The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-09-25
INCOGNITO.
BY CAROLINE SHELLEY.

ward, notwithstanding that he pulled
the strongest oar in the crew and was
champion in his class with the gloves.
The unmerciful chatting he received at
home and abroad had not tended to
mitigate his somewhat super-sensltlve-
ness, and as he grew older he had be-
come what is known as essentially a
mans man. He admired women, but
only at safe distance. Therefore it
was somewhat of a surprise to the
Witheringtons when he accepted their
invitation to stay with them, during
the racing season, at their cottage on
North Broadway. To tell the truth,
Carstairs had hesitated a little when
young Witherington asked him; but
he knew the family so well-there was
only Philip and his mother and father
and he did so hate the great, crowd
ed, noisy hotels, and their inevitable
brass bands. On the way up from the
station in the dog-cart, Phil Withering-
ton said:
"We've a girl staying at the house we
met at Nice last winter, and mother
took such decided fancy to her that
she asked her to visit us when we all
got back to America. 1t just happens
that she is here now; but you needn't
worry about it; the fact is"
"The fact is, you've decided to worry
about her yourself, eh, old chap?'
Carstairs could laugh when he found
that he had not been asked down to be
the cavalier of the fair guest. "1s she
an American?"
aYes, Virginia girl, widow; her
husband died a year or so ago.
"sBeware of the vidders, Samivel;
she is wealthy, I suppose?"
every well off, imagine, and an or
phan."
Carstairs reflected that Phil's mother
was wise woman in her generation;
1t was clear to him now why the young
woman had been invited to Ferny Dell.
'Don't put yourself to any trouble to
entertain me- he observed. "If you
have business of that kind on hand I'll
keep out of the way. wouldn't think
of entering the lists with you, Phil"
GAS it happens, I am not in the lists
myself" Witherington said, good hui
moredly, "but If were shouldn't fear
you, Billy. Mrs. Chalmers would not
fancy your style"
"No? What is the matter with 1t?''
''Too sporty" measuring his friends
goodly proportions in their smart
tweed covering with a critical eye.
"She doesn't go in for the horsey sort;
I don't believe she knows race horse
from hunter"
Mrs. Chalmers did not prove to be
exactly the type of woman that Phii's
words had led him to expect. There
was nothing fairy like or fragile about
the slim figure that swept into the
room, in the trailing black gown, just
as dinnerwasa announced; and the hand,
cordially extended to him, was strong
and white, with the firm touch. of a
self-reliantwoman, possessing perfect
knowledge of herself and the world in
general. She was young-not more
than twenty-five Or three, Carstairs
thought, who could have told you a
horses age much better-but he de-
cided at once to like her, and, with a
Judgment of human nature quite re-
markable for him, he also decided that
his friend Phil Witherington was not
her sort at all.
what sort Of luck to-day, BiliyT'
said young Witherington after dinner.
Mrs. Chalmers and his mother were
deep in a literary criticism and pater-
familias was busy.
"Pretty fair" Carstairs answered,
"You know I had two horses entered
to-day. Nasturtium won driving in the
first event, buth the three-year-old Pen
zance was badly ridden and badly pock-
eted in the stretch. He had the rail
too, but he couldn't get through. He
ought to have won," said the young
owner, ruefully.
"Who rode him" asked PHIL
johnson, colored boy. He has al.
ways ridden south until this year.
won't have him again, if can help 1t,
I believe he is tricky
AS the days went by it began to dawn
on Mr.. Carstairs that, considering he
wasn't her sort at ALL" the young
widow was very partial to the society
of Philip Witherington; they drove to
gether and walked together, and went
to church together; and this Billy had
always been given to understand was
very bad sign.
lie wondered If Witherington was
really in love with the widow; it WASN'T
easy to fancy Phil in love-he was such
en- indolent, careless, happy-go-lucky
individual; and it was not easy, wheI
Carstairs came to think of it, to fancy
Mrs. Chalmers in love with Phil. "Why
by Jove!" calculated Billy-he stood in
his shirt-sleeves before his dressing
table, with his brush suspended above
his freshly-parted hair, and surveyed
the deep crimson flush extending from
throat to brow-"I believe am in love
with her myself"
He pondered over the situation long
time; he pondered over it while he got
into his evening clothes, and he was
still pondering so deeply when he went
out of his room that he nearly knocked
over young Witherington in the
corridor.
Carstairs was very quiet that night al
dinner; perhaps Mrs. Chalmers noticed
it, and thought he needed rousing, fol
she suddenly became brilliantly gay; Il
seemed nervous gayety at times; once
or twice her low, soft laughter came rip
pling to him across the flowers and thC
haze of the candle-light; his eyes KEEP
wandering to where she sat, with the
rosy glow on her dark hair and her slim
throat rising like flower out of hel