The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-05

1 esSSSA NV k'491O Va LIE AA&Os xAo uQuUt
with her. he must escort her hith
and yon. He must go with her 10 sele
her new pony phaeton. In fact, d
found herself unable to transact Il
commonest item Of business witho1
Major Essex.
30 1t happened that when she wei
to buy set Of ermine furs Major Esse
was her unwilling companion.
! ITS the last time, " thought the m,
| jor to himself; cit must be the la
time or she will marry me before
know it,"
| Mrs. Chsnghley was very hard to sui
In the matter Of furA and when at IL.
she found set which she liked 1t prove
to be too small round the neck.
"We can have it altered in minute
ma'am," said the polite salesman
Zone Of our young women can fix
while you wait. Miss Carson-here-
send Estelle to mel"
And light, pretty little figure Gid
ed in, dressed in somewhat shabb,
mourning. Major Essex sat by the win
dow, looking absently out into th,
street, but as the work girl attemp ted
to remove the fur wrapping from Mrs
Colonel Changhley's neck q pin at her
wrist caught in the Widows lace collar.
You awkward, clumsy thingp' al.
most screamed Mrs. Colonel Changhley,
and then she checked herself abruptly,
remembering the presence of Major Els.
sex.
II am very sorry, ma 'am-indeed-
indeed l did not intend it." faltered a
sweet, low voice, which made Essex
start round as if q finger of fire had
smitten his ear.
"Estelle Daytonl"
"Oh, Major Essex, is it your"
Estelle colored and then grew pale
the snowy little circlet Of fur dropped
from her fingers to the floor.
Miss Dayton-if you pleased" began
Mr.. Mink Of the firm Of Mink & Fur
tail. And Estelle, catching up the er.
mine collar, murmured a word or two
OF apology and escaped from the room.
$50 you're acquainted with the
young woman!" said Mrs Colonel
Changhley little superoiliously.
"The young lady's father" said Es.
sex ooldly, twas one Of my oldest
friends and one Of the wealthiest citi.
zens Of Florida before this unhappy war
desolated all ranks Of life. Mr.. Mink,
will you oblige me with Miss Dsyton'e
address?''
And Mrs. Changhley wished she had
not insisted on Major Essex's company
during the fur seeking expedition.
He went. as soon as he had reason tc
suppose business hours were over, to the
place named by Mr.. Mink, but his expe.
dition was in vain. Miss Dayton was
not at home.
Home, what contrast was this to |
the cool veranda and wide halls of Day.
toms place. Essex's heart sank within
him as he looked round at the carpet
less floors and rickety stairs of the
third rate boarding house.
Half an hour later he was sitting in
his private parlor at the De L Orme no.
tel smoking meditative cigar when the
waiter knocked at the door and ushered
in slender figure in black. Essex flung
his cigar into the fire and sprang up
with glad countenance
"Estellel I have been to your house
% find you, but without success"
1--WE worked late tonight" she said
luietly, land the late hours and con-
tant confinement are killing me. Major
essex, l have favor to ask of you for
be sake of old times"
He had drawn forward chair for
Ter, into which she YEARLY sank.
1T is already granted, Estelle."
II wish to beg Of you to use your in.
luence to obtain me the situation Of
or amstress-to-to your
wife,
ITO my wife, Estelle? But am not
,arried."
The rosy scarlet suffused Estelle Day.
on's cheek. ,
"That lady in the black silk dress .
as she not your wife?"
"No, nor likely to be, hope" Essex
1swered, with slight grimace. "But,
stelle, though I do not happen to be l
arried. that's no reason why I should {
1t want companion and seamstress.
ear Estelle, will you come to me- and :
my wife?" /
"But, Major Essex''-
II know l am 10 years older than Y
~, but l am not an old man yet, and L
believe I have loved you longer than ! S
n remember. c
ut is not that-oh," sobbed Estelle,
t is not that! But only am not good t.
ough for you, dear friend"
Mrs. Colonel Changhley was highly a
andalized at the whole affair and 81
sitively declined to attend the wed. t,
,g Or visit the bride, but Mrs. Major tt
sex somehow has contrived to survive g
neglect and has grown fairer than q
sr in the sunshine Of her husbands Of
Q, and the shadows through which "
has passed only added new bright. hi
IS to her present life.-Exchange. o.