The record-union., 1893-06-17
ELSBEHH'O HOLIDAY.

mo escape this timer said old Baron
Dornenburg, glazing somewhat savagely
at an open letter in his hand 1t was a
letter from an old school-fellow, now the
representative of Government in a dis
tant province of Austria, and in it the
Baron was warmly appealed to on behalf
of that school-fellow's son.
At first sight there was nothing very
appalling about this fact, and yet this was
the moment which the widowed father
of three daughters had been dreading for
years.
The men who make successful chaper-
ons are extremely few and far between.
a male duenna is either prescriptions
or overnight in the fulhllment of his du-
ties. The Baron belonged to the former
order, to the extent of making life bur
den to himself perpetually, and not in
frequently to others also. Young girls
were treated by him as a dangerous eX-
plosive, within a mile OF which no match
should be struck, for fear of a catastro-
phe, and so faithful was he to this theory
that his friends frequently felt it their
duty to reason with him.
But, Dornenburg, how do you expect
to get rid of your daughters if you keep
them shut up behind gratings?" BLESS
the man, he's surely not going to have
three old maids help him into his gravel"
such like remarks flew past his ear,
but left him unmOVed. A male chaperOn Is
in so far easier to satisfy than female
one, that the latter has no peace until her
charge has made brilliant marriage,
whereas the former is content if she has
not made disgraceful one.
When on this September morning Ba-
ron Dornenburg had done glaring at his
old comrades letter, he reached the same
conclusion he had begun with-"No es-
cape this timep' After which he promptly
sent for Miss Wilkins.
Miss Wilkins was his youngest daugh-
ter's governess-tor the Baron still had a
daughter in the schOolroom-and she was
likewise the English instructress of the
elder harnesses. 1t had cost a hard
fight before she had been secured, and
peace with her, Being past 30, and bald
and equity, the Baron had foolishly sup
posed that he would be unmolested by
the fair sex. He very soon recognized
his mistake. Various had been the frau
lens and madcmOiselleS who had passed
in procession through the house OF Dor
nenburg, each one of whom would have
been ready to overlook both the bald
head and the crippled joints for the sake
OF sharing with him the crown of seven
points. Miss Wilkins was not only the
oldest and plainest goVerness he had been
able TO unearth for love or money, but had
something distinctly puritanical about
her person, reaSsuring to any one with 50
shaky an opinion OF female human ma
ture as had this particular Baron.
Miss Wilkins" said Baron Dornen-
burg, addressing the gaunt, middle-aged
EngllshwOman as she entered, II have
had some very unpleasant news. My
old friend, Count kestler, writes to me
here, saying that his son Conrad has
just returned from his American tour,
and is very anxious for some shooting.
ElS own deer-fOreSts have not yet recOV-
cred from the disease which infected
them two years ago, consequently be ap-
peals to me. l see no escape but to ask
Conrad hestler here for ten days. 1t is to
consult with you as to the precautions to
be taken that | have requested your
presence here. In the first place.
Il presume the young man is unmar-
ried?'' asked Miss Wilkins abruptly, and
spark of some quite newly-born inter-
est seemed to illumine her usually chilly
gray eyes.
'Ot course Conrad is unmarried" con-
hrmed the Baron in some astonishment
And the kestlers' name has a good
sound, and the fortune is considerable"
Miss Wilkins was warming To her subject
as she spoke. "Oh, Baron Dornenburg
/ do believe that letter from your old
friend IS nothing but an interposition of
Providence! Why, don't you see las
clearly as possible that tins means a hus-
band Tor one Of your daughters?''
Hold, theren' said the Baron gruflly,
flushing dark red from YexatIon. IF
ever | believed that any woman could
keep her fingers out Of the match making
pie, l took you TO be that woman, Miss
ilkins, but l do believe you're made of
The same stuff the others. Husband
indeed Marriage! Count kestler OF r OH
renstein would long ago have fallen a
prey to some enterprising Vienna mann
ma if matrimony had been in his line. |
'f,far Hsit,t i.a
but his fame as hnGRdgeUr de coeHrS has
long since penetrated even these wood
land retreats. l understand him to rank
as the most successful lady-killer in vi
emma society. In TACT, his one vocation in
life seems to Oe to 90 about turning heads
and breaking hearts; and this is the man
who for ten days is to dwell under the
same roof with my girl-upon my word
it is letting the wolf into the sheep
fold"
Very possibly the wolf is not so black
as heis painted" Miss Wilkins cautiously
suggested.
'He is blacker, at any rate, far, than
he ought TO be, and it will require both
your vigilance and mine to checkmate
the empty-headed love-makiug with
which he is sure to pass his time l have
been turning over the matter in my
mind, and come to the conclusion that dur
ing these critical days you must be the
constant companion OF my two elder
girls. 1t Is the only possibility OF avert
ing the danger that threatens"
And Elsbeth?'
LET the child have a holiday. 1t will
do her no harm TO shut up her books and
run wild Tor ten days"
Miss Wilkins shook her head, but so
entirely were the Baron's thoughts taken
up with his elder girls that he never even
noticed the disappearing gesture. Els
beth was a child, still safe in the school
room; the day when she took to long
skirts would be time enough to begin
worrying about her.
When, at the end of half an hours pri-
Vate consultation, the gaunt English
woman left the Baron's presence, she was
primed with warnings yet for all that
SO obstinate are some tibers in human
nature-the spark Of matchmaking en-
thusiasm was not utterly quenched in
her eye. Silently, but not the less ire
vocably, was the middle-aged English
woman determined that this opportunity
should not be lost. 1t was with an eve to
the main object that she encouraged both
Anna and Helene to pass their wardrobes
in review, and made various well-meant
but not over skllIluI attempts in the di-
rectlon OF ireshenlng up tum bled tiounces
and procuring new lease Of life for hats
which had borne the brunt of summer,
During this week of preparation such
things as turned ribbons and half-curled
feathers belonged TO the common features
OF the apartments, though the approach
OF the Baron generally caused them to
disappear. In their heart OF hearts both
girls had set upon those ten prospective
days hopes which as yet they had not ac-
knoTledged even to themselves. Even
the domestic virtues, of which both pos