
eficial to her aunt. and she had no re-
grets.
Mrs. Tressylin's rooms opened on long
broad gallery. at the farther end Of
which the woodbines and trumpet flow
ers had laced themselves into an imper-
vious screen, while the elms along the
front laid daily on its floor a rich carpet
of shadows, with figures picked out in
threads of sunlight This gallery she
made her sittingroom, almost abandon
ing the little square box Of parIor that
belonged to her suit. 1t was not a pri-
vate sitting room, OF course, but hers in
common with the other guests whose
apartments opened on it; but as they
were frequently on excursions, or of
with the throng, it was much of the time
virtually hers. And she enjoyed its
pretty views, soft breezes and fresh air,
rs an old salt enjoys the sea. Sitting in
its cool shadows she listened to Lulu
read aloud, now and then gIimpsing in
the distance the blue peaks piercing the
bluer sky, or leaning over tho balusters,
watched the guests below on the lawn
the middle-aged couples chatting in
the shade, the bevies of children, like
light-winged butterflies, futtering here
aud there, and the bellies aud beaux in
the court playing tennis.
Mr.. Norman's was one OF the rooms
that opened on the gallery, and Mr..
Norman was one OF the catches" OF the
resort He was much sought after, in
fact pursued, which is not surprising, as
he was good-looking and agreeable. and
was known to possess q long rent roll.
He was pulled into all manner of social
enterprises, and was invited here and
there. His popularity sometimes pleased
and sometimes bored him, but what OF
that9 What business had he in Vanity
Fair il not to be hawked about
He and Mrs. Tressylin, with their pro-
pinquity OF apartments, naturally became
acquainted and as naturally became
friends. How could she keep At arms
length, as II a stranger. the man who al
ways saw that she had the first morning
paper, offered his arm for her promenade,
end was ready at moments notice tC
render her any little service in his power