The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-07-01


he set foot again on his native land
Elsie would have forgotten him, anC
would he married to some ot her fellow
young Davis, perhaps, who woulC
make ducks and brakes of her enor
nous fortune, aud yet never half ap
prcciate that greatest of all treasures
hrrsrJ.
The long day dragged wearily away
as such days do, and it was night.
Darcy found himself standing in the
Ptrrincs wide hallway, waiting fol
Elsie to emerge from the dressing room
like butterfly. freed from her chry.
sails of wraps.
Not many Of the guests had yet ar
rived. but a note from Elsie had hidden
him be early. and her wish was law.
And now at last she appeared, love
lier than ever, he thought, in her beau
tiful gauzy ball gown-fresh from
Paris. He noticed that there was an
unusual flush on her peach-like cheeks
and her eyes were shining like twin
stars She held out to him 4 perfect
Iy-gloved little lland and, as he grasped
it, Darcy invountarily sighed.
Whats the matter?' she asked
quickly.
"Oh, YOU look so like fairy to-
night" he answered. with forced gaye-
ty; Il half expect to see you vanish
before my eyes"
II am fairy tonight" she said
nodding gayly. A good fairy,-but
it's new role, and cannot play it
without your help"
They had entered the drawing-room
now, and paused to exchange saluta-
tionc with their hostess and the few OF
their friends who had already made
their appearance.
Then they passed on to the spacious
ballroom, and glidtd together into the
measures OF dreamy waltz.
"Mr. Darcy, resumed Elsie, 'don t
forget that tonight am good fairy!
| am endowed with magic power. IT
there's anything you wish for very
much, | can e i've it to you! Here is
my wand .'-she playful fiirted her
glitterng fan,--"and anything | touch
with it l can change into gold! Now
tell me, are you in any trouble; what
is it that you wish!''
The music had stopped, and he was
leading her to 4 seat. He glanced
| quickly at her, and met her brilliant
eyes.
"You are a witch!" he said, with an
effort to speak lightly.
81 ami she replied. But you are
not inclined to confidc in me, | see; so
| will tell you what | know. You be-
lieve you ale on the eve of-failure.' y
He uttered low exclamation of
prise. "Miss Elsie who told you tha:?"
You forget my supernatural pow
ers!'' she retorted. But, | assure you,
that belief is altogether wrong. | am
a fairy and your good friend, and am
going to prevent this-disaster.''
"How?" he asked, after moment S
hesitation and with an odd expression
| on his face
For the first time, then, she hesi
tated. "Well, you know, am-an
heiress,' sh. said, with shruy and Il
funny little move. Il used to think
so much money would be a dreadful
nuisance; lately I've thought it would
prove an awful responsibility; now
know it's the most glorious of opportu-
mites! Why, I'm just going to hand
over to you all the money that you
need to carry you successfully through
this crisis and on to make. your for
tune"
He made sudden, decided gesture
of refusal, and his bronzed cheeks
flushed. "No,' he said, hastily. at 5
most kind, but l-or any other worthy
to be called Il man-would refuse this
utterly, even if you were free to do
what You propose, which, most fortu-
natcly, is really beyond your power.
My dear Miss Elsie, you forget that
you are a minor, and that your guard
ian is-well, no friend of mincr'
"You are mistaken! | have been OF
age since yesterday! And I'vc given
my uncle warning of just what | in
tend to do
There was something unreal about
all this to Darcy,-the music, the pass
ing to and fro of the everincreasing
throng of guests, many of them greeted
them gaily as they passed; and all the
while his partner, beautiful Elsie Prime
in low. clear tones, was gong on with
her astonishing proposition, as lift were
the most natural thing in all the world.
Listen to me, Mr. Darcy" she con
tinued, land don't be blind, pig
headed IDIOT, and rush straight to your
destruction! | know Just how much
you need to carry you over this crisis
and give YOU the firm footing which
will lead to prosperity"
'But how do You know all t.is!'
"Oh, fairies know everything! But
there was Il conversation | unwittingly
overheard between Uncle John antl
b ,h. Then | went to Mr.. Prrrine
and from him learned all the rest. 1t