Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-05-20
OLD SMITHS ROMANCE.
nY JULIAN FREDERIC.

When it was whispered a. the
mess OF the Hopshires that '0ld
Smith, as he was familiarly called
had been actually detected in a
clandestine acquaintance with q
certain pretty m;lliner girl in the
town of Filstone. where the regi.
ment was quartered, the Announce.
ment was received partly with In
crcdulitY<s <ssess---a. -ss--ss- .--ess
Smith was quiet, retiring man,
perfectly harmless, very good ma
tured, the guide, friend and philos-
opher of youngsters (although
made butt by them on account OF
his awkwardness and mysterious
habits) and invariably respected,
as he had shown conspicuous gal
lantry among the zerebas of the
Soudan. AS he was poor man
and remained in the regiment part
ly out of sheer affection for the
service and partly because ne was
at an age when it is difficult to en-
bark upon a new career of life, he
mixed but little in the gayeties and
hospitality for which the Hopshire
was famous, and spent his time
principally among his books, and,
it was generally believed, in adding
to his professional income by con-
tributing to prlodical literature.
The object of old Smiths atten-
tlons, it wss reported was, Oracle
Clough, a pretty, modest, well-be-
hayed girl, who occupied q position
in the millinery establishment of
Ruche & Bustle, and after whom
half the subs in the battalion were
raving, although not q word had
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 becoming
siy.~-0f-thcse smitten youngsters
none was more ardent in bis pro-
fession of admiration, and none
could congratulate himself upon
having made a nearer approach to
conquest than the harum-scarum,
devil-msy-care Hon. Bob Topsham,
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 exactly of the style and
appearance to win the love of a
girl at whose feet score of eligible
bachelors Of good position and quail
ifications were ready to throw them
selves. 1t was very well known too,
that he was not in a position to sup
port wife, and his character stood
too high for anyone to dare to
breathe a hint that his intentions
to such girl was other than hon
orable.
But Bob Topsham wanted his
brother subs to see for themselves,
and arranged that after mess one
evening they should accompany him
into the town, conceal themselves,
and keep watch on the premises of
Ruche & Bustle at the hour when
the young ladies of the famous en-
porium were liberated from their
days servitude. This they did and
they we're rewarded BY seeing old
Smith walking up and down the
street in the true cavalier servente'
style, to be presently Joined BY
Oracle, who greeted him with cor
diality, and putting her arm in his
went of in the direction of the
pleasant fields by which Filestone
is surrounded.
The young gentleman, with the
exception of Bob Topsham, regard
ed the affair as an excellent Joke,
and resolved that old Smith should
hear of the discovery in divers
pleasant ways but Bob Topsham
took it very seriously, for be was
head over heels in love with the
girl and up to recent date had good
reason to believe that his affection
was reciprocated and that he held
undivided possession of her heart.
or course everyone knew that
between Bob Topsham and Oracle
Clough very intimate understand.
ing existed, but the young gentle.
man had already fallen in love bali
n dozen different times, and the
idea was never entertained for /,