The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-05-27
THE CHOCOLATE GIRL.
BY F. W. WALTON.

Mrs. 1reSSyllG, nef niece ana maid,
were on her way to the Springs; Mrs.
Tressylin, who was an invalid, to drink
the waters, her niece, who was young
and beautiful, to be in "the swim," and
The maid to wait on them both.
But at Baltimore they found a tele.
gram recalling the maid-cause sufficient
to have completely changed the whole
programme had Mrs. Tressylin's niece
been like many other nieces in the world.
But she was not
Nov this shall make no change in
your arrangements, aunt" she said.
You must go and drink the waters and
will be your maid myself.
"You, Lulu. You my maid!"
"Yes-why not? You think these
baths the very thing you need, and why
shouldn't l help you to them if can
You have been a mother to me too many
years for me to think of hesitating. !
can surely forego the pleasures of society
l few weeks. Any way, rll try"
"And what would the world say to my
niece being my maid?"
"A great deal, probably, if she knew
It; but it's not our bust ness to tell her.
II she discovers the fact l II 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. Tressylin? How do you like
the looks of me?" And Lulu, in pretty
white cap, turned from the glass i'll 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, 1 hadn't the least idea
you would look that-well! I've a no.
ton to keep you in caps and never take
Nora back.
Without doubt there was great differ.
pnce between her and Morals looks; the
difference there is between delf jar and
\ Dresden vase.
There were many guests at the Springs
this season; Mr.. Patrician, Mr.. Parvenu,
Mr. Moneybags and Mr.. Narrowmeans,
were all there with their families. There
were pretty and plain maidens, gallant
knights and knights not gallant, old peo-
,,le, children, bachelors, benedicts and
lashing young widows-in fact, it was O
popular booth of the popular fair.
There were the Scrills of Buffalo, and
the Dressels and Dorseys, to whom Miss
Iressylin had letters of introduction in
her trunk, given her by friends in Wash-
ngton. How nice it would have been to
be feted and dined and driven out by
them! 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.
ais had laced themselves into an imper-
Vious screen, while the elms along the
'front.' laid daily on its floor rich carpet
of shadows, with figures picked out in
threads of sunlight. This gallery she
made her sitting room, almost abandon.
ing the little square box of parlor 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'll but as they
| fNA ,Nff
with the throng, it was much of the time
virtually hers. And she enjoyed its
pretty views, soft breezes and fresh air,
IS an old salt enjoys the sea. Sitting in
Its cool shadows she listened to Lulu
read aloud, now and then glimpsing in
The distance the blue peaks piercing the
9luer sky, or leaning over the balusters,
watched the guests below on the lawn
the middle-aged couples chatting in
he shade, the bevies of children, like
.ight-wnged butterflies, futtering here
and there, and the bellies and 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
act 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
,hat? What business had he in Vanity
Fair if 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 if stranger, the man. who al
ways saw that she had the first morning
paper, offered his arm for her promenade
and was ready at y moments notice t.
sender her any little service in his power
And then there was flavor of chivalry
and old-time courtesy about his atten
tions that addressed itself to Mrs. Tressy
fin,a .aak,io;a., ka.A~n