The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-05-07

news" said Lord Cray.
"Well, my lord, it need not be bad, >
replied Smith. "That is, it depends
on the way you look at it."
..H'm, depends upon me, does it
asked his lordship.
"He's in love with girl" said old
Smith.
'That's regular epidemic with
him, Mr.. Smith," said Lord Cray.
"But, if she's lady and all right,
don't care. Nothing will steady him
till he marries, and, if she is as | said,
she-ahem-of a suitable position-ot
course. Mr.. Smith, we must be a little
exclusive-why, it is the very best
thing that he can do
well, my lord, you see, there is the
difficulty" said old Smith. "She's a
lady by birth and educction, but, from
pressure of family circumstances, she
has been obliged to get her living in a
millinery shop"
"Milliner's shopw exclaimed Lord
| Cray. "That is, indeed, a difficulty
The best OF birth and education hard
ly balances the shop, does Itch :?
Confound him ! And the matters
gone so far that you have come to see
me about it. Of course, you're a great
friend of his. l believe that they call
you old Smith in the regiment, don't
they?"
eyes, take great deal of interest
in him and the girl" replied Smith,
land I've taken the liberty not only to
speak to him pretty plainly, but have
had the girl removed"
"Then you've constituted yourself
the young lady's protector, Mr.. Smith,"
said his lordship. "But. if the cause
of the evil is removed, why bother any
more about it Why sir, Robert has
been in love, hopelessly in love, score
of times, to my knowledge, yet he has
survived each case. Why shouldn't he
survive this?'
"Well, my lord, you see the girl
loves him honestly and truly, and l
conscientiously believe that in this in
stance his love is genuine" replied
Smith. "True, she is out of his way
now, but | could not answer for the
effect that such separation might
have on him."
HIN; well, of course, Lord Cray's
son mustn't marry girl in trade, al
though Lord Cray himself does sell his
game and fruit and possesses wharf
on Regent canal" said the nobleman.
"Yet you say she's lady? Where is
she, Captain Smith,"
"With her father in the country"
replied the officer.
"Who is he? What is he?' asked
Lord Cray.
"He is clergyman, the rector of a
poor parish with large family to bring
up upon very insufficient income, so
that he has been obliged to send his
daughter out to get her own living in
the world" replied old Smith
The great man rose from his chair,
and paced up and down the room for
some moments in deep thought. At
last he stopped short and said:
"Captain Smith, get the girl out of
the millinery business as soon as you.
Of course I'm saying this on the sup
position that you are so far acquainted
with her as to be able to do it. If
money is needed, write me line here,
and let the young rascal pursue his
suit. / don't know how to thank you
for the trouble you've taken in the
matter, as, in the absence of the infor-
nation you have given mo, l should
assuredly have treated the clandestine
union of my son with milliner's girl
with the greatest severity"
"Then l may tell your son, my lord,
that-that"
"The sooner he gets married the
BETTER" said Lord Cray
Old Smith took his leave with a
beaming face, and arrived at Filstone
in time for mess
TheHon. Bob Topsham was there,
and glared unutterable things at his
brother officer during the repast. In
deed, old Smith could not help being
conscious that he was an object Of gen.
eral interest, and from the fact that
conversation at the table was more
subdued than usual, although it was
guest night, he opined that during his
brief absence a storm had been gather
ing which would presently bust upon
his head
Immediately after dinner, Smith, as
Was his custom, rose and left the room
without taking wine. Bob Topsham
also arorse and followed him, and,
when he got outside the door, said in
voice almost inarticulate with anger:
"Smith, are you going to apologize to
me for your behavior?'
"Hullo," exclaimed Smith, laughing
"that's rather good; sub of three
years standing to make cool request
like that to a man fifty years his
senior"
| don't care if you are fifty years
IL