The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-06-08
THE MISSING FAN.

Til MISSING FAN.
My fan, some one has taken my
fan :"
Lady Mary Vancouver was II pretty,
smart little widow, richly endowed and
a great personal tayorite
Ii was AT the hunt ball ut Wcatherly
that She exclaimed about the loss of her
fan, having left it for few minutes ON
seat while She danced with Sir Henry
Wilcox. Lady Mary always had a
court of adurcrs. They assembled round
her when she stated her loss, and Il Wig
orouS search for the missing fan was at
once begun, hut with no successful re
suit 1t MAS nowhere To he found
1t belonged Ia my great grandmoth-
Ter, is a Lonis NV fan, and moro than
that, has always brought its possessor
good luck Oh. why did bring it To
this ball? Now all my lucl, is gone, and
1 shall henecforth he the NEST miserable
of women
Nainly did the aderer5' and some
of her lady friends seek To comfort her
Lady Mary was inconsolablc.
It must be found-somo one has
taken il by mistake said Sir Henry
Suppose We offer II reward -
Il don't believe the richest Of re
wards Will bring back my poor dear
fan, - she murmured sorrowlully.
.'llaw much would YOU give to get it
back asked one of those who stood
around
Myself aud my whole FORTUNE " was
the somewhat astonishing answer
There was Il laugh and u mmmur of
Happy fan To he 50 highly valued y
But Lady Mary did net apparently
perceive that she had spoken eNtraya=
gantly. She was Of Scotch descent. very
superstitions, and Oh that account far
more than ON account Of the intrinsic
value of the fan she was inclined 10
make herself downright i'll and misors
able ut its loss
No more dancing She could not
dance when she was in mourning ion
her beautiful fan, but as she was chap
eroning two young cousins she staid
ON till the ballroom was thinning Sin
Henry Wilcox remained in devoted at
tendance, but he was NOT the only ont
who did So He was supposed to b. the
favored ,uitor 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 hclicge
that she really meant it, annoyed him.
To the others it gave fresh zcst, and the
fervor to win Lady Muy's much eovet-
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
riagc 1t was II four mile drive to tho
Moated Grange, which was ii lonely
dwelling for lonely woman.
do you know NJ de Lantcuil-Mar-
quis dc Lanteuil is he" she asked Sir
Henry az they went down the staircase
Never saw linn till tonight
He Is handsome, she went on
Staying at the Duke of FuthcrinRay 5,
SO he must be somebody If | had not
been 50 unhappy / should have cult
waited him and asked him To the
Grange
A nero foreigner, remarked Sir
Henry. 'One 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, i'll spite of her mourn
ing, bent ON teasing
I'm give II breakfast " she said,
more fashionable than luncheon, and
ask all the Fotheringay PARTICLES com
promising than asking him alone Iau
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 Fothcringay 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 il
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 | hate my own sex
They are always mean and cruel -
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.
Who can that be III such weather."
NJ. de Lanteuil was announced
She looked just little bit astonished,
us She had not asked him TO call.
He bowed profoundly and explained.
1 have boon sent by the Duchess Of
Fotheringay on a mission to ask you if
you will waive ceremony and come over
to dine this evening | bring note
from the duchess -
Lady Mary took the note and won
dered why this man was sent with it
instead Of servant
1t told her that M. lie Lanteuil was
favorite ut Fotheringay and asked I
she would be kind to him as foreigner
and show him the beauties Of the
Grange, also TO be sure to come that
evening, as a surprise awaited her "
What is the surprise She asked,
looking up at him.
IF Mime. la Duchesse has not reveal
ed the secret, how shall l." was the
guarded answer
THE duchess loves mystery, she
said, laughing, "and you, monsieur, If
you would see the beauties Of the Grange,
you must come in the summer.
with pleasure, madame
Gan can show you now Is the or