Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-03-08

gladly die for you"
"Oh, my wants are not so sxorbitant
as that" she answered, lightly. az
merely want your advice. as nv oldest
and best friend, in case where l cant
trust my family to judge impartially.
think you know Mr.. Hamilton-Mr.
Richard Hamilton, meau." And |
lanoied that she blushed a trihe as she
mentioned the name | answered with
very bad grace that had the great
honor of distant acquaintance with the
young gentleman in question.
81 fancied so. Now, the long aud
short Of the matter is, that my people
are very anxious to have me--marry
him; and Aunt Mary in particular has
her heart set on it,"
He seems to me very desirable
part, indeed" said, coldly II sup
pose you hardly need my congratula-
tions."
He, too, is so silly as to want to
marry me-" she went on, without seem
ing to notice my rude speech, land
have promised to give him an answer
this evening And what"--here she
seemed strangely embarrassed. and be-
came deeply absorbed in the figures on
her fan-"what answer shall give
him 2"
What answer 2" cried, as her mean
ing flashed over my dull comprehension.
why, tell him that you are engaged,
Of course p
Just what happened next is rather
hazy in my mind-almost obliterated by
tho direful catastrophe which 80 soon
followed dimly remember kissing
her upturned face us we stood in the
shadow of a great South American Gao
tus, that screened us from all obssrva-
ton, and drawing her unresisting form
toward divan that we bad occupied on
the memorable evening when We had
beon engaged before. We knew all the
strongholds of her aunts house perfectly.
How horribly improper )" she ex-
claimed, apropos Of something or other.
Suppose that any one should see US
this way"
THAT would be improper, l admit"
| replied, ssrcnely but then, you see.
nobody can" The argument was IN
deniablc and she let her head rest
against my shoulder with little Sigh Of
satisfaction
How absurd to think that we ever
quarrcled," observed, presently
"Oh, don't talk of that horrid time
any more! have nearly cried my eyes
out over it. Let's just remember that
We have loved each other all the WHILE
For moment there was silence.
"Aice ~ I said, severely, as sud
den thought came to me "what were
you intending to answer"
THAT" replied Mistress Alice, Sc
renely, you will never know"
There, that dance is finished" I
said "the rabble will DO out here in
a moment"
There is no hurry she answered.
with the delightful sang froid Of woman
kind under circumstances that are try
ing to masculine nerves. "We can see
any one who passes the turn of the stair
case"
"Ah, now it is time she said,
laughingly; zone more kiss, and will
SEQ if | can fix myself up little. You
have put my hair in shocking state Of
disorder. Ugh What's that p
sprang to my feet, aghast. Ga her
delicate pink corsage was large aad
grueSome stain of black, that was slow
ly but surely spreading over the eutire
front %
"I--I-Pm afraid it's ink p said,
in quavering accents of despair.
Ink Where in the world should any
ink come from ?" Her voice had hard,
sharp quality, that | heard once in 40
while before. Evidently her ladyship's
mood was fast losing its amiability. and
| felt some tremors of fear
knew altogether too well where the
ink came FROM. With an awful GER
taiDty | looked at my once immaculate
white waistcoat; 10 was now gruesome,
soppy mass Of Smiths Blue Black Com
mcrcial Writing Fluid. The emergency
was frightful. Was there an outside
exit And then the Questionable !
have known affection to outlast the
crash Of fortunes, and to vanish like
frost-work at Il dish of gravy spilled
over new gown. Since that day
have refused to believe all stories Of hair
growing gray from fright and anguish
It is absolutely impossible that any one
should be scared rs | was
Alice looked up from her own ruined
finery aud caught the woe-begone ex-
preston on my face, and, overcome
with the righteousness Of the situation
she burst into little ripple of laug hter,
in which was obliged to join.
ooh, here she is" said a familiar
voice, and Mrs. Sturdevant Hamilton,
accompanied by the handsome Dick,
turned in from the long staircase.
saw the young gentleman's jaw drop
suddenly. and the sight comforted me
amazingly, aud gave me courage to meet
stormy weather
"Wby, Alice Z" cried the aunt, and
her stern glances wandered from Alice's
luckless gown to my iomentable waist.
coat in manner that showed that two
was rapidly being added to two with the
customary result. what in the world.
Alice, have you been doing 2"
81 rather think, aunt" she mis-
chevously replied-"I rather think that
we have been getting engaged"
Dicks face still wore a gloomy and
sardonic expression, but he managed 10
pluck up enough spirit TO make one Of
bis abominabls puns.
1T strikes me" he said. sadly, ''that
that is melancholy waste of ink"
1t was probably about Eve years be-
fore people got through teasing US about
onr unlucky adventure. | do not expect
ever to hear the last of it, exactly, but
we never hear it mentioned now except