The record-union., 1893-06-17

I Tell me, Elsbeth," and letting slip one of
the oars, Conrad bent forward and pos
sessed himself instead of one of the small
ungloved hands that lay in her lap.
1t was exactly at this most unfortunate
juncture that Miss Wilkins, who had hap
pened to select to-day for putting into
practice her theory Of early rising
stepped out from side path on to the
shore of the lake.
Neither OF the occupants of the boat OBJ
served her, but for full minute the
EnglishWoman, who was not short
sighted, stood rooted to the spot; then
she rubbed her eyes and looked again,
and finally she turned decisively on her
heel, like a person who has come to a reso-
luton, and hurried back toward the
4 house.
Though Miss Wilkins was both an
4 Englishwoman and a governess, she was
not prude, but the scene she had Just
! witnessed had played the part OF that
well-known last straw to which the cam
1 els back is so apt to succumb. so long
/ as she had seen in Conrad a prospective
husband for one of her manageable
charges, she had eyes for none but his
good qualities, but now that he had
/ proved failure from the matrimonial
/ point of view, she had suddenly become
alive to his defects. 1t so happened that
/ during the early part of her promenade
thoughts of bitter disappointment had
already been busying her with the de-
! parting guest, and then had come that
vision on the lake.
Evidently the Baron was quite right
Thus she told herself as she fastened
toward the house. A man who INDUCED
in such objectless pastimes as this could
be no more than heartless libertine.
The Baron was in his dressing-gown
when he was told that nj ISIS Wilkins
wished to speak to MIN Immediately. 1t
! was with a hairbrush i'll one hand and a
razor in the other that he came forth to
grant the interview. lie listened in ST
| lence to the gOVerness' tale, but she knew
by the look that came over his only par
TALLY shaved face that this was the limit
of his patience more decisiveIy even than
of hers.
Il am almost sorry the young scamp is
going to-day" he remarked between his
teeth, $50 that | shall not have the salts
faction of turning him out Of doors"
Five minE.es later the dressing-gown
had been exchanged for morning coat,
the more pressing defects of toilet reme-
died, and the Baron, still with half
shaved chin and a look of Unsurpassed
fury making him alarming to behold,
hobbled out once more into the passage.
Scarcely two PAGES from his door he
barely saved himself from running
against Conrad Kestler who seemed in as
: lCetL d LlbJ d. hlIIlSStl-
THE very man | Wantn' he burst out,
gIaring at his guest. "Will you please
step in here, Count Kestler? L have a
word to say to you'll"
"Now, them" he began, when Conrad
had followed him into the room, Il
know that you are leaving my house to-
! UNFORTUNATELY, | cannot help adding
( but nevertheless | consider it my duty as
a father to demand an explanation of
your conduct. 1t is bad enough to flirt
bareiacedly with grown-up women, but
let me tell you that a man who takes
pleasure in turning the heads of children
in short frocks should keep clear of re-
spectacle houses"
lie paused, almost snortiEg with in
dgnation, but no answer came. The
young man stood looking past him at the
/ window, with 4 light OIL his face which
the Baron did not remember having seen
there before, and apparently not listen
ing.
asked the old man in more subdued
tone, struck, in spite of himself, by the
| others look.
81 have only this to say, that when you
met me in the passage just now, l was on
my way TO propose for your daughter S
hand"
The Baron's jaw dropped.
My daughter?' he stammered after a
moment of stupefaction. Her hand? |
don't understand. Do you mean Anna
| or Helene? lou cannot have them both,
you know" he added grimly.
Thanks; | don't want either. 1t is
your youngest daughter whom L hope to
make my wife"
But my youngest daughter is Els
BETH
And it is Elsbeth whom 1 want to
marry"
This time the Baron required longer
pause. Without taking his eyes from
Conrad's face he put out his hand and
felt his way backward To the armchair,
where he sat staring for a full minute.
Young man, is this JOKE ?" he stern
ly inquired at last, and being told that it
was the most unimpeaChable earnest, he
added: but Elsbeth is in the school
room; she is in short skirts; she"
will be Is on her next birthday -
completed Conrad.
Baron Dornenburg went throuoh a
rapid mental calculation.
Bless my heart So she will.''
And do you know of any valid rea-
son why woman of Is should not either
wear long skirts or marry a man of Is ?''
well, no, L suppose not" said the
Baron, still in tone of helpless be-
wilderment.
and in consideration Of my being the
son OF your old friend, do you not
think"
II think nothing at all Just now: |
know nothing. The matter must be con
sldered. l must talk to Miss Wilkins -
Miss Wilkins was talked to, with the
result that Anna and Helene, while stand
ing at the drawing-room window after
| breakfast, We're greatly surprised to see the
carriage that had come round to the door
sent back again to the stables. They did
not know whether to be pleased or pro-
voked. Without either of them having
gone through the process known as losing
ones heart, they had for the last few DAYS
been feeling puzzled and vaguely Jealous
OF each other, which was an uncomfort-
able sensation. ON the whole they had
been glad that the guest was going. And
now this delay-what could it mean?
by the evening of the same day thew
knew what the delay meant, having
learned, with as much establishment as
genuine delight, that though at present
no husband was in store for either OF
them, Providence had assigned to them a
prospective brother.
And that was the end of Elsbeth's holi-
day.-Dorothea Gerard in Longman's
| Magazine.
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