Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-05-30
70 overlook the disparity in their

ing circumstances, which il will
not necessary to psrt;eularize when
we say, previous to his marriage,
she was poor girl.
II there was one thing dearer to
Mrs. Winters heart than any 9TH
or, it was to be found in the soirees
which she gave weekly during the
month Of August. They were very
recheehe affairs, and decidedly en-
joyable, too; and to them all Straf-
ford--the respectable portion there
of, we mean, was invited. There
were those sufficiently ungenerous
that they asserted these parties
were gotten up for the express pur-
pose of Introducing Miss Sarah
Jones-Mrs. Winters sister, and a
member of the household--to pub
lie notice, in the hope that she
might find a partner for life. As
Miss Jones, though by no means an
ill-looking lady, was of an age when
the peach-bloom was departed from
the cheek, and the chances of her
ever becoming a wife grew fewer
with each succeeding year, and
thirdly-as the soirees were at that
season Of the year when STAFFORD
abounded in visitors from the city
lit may be the reason for them,
assigned by the censorious, was not
utterly without foundation.
On occasion of one of these gath
crings, Cora Benton stood looking
over o porte.f .feuiHe of rare eDgrav-
ings-Mrs. Winter was nothing if
not @sthetic-when her arm was
touched. Turning, she saw the
village physician, DR.. Abercrombie,
near her, and, at his side, q gentle
man who was an entire stranger to
her. He was quite tall, had fair
complexion and regular features,
light-brown hair, which waved from
q high, white forehead, laughing
blue eyes,. and whiskers worn after
the English style; and she, at once,
mentally pronounced him hand
some and distingne-looking.
Miss Benton, permit me to E,aka
faBye efaaaiHtsa EAia sas sHditA rs'snas ss..
4 am happy to meet Miss Ben
ton,' said Mr.. Lloyd, bowling grace
fully.
Just as / reached here / was
summoned to attend q patient,
continued the doctor, sand it will
be necessary that | Immediately
withdraw from this company, much
as l regret having to do SO. Iwish
some one to take charge of my
friend, and, not seeing Mr.. or Mrs.
Winter, | come to you as the per-
son best qualified to act in that ca
pacity.'
1T will give me pleasure 'to act
in that capacity as far as in my
power replied Cora.
Thank you. l do not think you
will find it an arduous task re-
marked the doctor. Il am conf
dent he will amply repay you for
your efforts in his behalf by his as.
sistance in contributing to the plea
sure Of this evening. He plays the
piano like a Gottschalk, sings like
a.
That will do interrupted Mr..
Lloyd, his face crimsoning.
''Tis true,' persisted the doctor,
'as you will find il you see iit to call
upon him.
Il have no doubt Mr.. Lloyd will
make good your words when his ser.
vices are called into requisition, as
they are certain to be some time
during the evening" said Cora.
| THAT he will responded DR.
Abercrombie. 'But l must leav,
you, asking to be remembered tc
Mr.. and Mrs. Winter, and wishing
you the very pleasant evening that
will. without doubt, be yours ant
he was gone.
| Il trust you will not accept al
my friend said of me as the truth
Miss Benson remarked Mr. Lloyd
| He is regarded as veracious,
believe replied Cora archly.
| 4 fear you are not so well verse;
in his joking propensities as hi
fellow-students.'
| Perhaps not; but
! At this juncture Mrs. Winter ap
peared, and, addressing her, Cor
said: :
i Mrs. Winter, let me introduce
to you Mr.. Lloyd, a friend of DR.
| Abecrombie.'
4 sAny of DR.. Abercrombie's friend