The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-02-10

love-secret which prompts young people to
share their bliss with every friend they
have; her instinct would be, for the pres
ent, rather to avoid the subject; so, prom
ising silence, she left Lady Glumglass
alone.
Lady Glumglass could have cried aloud
with pain and dismay. The letter made it
all, alas, too plain.
She could not recall the course of their
conversation in detail, short though it was;
but she knew that complete chain of
corroboralive evidence had been woven by
the answers which she had made, answers
which referred, of course, to Mr. Wescot's
excellent proposal for governess for his
three children; while Doris's questions,
though perfectly applicable to the subject,
had been prompted by a supposed offer of
marriage from Jack She took Jacks en-
velope fIom her basket, and there was Miss
Wescot's letter; by a simple careless change
of letters she had put herself into this
most dreadful position. How to escape
from it she could not think By her own
carelessness she had led Doris into betray-
ing her love for Jack, for she now under
stood thoroughly the cause and meaning
of that lovely smiling confusion; she had
drawn out the sacred secret of maiden's
heart under false pretences, and had been
commissioned to accept the man who had
never dreamed of making her an offer;
and it had been done with such fascinating
delicacy and ingenious modesty, Doris ac-
cepting the first dear spoils of conquest in
such a way as to give to my lady some APP
parent share in sealing the happiness of
them both. Now, if she had known the
real state of the case-that Doris had never
been in love with Jack at all Except, per
haps, once, when she was seven and he
thirteen) that she only accepted the sup
posed offer because she had been so stronge
ly urged to do so, almost as matter of
course, by her more than mother; that the
tears of vague disappointment, and of
resignation to duty imposed by loving
gratitude; that the smiles of amusement
at the thought of her old brother-friend
figuring as suitor in so sudden and strange
fashion-even had her ladyship known
all this, it would yet be matter Of ex-
treme delicacy to have to tell her that the
offer was all mistake that it referred to
another lady, who was much wanted to act
in some amateur theatricals, but whose
previous refusals made it rather an un-
pleasant matter to renew the request
This would at least have been an awk-
ward and disagreeable task; but viewing
the matter as Lady Glumglass did, to whom
the state OF the case seemed as plain as
though Doris had proclaimed Il love
him, it was almost too horrible to contem-
plate.
Something, however, must be done, and,
with that instinct which we all have at
times of facing the very worst at once, she
wrote off to Jack, begging him to come
over directly, as she wanted his advice and
assistance in a great and pressing difficulty
Jack, being quite unable to imagine what
could have rendered his assistance so sud
denly imperative, forbore to distract his
mind with fruitless imaginings, but made
immediate preparations for short alb
sence, and within two hours of receiving
the letter was already starting ON his way
to Beech Court
As he neared his destination, an anxiety
which he could not control came over him.
As the features of the passing scenery be
came familiar, visions of vague dangers
threatening the little household shook his
heart within him, but by the time he had
reached Beech Court (and the local fly
gave him some time for refection) he had
recovered his wonted calmness
He went at once to his aunts room
"Oh Jack, my dear, I'm so glad you've
come; and the girls are out, so it's all safe
81 came at once, mother, dear. She
was indifferently mother or aunt to him.
Il saw the girls waiting by the Melbury
Road gates, so concluded there's moth
ing the matter with them"
"0h, no, Jack; it's l that have done it.
| don't know how to tell you, or what you
will say to me or think of me
Jack smiled, and suggested that he should
be taken at once into her confidence.
Lady Glumglass proceeded to explain.
II had a letter from Miss Wescot yes
terday about Doris. You know about it ?n
Jack nodded.
And | began telling her, in a rather
mysterious way suppose, that I had
surprise for her-quite valentine Ii
was very good offer indeed, and had
quite set my heart on her accepting it; and
then gave her this to read and she
handed Jack his own letter as She had
given it to Doris yesterday
Jack read it quickly
"Good gracious, mother, she must think
l was mad
"Oh, no, Jack. How blind | have been.
l never dreamed of it; but, dear child, she
looked as have. never seen her look be-
fore, and the end of it was that she ac-
cepted it very prettily before knew of
the mistake What can we do? | dare
not tell the poor child Jack, this is
very sacred confidence