The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-08-12

the bachelor. "And he said you were
to take the gintleman to the villa, to
get the horse back again.
'N erv singular" said the widow;
but William was always very eccen-
tricn
At this crisis Mr.. Campion appear
My horse ready"
- ump in. SIR
II didn't come in a carriage"
In wild Yez." shouted the hostler.
Fake Il seat beside me, if YOU please
sir, said the widow, with fascinating
smile.
Mr.. Canpion approached the step
to inquire the meaning, when the
hostler seized him with a vigorous
hand, thrust him into the phaeton,
while the pony, startled at the move
me, +, dashed off on a run.
Poor Captain Campiou. Here was
/ a situation. A confirmed old bache-
lor, bodily abducted by fascinating
young widow. The captain had to
lend assistance to the young lady in
| magagiug the pony, who was shortly
reduced to his usual slow and quiet
! space; and then, after thanking her
| companion for his assistance. Mrs
| Leslie told him that in II few minutes
he should be put in possession of his
| horse, which had been borrowed by a
| gentleman. This was all the ex-
| PLANTATION she vouchsafed. She re-
! quired, i'll turn, to be made acquainted
| with the name of her companion after
| giving her own.
la few minutes the captain began
| to foel somewhat more at ease-in
| fact he began to like his position. H
had never sat so near to pretty wo-
man in his life, and he began to ask |
himself whether, if the proximity was |
so pleasant for few moments, a con- |
slant companionship might not prove |
as agreeable. While her attention |
was engaged upon her pony, he had |
an opportunity to survey her features.
Her large, dark and luminous eyes
seemed TO be swimming in liquid lus-
tire; her cheeks were as soft and bloom
ing as the sunny side of peach. Her
profile was strictly Grecian, and her
parted lips showed q row of tiny pearls
as white as snow. The most delicate
taper fingers, encasad in French kids
closed upon the reins, and the varnish-
ed tip of dainty boot indicated foot
that Cinderella might have envied.
do you live very far from here
madam" asked the captain.
Not very far. The pony can mend
his pace if you are in hurry
Not for the world. The pace seems
a very fast one"
The widow turned those witching
dark eyes of hers upon the old bach
elor, and smiled. 1t was all over with
him. When he sprang out at the
gate Of the villa and touched the fairy
fingers of the widow as he assisted
her to tlight, his heart was irretrieva-
bly, lost.
\ red-faced old gentleman, in a
dressing gown, received them at the
door.
My friend, Captain Campion, I'M
cle,' said the widow. Excuse me,
Tor moment, sir"
Very happy to see you, SIR" said
the old gentleman. Walk in. Warm
day
''Very,n said the captain.
His looks seemed to corroborate his
statement, for he was as red as a
peony.
The captain ard the old gentleman
were soon chatting together familiar
ly, and the former felt himself COM
pletely at home. After an hour spent
in this manner, his host excused him
self, and the bachelor was left alone. 5
A dreary reverie was interrupted ,
by the sound of voices in the hail.
The captain easily recognized the
widows and glance through the
half-open door showed him that her
companion was Il very handsome I
young gentleman.
There, dear Belle" said the young
man, don't scold me kany more. L
won't do so again, l promise you. r
Give me one kiss
A hearty smack followed. 1t was
veritable, genuine kiss. The captain :
heard and saw it. A pang shot
through his heart.
The only woman | could ever love,
he said to himself, and she's en-
gagged"
The widow tripped into the room.
If she was pleasing in her carriage 8
dress, she was perfectly bewitching in :
her drawing room attire. Campion !
could now see the whole of that deli
cafe fairy foot.
My dear sir, T." said she, your horse
is at your service now 8
Campion rose.
But" she added, ''if you will stay
and take dinner with lis, my uncle !
will be very much gratified, and |
shall be highly pleased
The coquetter' thought Campion.
Il am really obliged to you, madam s
he said, but have another engage
ment." ,
Then we cannot hope to detain
you, sir; but you must first allow me ,
TO present you to my brother"
The handsome young man now
made his appearance, and shook
hands with the bachelor.
That's the horse-tnief, captain {
said the widow, laughing. s
The young man apologiZed, and eX- '
planned the circumstances which had |
impelIed him to take the liberty.
Il am sorry" he added, that we ]
cannot improve the acquaintance {
thus casually made by enjoying Your I
company at dinner. | am sorry that :
you are otherwise engaged" ,
why, as to that" said the captain,
pulling off his gloves, your offer is
tempting, and feel compelled to &C.
cept it,"
So his horse was remanded to the
stable, and he stopped to dinner.
After dinner, they had music, for
Mrs. Leslie played and sang charm
ingly. Then he was persuaded to
stay for tea, and in the evening the
family rambled in the garden, and the
captain secured ten minutes tete-a-
tete with the widow, in the summer
house over-grown with Madeira vines
and inhabited by q spider and six
earwigs, i
1t was ten o'clock when he mounted
his horse to return to Boston; but it
was bright moonlight, and he was
Economically inclined.
The next morning he repeated his
visit, and the next, and the next. In
short, the episode of the borrowed
horse produced a declaration and an
acceptance, and though years have
passed away, the captain has had no
occasion to regret his ride with the
widow in the pony phaeton.