The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-12-30

back to the house, and then strolled about
until dusk, smoking cigar; and then up
TO his room he went to prepare for the COM
pany expected in the evening.
After while came subdued knock at
the door He was rather surprised to see
old Tom Willis, coachman, gardener, fac
totum, and what not about the place, who
smiling mysteriously, came in, holding a
note between his thick finger and thumb,
which, without single word, he delivered
and withdrew. The note astonished Mark,
and very properly, for it read as follows
"MR. MARK CRoxToN Il have fol
lowed you down here to Middlefield and
will be at Briar Hill tonight, at the gate
that leads into the orchard. wish to see
you, and it will be the worst thing that can
happen to you if you refuse to meet me.
| will be there between and 10.
MARY LoFTUs."
A mistake, clearly. He had never heard
of Miss Lotus; and the inference was ma
tural-her note was intended for the other
Mark-hs rakish cousin, who had got
himself into an ENHANCEMENT with this
young person.
Well, our hero, something of the man of
the world in this way, felt that he must
keep the appointment and explain, other
wise Miss Lotus might bring about more
mischief than she perhaps intended.
So philosophizing upon the folly of youth,
Mark dressed for the evening, and being
ready soon, and restless, went down stairs
again to the parlor, on the possible chance
of meeting Cora there. But he was dis
appointed.
The piano was open, and he sat down to
pick over the keys, and suddenly his wan
dering eye caught sight of pretty little
portemonnaie lying on the music-rack.
Cora's, Of course, for her name was on the
back. Needless Cora He took the low
er's liberty of opening the pocket-book,
and was not the least surprised to find a
roll of bank notes within-one hundred
dollars.
So like Cora
He was vexed with her; to a man of his
severely correct habits, this sort of reck-
lessness was profoundly annoying, and he
could not help thinking of the future be-
fore him with such a young lady as his
wife
II must try to get her into better habits,
or we shall have decided misunderstood
ings, and many of Them
So he placed the portemopnaie in his
pocket, with the firm determination to say
nothing about having seen it until Miss
Cora had had sufficient fright, after the dis
covery of its loss.
Dancing parties in the country, as we
know, begin and end at what old-fashioned
| folks describe as reasonable and proper
hour.
Mrs Croxtons guests began to arrive
about eight o'clock, and soon the parlors
were full. The leading people of the
country were there-some had come about
twenty miles-and very brilliant aud ami
mated scene the throng presented.
Mark Croxton-a rather shy man-did
not present himself until the crowd had
pretty we'll gathered, when he contrived to
enter without being much noticed, under
cover of resounding duet by the accom-
plished Misses Linnett's at the piano.
He paid his respects where they werere-
quired and then took up his post in rather
out of the way spot to look on and muse
undisturbed; and he was deep in | know
not what reverie when, all of a sudden, it
occurred to him that it must now be con-
siderably past nine o'clock.
Among so many, to come and go unob-
served was easy; and quietly he slipped
away, and be vas soon out of the house
and in the grounds In the the clear star
light.
Lighting cigar and drawing his coat
about him, quietly he glided to the point
of meeting. And as he approached the
orchard gate figure emerged to meet
him-the slim. graceful figure of young
girl, thinly clad and shivering.
She was very pretty, he could easily tell;
but her features were thin and little bag
gard, and in her large, bright eyes there
was CLEAN of menace and passion.
"Tt's well you have come, Mark, she
said, eagerly, "for I'm nearly frozen and
I've been up to the house twice, looking in
at the windows and had almost given you
up"
q beg your pardon said our Mark,
coming quite close to her, "but you are not
addressing the person you imagine"
sob! IL thought it was Mr., Mark
Croxton, sir" said the girl, confounded and
DFtdluicsS.
n am Mr.. Mark Croxtons cousin, but
my name is also Mark Croxton Ireceived
very threatening letter this evening, in
tended, | suppose, for my cousin; and |
take the liberty of acting for him and meet
ing you in his place to demand some ex
PLANTATION"
He spoke sharply, but the tone was as
sumed, for he really pitied the poor girl,
thinking he understood her casee xactly,
Still, he knew that she was desperate,
and concluded that intimidation would all
things considered, be the wisest course.
swell, sir, there's nothing | need be
afraid of I'm sure, said Mary Lotus, after
minute recovering. aYour cousin has