The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-05-07
5elrrt Misrellunq.
OLD SMITHS ROMANCE.
BY JULIAN FREDERIC.

When it was whispered at the mess
Of the Hopshircs that ''Old Smith" as
he was familiarity called, had been ac-
tually detected in clandestine ac-
quaintance with a certain pretty mill
in,r girl in the town of Filstone, where
| the regiment was quartered, the an
nouncemcnt was received partly with
incredulity.
Smith was quiet, retiring man, per-
f,ctly harmless, very good-natured, the
guide, friend and philosopher of young
sters (although made a butt by them
on account of his awkwardncss and
mysterious habits) and invariably re-
spected, as he had shown conspicuous
gallantry among the zerebas of the
Soudan. AS he was a poor man and
remained in the regiment partly out of
sheer affection for the service and part
ly because he was at an age when it is
difficult to embark upon new career
of life, he mixed but little in the gave
ties and hospitality for which the Hop
shire was famous, and spent his time
principally among his books, and, it
was generally believed, in adding to
his professional income by contribut-
ing to periodical literature
The object of old Smith intentions,
it was reported, was Oracle Clough, a
pretty, modest, well-behaved girl, who
occupied position in the millinery
establishment of Ruche & Bustle, and
after whom half the subs in the bat
TALON were raving, although not
word had ever been breathed that she
had in the smallest degree overstepped
the bounds of propriety. or had upon
any occasion behaved herself other
wise than modestly and becomingly.
Of these smitten youngsters none was
more ardent in his profession of ad-
miration, and none could congratulate
himself upon having made nearer ap-
proach to conquest, than the harum-
scarum, devil-may-care Hon. Bob Top
sham, eldest son of Lord Cray, upon
whose authority the news of old Smiths
attachment had been spread abroad.
At first the notion that old Smith
could have succeeded in cutting out
the handsome titled sub was secuted
as ridiculous, for Smith was not exact
ly of the style and appearance to win
the love of a girl at whose feet score
of eligible bachelors Of good position
and qualifications were ready to throw
themselves. 1t was very well known
too, that he was not in position to
support wife, and his character stood
too high for anyone to dare to-breathe
a hint that his intentions toward such
a girl were other than honorable.
But Bob Topsham wanted his
brother subs to see for themselves,
and arranged that after mess one even
ing they should accompany him into
into the town. conceal themselves, and
keep watch OH the premises of Ruche
& Bustle at the hour when the young
ladies of the famous emporium were
liberated, from their days servit:,de
This they did, and they were rewarded
by seeing old Smith walking up and
down the street in the true caoaI-
Ter sorrento style, to be presently joined
by Oracle, who greeted him with cor
diality, and, putting her arm in his
went off with him in the direction of
the pleasant fields by which Filstone is
surrounded.
The young gentlemen, with the ex-
ception Of Bob Topsham, regarded the
affair as an excellent joke, and rcsolv-
ed that old Smith should hear of the
discovery in divers pleasant ways; but
Bob Topsham took 1t very seriously,
for he was head over heels in love with
the girl and up to recent date had
good reason to believe that his attec-
tion was reciprocated and that he held
undivided possession Of her heart.
OF course everyone knew that be-
tween Bob Topsham and Graice Clough
a very intimate understanding existed,
but the young gentleman had already
fallen in love half dozen different
| times, and the idea was never enter
tanned for single moment that the
prospective Lord Cray, the heir of one
of the proudest noblemen in the coun-
try, seriously meditated matrimonial
union with a provincial shop girl so
that he was made the subject of innu-
merable witticisms anent the new rival
who had suddenly appeared in the
field. The result was that GOODNESS
sprung up between him and old
Smith, though they had hitherto been
on the bes. Of terms with each other,
and it became very evident to the on
lockers, who hailed with delight any
thing which promised to vary the
monotony of barrack life in a quiet
old country town, that the affair would
soon assume a serious aspect.
The climax came in due course. Bob
Topsham had seen Oracle, and the fol-