Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-04-02

Size did not see her Aunt pau3aa aGatn
till O'Clock that atseraooa. which Was
agreeable both to herself and to Aunt
Paulina. For her sunt's plans went like
clock-work. Trunks were packed aud
bills were paid aud . cab engaged. and
at O'clock Aunt Paulina saw her niece
into it and sat down herself. and draw
ing sigh-of relief folded her hands.
Ripley. Mrs Dawson writes. she be-
gan cheerfully. -is hyelimess itself. The
Cheevers are there, aud the Longs. Henry
Cheever, you know, has just returned
from abroad--a very pleasant young man.
And that young Long must be twenty.
six or seven by this time. And there
will be others, Of course. | am sure you
will be glad | thought Of going. All
young girls have their foolish moments,
Marion, aud you have had yours; aud
you will be grateful"
The station was close at hand, and
Aunt Paulina's reassuring remarks were
interrupted.
The 310--is it on timegr she said to
the station agent, as she sat down in tho
waiting room.
The sos, do you mean, ma'am3" he
responded. Its just gone. ma'am, this
minute The so is the next. ma'am.
"Who told me it was 310?H said
Aunt Paulina, sternly. But nobody had.
"Forty minutes! What an aggravationl
Sarah. get the tickets
She settled into displeased silence
dispIeased and uneasy. Her brow was
furrowed, and her eyes roved toward the
door apprehensively. She was i'll at
ease, quiet Marion reflected, for fear poor
John Gordon would put in an appearance.
John Gordon did not. but what was al.
most as bad, Mr.. Lamb did.
Mr.. Lamb, in a very thin suit, but per-
spring still with the combined pressure
of heat and hundred aud eighty pounds
came putting in, bought ticket. and sat
down and famed himself with his hat
and newspaper.
"Ah, Mrs. Field and Miss Taylor!n he
exclaimed. "Whither away? I'm
bound for the city for half an hour Hot
day, but I've something I can't neglect
John Gordon promised to go with me.
Where is the rascal2 Train in ten min.
utes. Where is he, Miss TaylorS You
ought to know"
He came over and sat down beside
them, large, cheerful and smiling.
Aunt Paulina frowned. but she might
as well have smiled; Mr. Lamb behaved
as though she had.
You ought to know, young lady" he
insisted JOLLY. Keeps you informed,
doesn't he? How do you like him, any.
how? Nire fplIow ehY
Mr.. Lamb ratified his paper, aud looked
at his audience beamingly.
Fine is the word for him One oi
the brightest young fellows 1 know.
Good company every time, John Gordon
is Haven't you found him so?"
"Yes," murmured Marion, though
Amt Paulina looked like a thunder
cloud.
Jolly fellow, Gordon. And that isn't
all of him. He is clever-that is the
new word, amt it? Smart is what
mean First-class business man, but he
goes deeper He's what you might call
literary. Unsuitable reader-up to every
thing. Even published an article once.
You know he ranched it for year. for
fun, and he wrote it up for the 'Artic
Monthly aud il made rather sensa-
tion. Clever fellow !"
Aunt Paulina raised her lowering brow
with n cough. Literary qualities had
always been admired in her family. HeI
grandfather had been a minister.
We'll, he ought to be, said Mr.. Lamb.
"He graduated at Yale and spent year
or two at Heidelberg afterward. Trav.
eled over Europe and took every thing in.
You've noticed how well informed he il
on all sorts of things, Mrs. Field?n
"Um-m /" said Aunt PauIina, clearing
her throat.
Hes practical, though. He isn't all
for theories and notions. He means TO
be rich man yet, and he's in fair way
to be- It's one of the greatest glass and
china businesses in New England, and
the income is pretty big. 1t was fine
business when his father died, but Cor
don has built itup wonderfully. He owns
good property in Boston, too. Well,
suppose Gordon is worth seventy five
thousand, anyhow"
%How much 2" asked Aunt Paulna.
About $4,000. The Gordons have
been rich family since the food, I
reckon. Good old family, the Boston
Gordons. He's Higgins on his mothers
side. She was a Philadelphia Higgins.
Let's see-you're from Philadelphia, Mira.
| Field? p
"Yes, said Aunt Paulina, nervonsly.
She was, and knew the Higginses 10
be blue-blooded and exclusive.
~Well, here I'm blowing about him like
house afire. But there's ample excuse
for it, Miss Taylor-excuse me; I'm q
rough old custonier-but if things do
come out all right, accept my cougratu-
lations. He's the finest fellow in the
country"
Silence for a moment, which the rattle
of Mr. Lambs paper-he was tanning
Aunt PauIina-alone disturbed.
There he is nowl" said Mr. Lamb, az
footsteps sounded outside. Here you
arel Don't care bit about going in
without me, do you? Well, it is hot
I Guess I'll have to let you of.
John Gordon bowed low to Aunt Paul
ina, and smilingly to Marion. and sat
down beside her. He had red and white
cap, and red sash instead of the black
one, and he looked handsomer than ever.
But he looked alarmed and astonished.
Where are you going?' he said to
Marion. anxiously.
To Ripley, she answered, her eyes
| downcast.