The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-10-22
Selett Sturp.
A FAIRY TALE OF TODAY.

''There is destiny which shapes end
rough, ,-hew them as we will = misquot
ed Darcy, philosophically.
For the third time failure was about tt
crown his efforts, and disaster stared hin
in the face.
Involuntarily his brow puckered into ;
frown. ''It does seem as if the old Nick
was in it p he muttered, refectively y.
Then, STRENGTHENING himself, he laughed
ruefully, put on his hat, and walked out
of his Office.
With his hand on the door-knob, he
paused at his clerk question.
"Sheuld any one call to see you, Mr.
Darcy. what shall say?
''Say that I've gone to the devil =?
said Darcy, as he went out and slammed
the door,
If his words were true, the devil was
at that moment in handsome Office in a
fine building on the next street, and was
lolling in an easy chair in the form OF
old Jonathan Davis, Darcy's principal
creditor.
The interview between the two men was
eminently unsatisfactory to one Of them,
as Darcy had known that it would prob
ably be; for why should Jonathan Davis
grant time to the man whose downfall he
had unquestionably schemed to bring
about? For, since Darcy was an admirer
of the old man $ niece, the heiress, and
since she had seemed to prefer Darcy S
attentions to those of Jonathan Davis 5
dissipated son, was it not natural that this
unscrupulous man should wish-by the
only means in his powsr-to put Darcy out
of the race?
So, half an hour later, the younger man
found himself in the street again, smiling
grimly as he faced the gloomy present and
the future unpromising outlook.
In twenty four hours the fact that he
was unable to meet his obligations would
be known to all the world, and he would
again be ruined man. Meanwhile and
oh, the irony of it tonight he was en-
gagged to dance the Perrines sotillon with
Miss Elsie Prime, the heiress, and the
ward of this same Jonathan Davis-his
bitter foe
Well, he would keep his engagement
with her, and dance out his last dance
Bu5 what farce it would be, and what a
tragedy-for him--would underlie the
farce; for after tonight they would dance
together no more And soon they would
meet no more. For after the crash, and
as soon as Darcy could come to some un-
derstanding with his creditors, he meant
to turn his back upon the place where his
life had proved series of failures, and go
to seek, if not fortune, at least a living
and means to eventually pay all his in
debtedness. To do this might take many
years, or it might never be accomplished :.
But in either case, before he set foot again
on his native land, Elsie would have for
gotten him, and would be married to some
other fellow, young Davis, perhaps, who
would make ducks and brakes of her enor-
nous fortune, and yet never half appre-
ciate that greatest of all treasures, herself
The long day dragged YEARLY away, as
such days do, and it was night.
Darcy found himself standing in the
Perrines' wide hallway, waiting for Elsie
to emerge from the dressing -room-like a
butterfly, freed from her chrysalis of
wraps.
Not many of the guests had yet arrived,
but note from Elsie had hidden him be
early, and her wish was law.
And now at last she appeared, lovelier
than ever, he thought, in her beautiful
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 a perfectly -gloved little hand, and,
as he grasped it, Darcy involuntarily
sighed.
ssWhat's the matter?'' she asked,
quickly.
"Oh, you look so like a fairy tonight, "
he answered, with forced gayety; ~ half
expect to see you vanish before my eyes. -
II am fairy tonight p she said,
nodding gayly. ga good fairy, but it $
new role, and | cannot play it without
your help.
They had entered the drawing room
now, and paused to exchange salutations
with their hostess and the few of their
friends who had already made their ap-
pearance.
They passed on to the spacious ball
room, and glided together into the meas
ures of dreamy waltz.
"Mr. Darcy, resumed Elsie, "don
forget that tonight am a good fairy
am endowed with magic power. Ifthere' S
anything you wish for very much, | can
give it to you Here is my wand, she
playfully firted her glittering fan, - ''and
anything | touch with it | can change into
gold Now tell me, are you in any
trouble; what is it that you wish 2
The music had stopped, and he was
leading her to a seat. He glanced quickly
at her, and met her brilliant eyes.
e'You are a witch r he said, with an
effort to speak lightly.
II am T she replied. But you are
no+ ;nol;nod ~ confide in me 7 see so +