, 1896-12-28
FIRST FILTRATION.

"Mamma, have yon any objection to
ny receiving the attention of that young
gentleman who danced with me at last
evenings hop?" inquired Edith Gray as
she looked out of the window at the Ocean
House, whittier for the first time in her
life she had arrived.
Collection, my dearl 1 know nothing
about tho person you speak Of"
why, ma, don't you remember Mr..
hodolphus McGilvery, the gentleman with
long, flowing, black hair and IA bronze face?
The very first day l came here. Just before
pa went away, he asked to be introduced
to me. He Is of Scottish descent, and is
making the tour of tho United States.
Well, In a very familiar manner he said to
me: Miss Edith'-for he heard pa call me
so-"1 shall wish to m~onopolizc your soci-
ETY. while l am here. / am fond of young
ladies. l had u sister once who strongly
resembled you. That weed on my hat be-
tokens her decease.' And he wiped his
eyes and looked so affectionatcly toward
me, ma, l began to love him ut once"
why, Edith, you should not indulge
In such strong expressions! Remember
you aro a young lady and know but little
OF the world. You must be cautious,
dear, about accepting attentions from
strangers. Many a young girl has been
duped by their f~alseness."
MA, l never saw such q doubling per-
son ns you are! What earthly motive could
have induced him to have asserted such a
thing unless it were true? There he is ris-
ing from his seat. l will run and ask
him to come to our ROOM
"No, Edith. You must not be too ia
miliar, l tell you" But Edith waved her
little hand for his approach, and he came
Into the hall, and there stood, awaiting
her to join him.
Artless and thoughtless, She ran to lin
and began narrating all her late cpnvcrsa-
ton, and after pressing Mr.. RolnlphUs
McGilvery to go n SEQ her mother lie re-
l~uctantly consented to do so.
Upon entering the room he was the pic
ture of smiles and the graccs pcrsoniiled,
20 bland in conversation, SO delicate in re-
marks, so apparently diflident, yet r5sc-
Lutte, that Mrs. Blithe did not wonder her
daughter was fascinated.
The interview was u long ono and ended
in a full disclosure of the object for which
he came to this country, indirectly keeping
in view all tho while that money was no
consideration with him, his father having
just died and left him solo heir to n prince
ly fortune; that no only piued for syinpa-
thy and compnniOnship, and, as Edith SO
strongly reminded him of his deceased sis
ter, he perhaps had vcntured too far in en-
deavorinH to gain the friendly regard of
nne young and innocent heart in II strange
land.
These thoughts being uttered in n most
winning accent, all counted with Mrs.
Blithe, and she vcntured so far rs to add
that "if during their %sojourn they could do
anything to minister to his comfort they
would most cheerfuily perform it," And
Edith was In ecstasy that sho had thus
won over her mother to become interested
in Mr.. Rodolphus McGilvcry.
They rode and they walked with the
Scotch gentleman and even talked, rs their
intimacy increased, of taking n trip with
him to his native country. To say that he
essentially contributed to their enjoyment
while at this watering place was not
enough. He made Edith feel u kind Of hap
piness she had never experienced before.
What did she care for that staid young
man., Mr.. Lester, from New York. or Mr..
Fry, the rich achelor who had promised
Mr.. Blithe to attend his wife and daughter
In his absencoP 1t was certainly very ill
timed and inpertinsnt in the latter to in
quire what they knew of the character of
the gentleman with whom they, wero so in
timately connected after he had told them
10 infinitely his personal history. Truly,
Mrs. Blithe, you are as easily satisfied and
a. credulous as your daughter.
Mr.. Fry, however, took it upon himself
to ascertain automatically whether the
statements made by Mr.. Rodolphus were
akeirt1y tr,o IIn ,1Jr,s,nl "a Io.tor 20 N
mercantile house in New York upon whom
he professed to draw for money, and found
they were ignorant of tho existence Of
such n man. He addressed another to
Count Zolvani, whom he said he knew in
timately, n was answered that he new
er heard of tho gentleman in question "
So that when convinced Of the falsity of
two asseverations, he began to distrust all
others, which sorely puzzled and vexcd
Mrs. Blithe and her daughter.
When In the heydny of apparent tri-
umph, having secured the affections of an
artless girl, having nirted and danced in
the sunbeams OF fashionable life, suddenly
Mr.. Rodolphus McGilvery disappeared,
leaving the landlord with his unpaid hill,
and at the livery stable a large undis-
charged account "for sundry drives about
the suburbs" in which Mrs Blitho and
Edith had participated, and, worse than
all, leaving n young and guilelcss heart to
feel the chagrin which always attends an
unsuccessful Irritation.
Mrs. Blithe and her daughter now will
ingly accepted the protection of that es-
Unable gentleman, Mr.. Fry, whose in
quiries undoubtedly gave tho walking
ticket to the Scotch gentleman, n feel
ing az they did that his professions of re-
gard were sincere, Edith was never ques-
toned by her mother how far OF how fast
Mr.. Fry had proceeded.
"Who is the reigning married belle Of
the seasoE at the Ocean House?" l inquired
upon my arrival the next season.
IA Mrs. Fry from New York; was the
reply. "She is truly lovely, and her coun-
tenancs and manners arc fdultless. Be-
sides she has u most fascinating man for q
husband"
I gazed at the belle as she entered the
dining hall. 1t WAS she who one year ngo
hung upon the arm of that disgracod Mo
Gilvery, and I thanked heaven that so
bright and beantoous n being had escaped
the snares which attended her first and
last Irritation. New York News.
A Nogrito Marriage.
When two Negritos, n people Of the
Philippine islands, aro united, the whole
tribe 10 assembled, and tho nfianced pair