The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-04-23
S&leet Storp.
AN INCRIMINATING PIN.
From Tit-BitS.

l sat, and laid her hand lovingly on my
shoulder. Then she glanced at the pom
derous volume before me and said. with 4
laugh
s'Oh, those awful Latin names What
ever does curare' mean, Aubrey ?
1T ism Latin, darling, it's an adapta-
ton of the native name of deadly poison
used by the South American Indians to
smear on their arrows. Curare, though,
is an antidote as we'll as poison, and in
minute quantities is used incidentally. L We
got some in the surgery at this moment.
But now," | added, closing the book,
''what is it you want to talk about, dear
Something more cheerful than pOisons, |
dare say
Yes she said, as she sat down by my
side. What do you think? Lena is
going to be married to Mr. Wilmot Raw
ensdale.
"H III; that tall, rather sallow- looking
man we met at the boarding house at
Barmouth last year,
Eyes. | remember thinking he was
smitten with Lena at the time, and now it
seems they We been corresponding ever
since, though this is the first [ We heard of
it. My sister never was particularly COM
municative
"What is Mr. Ravensdale by profes-
sion p
I'm not quite sure. | believe he OWNS
some lands in the north. Anyhow, just
before Arthur left Liverpool on his pres
ent voyage Mr.. Ravensdale saw him and
asked his permission to become engaged to
Lena; and Arthur must have thought ev-
erything satisfactory, for he assented will
lingly."
"Ah Well, of course. Arthur-your
brothers. head of your family now, and
his approval is final "
"You-you-don't you approve, Au-
brey?'
II have no voice in the matter, my
dear, ard if had | know nothing against
Mr. Ravensdale Still girl with f5, 600
ought to be careful whom she selects for a
husband, 50 hope Lena has chosen we'll. >
was silent for short while; [ felt
certain ill-defined misgivings. Ravens
dale's manner and conversation had not
impressed me favorably when in Wales.
However, it was scarcely fair, perhaps, to
Judge man on a brief holiday acquaint-
anceship.
During the next few days my wife spent
Il good deal of time with Lena who lived
with their only brother, Arthur, in Il small
house not far from our own; Arthur Yer
non, who was an engineer On steamship
engaged in the Canadian cattle trade, be-
ing at present away from home.
Ella felt herself largely responsible Tor
the arrangements for the coming wedding.
She threw herself into the matter with an
which she endeavored, not al
together without success, to impart to Rle.
resolved to receive RavensdaIe when he
arrived in London. | liked him, however
no better than before, though left my
doubts unexpressed.
Then came surprise: Ravensdale sud
denly informed Lena that he had sister
of whose existence he had not hitherto
spoken, and suggested that it would be a
good plan for her to take up her abode
with his fancee until the wedding. Lena
could refuse him nothing, and, to my
wife evident annoyance, Mildred Raw
ensdale arrived next day, \ week passed
without anything particular happening,
then, as we sat at dinner one evening,
Ella startled me by saying, hotly
Il hate Mildred Ravensdale, and |
could almost kill Lena. | won't 90 near
either of them again till Arthur comes
home. They don't want me and their
wishes shall be respected >
Have you been offended so deeply as
all that, dear? p asked, after brief
pause
Yes" she replied; my advice is ig-
nored by Lena and scorned by Miss Ray
ensdale'
"When is your brother Arthur ex-
pected p
Not till day OF two before the we'd
ding" ="
,.Oh Have you heard anything more
precise about Ravensdale's 5 property yet?
Not IL word >
Nor where be proposes to live?'
''He talks about leaving that question
till after they return from their honey
moon, which it seems is to be long one -
said no more then. felt instructive
ly that Ella had not told me all that she
knew or suspected, though size had re-
vealed enough to render lie profoundly dis
satisfied with the position Of affairs But
Lena was no longer child; she was p.
and her proud and heaGstrong tempera-
ment would, | was aware, lead her to re-
sent any intervention on my part.
The wedding was fixed to take place on
a Thursday, and, on the morning Of the
previous Tuesday, Ella asked me to in
spect the present which, despite their dis
agreement, she had purchased for her sis
ter. This consisted Of very handsome
Russia leather lady's case, containing a
hand mirror, pair of brushes, two combs
and requisites, all in ivory. Then she
mentioned that her brother ship was not
expected to arrive till next day, but that
she would depart from her resolve not to
visit Lena before his return, so far as per-
sonalIy to take her the present in the
course of the afternoon.
My wife looked pale and tired when
early in the evening, | again saw her, SO
that | was hardly surprised when she told
me that her interview with her sister had
been far from pleasant. ''I-I never gave
her the present, after all, - she exclaimed; !;
II put it down on the hall stand, and for
got about it, We both got angry, and-I
said things about Mr.. Ravensdale and his
sister which Lena declared she ID never for
give. Perhaps | was wrong, but | have ev-
cry cause to distrust them, and so has Lena,
but she won't see it. Oh, she is mad,
mad =
Are all arrangements made for the
wedding -