The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-05-06

sparks take squib. Then he carefully lit
another cigar, and, with deep sigh-for
he loved his ease-said: "Call me at s
tomorrow, Wilks. Good night
''Good night, sir.
Next morning Colonel Turner put his
poor little plan into action. Soon after
breakfast, therefore, he appeared on the
parade with his patent leather boots and
gold-rimmed eyeglass flashing in the morn
ing sun, and took up his position on seat
which commanded, but not too ostenta-
tiously, the main entrance to the Porpoise.
He had not long to wait. He soon be-
came aware that his nephew was in the
hall of the Porpoise, giving orders to the
porter and so he rose and strolled gently
toward the pier, rightly judging that
Charles would not turn to the left and go
toward the outskirts of the town, at any
rate, so early in the day. In few mo-
ments the Colonel turned short around
and retraced his steps, and then uncle
and nephew met face to face.
"Hullo, uncle p
"Hullo, Charles What are you doing
down here ?"
aOh, Pm-Well, Tn staying here,
don't you know p
II see. Like me, l suppose; taking a
Whit of sea air in the middle of the sea-
son. And yet 1 haven't seen much of you
in town, have 2"
"Why-er-no-not much, he STAN
mered. ''The fact is-come and have a
drink" he blurted out with the sudden
satisfaction of one inspired.
The Colonel was moderate man, but
he knew that wine warns the heart OF
boy even more than of man, and he was
anxious to obtain his nephew's confidence.
The result was exactly what the Colonel
expected. They had not returned to the
parade long before Charles, after ner-
yously touching on indifferent subjects,
suddenly turned to his uncle with the
story of his first serious passion.
.'Uncle, want to get married .
The Colonel consulted the lighted end
of his Trichinopoly, as was his custom.
"Where is she playing p said he, after a
pause.
playing? She dosen't play
Resting here, suppose, went on the
Colonel, who was patron of the drama,
and knew something of its yernacular.
81 don't know what you mean, uncle
she's lady
sThey all are, murmured the Colonel
con6dentially to a distant fishing smack.
"She's little older than l am, went on
Charles stifiy.
''Of course" said the Colonel to the
smack.
Charles flushed to the roots of his fair
hair. "This is not subject for chaff, " he
said Indignantly; "when fellows awfully
in love he's-well, he's awfully gone, you
know
"My dear boy" said the philOsophic
uncle, laying his hand upon his nephew's
shoulder, ':take nay advice Have as
many love affairs as you like, but don't
think of marrying until you are thirty"
-'Ah, that is all very fine for you, re-
piled Charles, somewhat Modified shut
I've nearly ten beastly years to wait till
then"
'Ten very excellent years. said the
Colonel sententiously; "mind you do not
waste them.
For short time there was silence and
feeling of constraint between the two,
and then Charles said suddenly, in tone
of suppressed emotion : ''Uncle Alured,
there she is. l want you to know her,
and she has often asked me to introduce
you. Come along"
The Colonel looked, and saw tall, trim
wasted figure coming along the parade
with light springy step. He felt that
the crisis had arrived, so he threw away
his Trichinopoly apd bFaced himself for
the fray. As his nephew's first love swept
gracefully toward them, the Colonel saw
that she was by no means as youthful as
the trimness Of her figure might imply.
Charles introduced his uncle to his love
with an air of proprietorship which could
not but have been gratifying to both Of
them, and the Colonel raised his hat with
his most gallant air. But the lady was
far from content with so formal a recogni-
tion, for she held out both her hands, and
said "Colonel Turner-Alured-don't
you remember me ?"
'Georgiana ~ calculated the Colonel, Sc
taken aback that for the only time, on
record he dropped his gold trimmed eye
glass.
''Yes, Georgiana-or Mrs. Marshal" :"
she replied, smiling at the Colonel's aston
ishment 'Did you not expect to see
me?"
sIndeed, no y gasped Colonel Turner
''most unexpected pleasure =
"Why, you wicked hoy" said she, turn
ing to Charles, ''didn't you tell me that
your uncle had been on the point Of com
ing down ever so many times, and was
only prevented by his engagements in
London p
Charles fell in by her side with very
snlky expression of countenance, and the
three walked on together. 1t was wonder