The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1898-06-03

My IAN, some one mas taken my
fan -
Lady Mary Vancouver was a pretty.
smart little widow, richly endowed and
a great personal favorite
1t was at the hunt ball at Weatheriy
that she exclaimed about the loss Of her
fan, having left it for a few minutes on
a seat while she danced with Sir Henry
Wilcox Lady Mary always had a
court Of adorers They assembled round
her when she stated her loss, and Wig
Orous search for the missing fan was at
once begun, bat with no successful re
suit 1t was nowhere to be found
1T belonged to my great grandmoth-
er, is a Louis XIV fan, and more than
that, has always brought its posscssor
good luck Oh, why did l bring it to
this ball? Now all my luck is gone, and
| shall hencefOrth be the most miserable
Of women.
VainIy did 1.-THE adorers" and some
of her lady friends seek to comfort her.
Lady Mary was inconsolable.
1T must be found-some one has
y y.
Suppose we offer a reward.
Il don't believe the richest of re-
wards Will bring back my poor dear
fan, - She murmured sorrowfuIly.
"How much would YOU give TO get It
back" asked one of those who stood
around.
Myself and my whole fortune, " was
the somewhat astonishing answer
There was laugh and a murmur Of
"Happy fan TO be so highly valued -
But Lady Mary did not apparently
perceive that she had spoken eXtrava-
gautly. She was Of Scotch descent, very
superstitioCs, and on that account far
moro than on account Of the intrinsic
value Of the fam she was inclined to
make herself downright i'll and miser-
able ut its loss.
No more dancingl She could not
dance when she was in mourning for
her beautiful fan, but as she was chap
erOning two young cousins she staid
ON till the ballroom was thinning. Sir
Henry Wilcox remained in devoted at
tendance, but he was not the only one
who did SO. He was supposed to be the
favored suitOr, and there were others
who were jealous Of him. The loss of
the fan and the reward she had offered,
though, Of course, he could not believe
that she really meant it, annoyed him.
To the others it gave fresh zest, and the
fervOr to win Lady Mary's much cOvet-
ed hand was increased since she herself
had shown the means by which the race
might be won.
Sir Henry conducted her to her car
riage 1t was four mile drive to the
Moated Grange, which was a lonely
dwelling for Il lonely woman.
do you know NJ. de Lanteuil-Mar-
quis de Lanteuil is he?' she asked Sir
Henry as they went down the staircase,
Never saw him till tonight -
''He is handsome" she went on.
"Staying at the Duke of Fotheringay' 5,
so he must be somebody. If l had not
been so unhappy, should have cult
waited him and asked him TO the
Grange"
"A mere foreigner, remarked Sir
Henry. lone can never be sure of those
fellows"
He was becoming more and more
jealous, and Lady Mary, who did not
fail TO see it, was, in spite Of her mourn
ing, bent on teasing.
III give a breakfast" she said,
"more fashionable than luncheon, and
ask all the Fotheringay party-less COM
promising than asking him alone. You
can come if have room
THANK you am going TO town to-
morrow for few days on business.
She laughed, for she did not believe.
Good night, Sir Henry Glad to see
you when your business is over. Oh, my
poor fan Perhaps it will be found be-
fore you come back -
Two or three days passed Lady Mary
did not ask the Fotheringay party TO
breakfast. Perhaps, like the rash reward
offered for the fan, it was merely flip
pant talk.
That she was really unhappy about
its loss was nevertheless very certain,
and since the fan was not returned it
seemed evident that the thief did not
pine for the possession Of Lady Mary
and her worldly effects.
"Some woman, Of course" she said
bitterly. "How l hate my own sexi
They are always mean and cruelp'
1t was an unpleasant, misty day,
which might perhaps account for an in
crease of bitterness. \ ring at the Wis
itors' bell, however, made Lady Mary
once more alert.