Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1898-09-23

MISS UPTON'S FIRST ASSIGNMENT"


other unimportaut bearers of that
name.
''No," said tho maid, as she closed
the door in Miss Upton's flce.
Then sho isn't the one want,
said the newspae es woman to herself,
and ! have no more desire to see her
than she has to see me.
Trying to keep up her courage by
this reflection, Lefty made her way to
the next house on her list, and there
affecting a slightly. haughty air as
being likely TO impress the servant
and thereby, pos bly,, the mistress
she sail, 81 should like to see Mrs.
Harmon for a moment.
The servant looked at her with some
surprise. "Mrs. Harmon is dead this
two years." he said, deliberately.
"Oh, reallyl" replied Lefty, her
naughty air suffering a sudden col
lapse. Perhaps l have made a mis-.
take. This isn't Mrs. Nugent Har-
mon's?" This was the next Mrs. Har-
mon on her list. Lefty was proud Of
her fnesse.
''No. This is Mr.. Thomas Har-
mons; but Mrs. Nugent Harmon is
dead, too, replied the man, regarding
her with increased curiosity.
Lefty blushed furiousfy and felt a
wild desire to laugh. THIS would GER
tainly not have enhanced her standing
in the servants eyes. Then, since
this man seemed so acquainted with
the Harmons, she was tempted to ask
him if he knew which was the Mrs.
Harmon whose daughter was to marry
a foreign nobleman.
But Lefty could not quite bring her.
self to cleaning the news she needed
by friendly, confidential talk with men
servants. So she only said, nervous
ly There must be mistake some
where. Thank yon,r and hurried
down the steps, feeling as IL the mans
inquis. tive eyes were burning into
her back.
All this wasn't very nice. In those
Stories" of the Sunday papers there
had been no preliminary failures to
find the person. The reporter had al
ways called at Mr.. Whoever's and had
"been cordially motioned to CHAIR
and then Mr.. or Mrs. Whoever had
proceeded to tell him all he wanted to
know in the most friendly, ,considerate
way.
However, to be discouraged would
never do, SO Lefty, after little sigh
as she saw two young girls of her own
age roll by in an elegant Victoria, went
to the next Mrs. Harmon, wondering
whether she were dead, too.
But she would have no mistakes
here. She wrote on her card, "WilI
Mrs. Harmon please see Miss Upton
of the Daily Investigator for a mo-
ment in regard to her daughters en-
gagement?"
Ahl Here was the reward Of indus
try. The servant said, ''Mrs. Harmon
will be down in moment, miss Will
you please sit down and wait2''
In few moments Mrs. Harmon
came in. She looked like wealthy
society woman, though younger than
Miss Upton had expected to find her.
She had pair of keen, black eyes, her
face was a sharply pointel one, and
her lips were rather thin.
She bowed 10 the reporter pleasant
ly enough, but did not offer her hand.
What could she do for Miss Upton?
She knew the Daily Investigator very
well. There was slight accent on
the very"
'There is report, Mrs. Harmon,
that your daughter is to marry for
eigner Of title. whom you met during
your travels in Europe this past year, !"
said Miss Upton, with her most ingra-
tiating manner. "Won't you tell me
some Of the particulars?''
''Do you want to publish what l say
in The Investigator" asked Mrs. Har-
mon, quickly.
'Why, of course. I want to print all
that you are willing should appear
about the matter, The public, nat
urally, has a great interest in the sub
iect and wants to know about Miss
Harmon's fiance?"
Mrs. Harmon's eyes twinkled. and
she drew in her lips little strongly.
She seemed amused
''She's tickled 10 death over it aud
will tell everything there is,' thought
Miss Upton, with an approving refec-
tion on her own diplomatic tact.
''Well, you must ask me what you
want to know" said the lady, good
naturedly.
els the engagement announced
yet?" asked Miss Upton. nffably.
'No, replied Mrs. Harmon, with
an air of being very pronounced. 81
can truly say that it is not announced
yet. | can't imagine how the report
that my daughter is engaged could
have got out What wonderful people
you newspaper folk arels
81 understand that the engagement
is not announced" Lefty went on,
with smile that seemed TO say to
Mrs. Harmon that she could appreci-
ate her way of not telling a thing.
Cant you te me who the young
man is? l suppose | ought to say the
young lord?"
s.0h. how did you know it was a
lord?" Mrs. Harmon cried, smiling
with artless enjoyment over the news
paper woman's acuteness. II didn't
say it was lord. The next thing
you'll be asking me is where the
dukes country-place isl"
Mrs. Harmon paused moment as
il thinking deeply. Then she said,
absently, "Do you know II there were
any Americans at Grantham Court
last autumn?"
I'm sure I don't knew, " Lefty re-
piled, cheerfully. The way Mrs. Har-
mon was Getting things out" was in
Miss Upton was getting
points" for her story. Engagement
not announced yet--dnke-Grantham
Conrt- splendid
"When do you suppose tho wedding
will take placer" sue asked, with
niouant diracty NRs