The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-12-05

IN her lovely cheeks. Bootless Anne Of
the dawn, was rayally lowered at night.
Oh, my love Ny love Is young
'Youth, do adore thee
Rockwell said this under his breath
more than once, as he watched and lis
tened to the little maid, who ate nothing.
The essence of her enjoyment was to find
pleasure in gastronomy, ambrosial though
the viands were. Her sparkling words
were diamond pointed, drawing all ears.
Rockwell heartily appreciated his position.
Anne was unknown, and as he was aware
this exclusiveness would last brief hour,
he determined to make the best of his
good fortune Therefore, his surprise was
as colossal as Anne's modification, when
melodious masculine voice said as the
wassal bowl bearing Christmas cheer was
passed around, Pledge me, Miss Anne in
this conglomerate draught, dubbed apple
toddy befoh de wah, and looking quietly
around she found her Wis Wis, and Alices
escort in the speaker, Mr. Marshall. He
was holding up his glass, and now bowed.
Spurned by the rowels of etiquette, she
touched the crystal with her lips, but the
thought coming that she was guilty of per-
jury if she obeyed, she put it down un-
tasted. Rockwell diverted her attention
from Marshall by saying:
Il was pluming myself on being sole
proprietor of your ladyship acquaintance,
and I find you know Mr.. Marshall.
1t makes me positively ferocious. Have
you known him long?"
''Only since this morning, coldly.
''That is gratifying news. When we
become old friends l shall not have to
dread your protesting that he had the
greatest claim. My nature demands the
first place, smiling as tenderly as he.
dared. And then Mrs Rockwell gave the
signal for rising.
With her brain in a whirl, Anne pres
emily found herself in a tall chair, with
two gentlemen before her, Rockwell and
Marshall.
''You refused to pledge me, Miss Anne"
the latter, bluntly, regardless of what the
former thought.
'Yes,'' boldly, wishing that she might
hurl her pretty boots at his head.
"But why?" His face indicated in
domnitable courage.
Because did not choose, sir. And I
did not expect to see you here. You said
nothing to Jasper of knowing Mrs. Rock
well, inquisitorially
''No-in fact, he didn't bore me with
questions. So, of course, did not bore
him with references. But it was Mrs.
Rockwell who recommended No. 40"
II was deeply chagrined when 1 found
you had the happiness, and the right to
say Miss Anne Fred Rockwell said
at this juncture.
''But 1 was resigned to fate, when she
told me you had no claim upon her mem
ory yesterday. I hope and feel we shall be-
come fast friends p"
"0thers share that feeling and that
hope, Marshall said in the same light
tone. Life consists of alternating hope
and fear"
Faith, so they say, but 1 think it
consists of eating and drinking, " Anne
quoted merrily. "And long for high
heeled boots - Marshalrs unlucky re-
joinder routed all her elf-possession ac-
companied as it was with direct glance.
''You talk and act as enigmatically as a
man in the rudimentary stage of lie grande
passion" Rockwell said, impatiently.
" Even so quickly may one catch the
plague, " You always were specially
gifted in ferreting out AFFAIRS of that COM
plexion," Marshall retorted, but neverthe-
less with heightened color.
The dialogue was interrupted by Mrs.
Rockwell, who brought several candidates
for introduction to Miss Anne Winterdene.
The sayings and doings of well-behaved
young women make tame reading, and dry
food for rumination Had Anne been
thoroughly well behaved after the pattern
marked fit by society, Fred. Marshall
might have been plagued with thoughts of
Alice or Margaret. As it was thought
Anne was barely civil to him-a phantas-
NAL pair of i'll shod feet invariably rose be-
tween them whenever she looked at him
and it is not pleasant to be haunted
though she frowned and was chill as a
small iceberg, it did not cure him of look
ing at her, and talking to her. And it
became his habit to appear in the drawing
room every time Douglass Rockwells
horses appeared at the door, which was
very often, as time rolled on. Now that
she was well shod Anne chief diversion
after quarrel with Marshall-was ex-
amining the ''Personals'' to see if she,
| or. hayi % ,.varEaI e., Ia- Ernl,zI,
pectations were hereditary, and hence, in
eradicable She longed to ask Jasper
what he and Marshall did when closeted
as they were daily but her antiphyat to
Marshall curbed her tongue, and Jasper
was so secretive that he confdea in no
body.
Rockwell shared her unspokel distaste
for Marshall s society, whose evident es-
pionage within the Winterdene domicile
exasperated him beyond measure. To es-
cape it he gained permission to take Miss
Anne out driving. He did not intend to
commit himself, as he wanted, and intend
ed, to marry money, but Anne's electric
face was SO fetching, that he could not re-
sist it nor resist the delicious qualification
of making her love him-if he could If
he could? That was wise proviso for
she evaded his ardent speeches, and re-
fused to be sentimental noncommittal
piquancy that welded his chains faster
He realized that only positive declaration
on his part could win her, yet could not
bring himself to make it. Coming into
the house from one of those rides Anne
ran into the drawing room expecting to
behold the usual admiring throng. This
time there was nobody to admire the van
ishing equipage but Marshall and that he
did is questionable.
ooh, she calculated, with little
grimacs, walking towards the Crate.
ssAlone. where are the oirls?'