The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-06-08
!! IN DEFIANCE OF
; POPE GREGORY.
: He Cut a Leap Year Out Of the Cal.
erdar, but Eleanor Ainsworth
: Disregarded the Omission.
BY w. r. ROSE.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,

der. l nope IL 5 10 your llklnS' Hiss.
ut is very homclikc," said the slender
girl. land | thank you all for your
thoughtfulness."
Here is your room. MISS" said the
housekeeper. She pushed open door.
"How sweet and dainty" cried the
girl as she stepped across the threshold.
"And what lovely flowers"
Fresh every morning, miss, by MIR.
Suncliffc's orders"
The girl held the fragrant blossoms to
her face.
'And where is Mr.. Suncliffe's room"
she asked.
''IIc calls it his den, miss. It's in the
attic. Would you like to see it?"
The housckeeper led the way up the
attic stairs and threw open door. II
was the room of 4 busy man. There
were books and maps, Il few choice etch-
inss, Il handsome desk, a table and
chairs. The table was strewn with loose
papers, the desk was banked with them
in packages. There were books upon
the chairs, the table and the floor. As
Eleanor stopped above these papers she
noticed that they all bore the same
name-Ainsworth. Then, us she raised
her head, she saw her portrait. exquisite
" framed, standing upon the desk.
little blush reddcned her check.
"He is q great worker, Mr.. Sunclitte
| is" said the housekeeper. MANY night
I've seen his light burning up here until
the sun was streaking the east"
81 should fancy" said the young girl
| thoughtfully, that he has been taking
his own advice and is keeping everything
| in up to date readiness for my RETURN"
I've no doubt he is, miss" said the
| housekecpcr simply.
The girl paused before the Uttered
| desk.
81 would like to leave 4 note for Mr.
| Suncliffe," she said. He will be sure to
| get it this evening"
| "Yes." said the housekceper. Hes
| regular as clockworH."
The girl slipped into the swivel chair
| and picked up Il pen. She looked about
| for a sheet of paper She half opened 81
| small drawer at one side Of the desk and
| pecped into it. She started little and
| drew forth an unfoldcd bit OF note paper.
| Her name was ON the sheet. In fact. it
| was addressed TO her. She looked Mt the
| date. 1t was 4 month overdue. Slowly
| she read the lines, her pale cheeks hotiy
| flushing as she proceeded. Then smile
| lowered about her lips MS she carefully
| folded the paper and put it in her purse.
Il have changed my mind" she called
| to the housekeeper. 81 will not leave a
| note for Mr. Suncliffe. will call on
| him instead"
! A half hour later carriage drew up
| before the offices of the Richard Aims
| worth company, and Eleanor alighted.
She stepped into the outer office. A doz-
| en- clerks looked up at her In manifest
| admiration.
"Mr. Suncliffc is in his room." said the
attendant at the door. xviii you send
in your card?"
"No," replied the girl. 81 prefer to
| surprise him." She swept by the attend
| ant and entered the apartment.
John Suncliffc was bending over his
! desk absorbed in his correspondence.
| Eleanor's quick glance took note of his
| appearance He had changed little
since she saw him in Paris two years be
fore. The lines on his face seemed deep
or. His color was not SO good. There
was more than Il suspicion of gray in his
hair. He was only 81, Eleanor remenl-
bered. lie was growing old in her sery'
ice.
"John," she said. with little tremor
in her voice, aren't you glad to see
met"
Was he glad! He looked up with a
quick start. pushing his chair back and
coming toward her with outstrctched
| hand.
why, Elcanor-NIiss Ainsworth" he
cried and grasped her hand with fingers
that tremblcd. His face frightened; O
dull rcd came into his checks: he looked
ten years younger. 81 thought you were
settled in Paris for the winter. Here. sit
down."
THANK yon, John" said the girl. "lf
you don't mind, W i'll sit in your chair.
often sat in papa's chair. you know.
Besides. it will insure me your individual
attention. But you are not using papa s
room, John. 1t is much pleasanter than
this"
| She laid aside her hat and cloak as she
spoke and seated herself.
NO" said the manager, your father s
room has not been used since he-he left
it. | had become accustomed to this
apartment, and staid here"
"I'm afraid you stay here quite too
much. John" said the girl. You are not
looking well.''
"Ncver felt better in my life than I do
at this very moment" replied John, with
n laugh, and his smiling face bore out the
claim.
| She gave him a half tender, half anus
ed, look.
81 ran away from auntie," she said
81 was homesick. | wanted to see the
old home. the old faces. ! wanted to see
| you. John. SO Hortcnse and | packed
| Up, and here am"
| "And the COUNT" he said.
'eThe count was very annoying"
"No doubt. His creditors are very
pressing. And the mnrquis:"
| "Quite too attentive"
"And the captain!"
| "You know about the captain. He was
the most annoying Of them ALL"
Il am glad" said the manager, and his
| voice took on graver tone. II am glad
that these suitors failed to make n favor.
able impression. They are all quite i'm
possible-spendthrifts rakes, adventur-
ers."
You have made inquiries, thcnT'
Eleanor added, her color rising little.
at was my duty" said the manager
gravcly.
There was little silence. Eleanor
toyed with paper cutter, her eyes bent
upon the desk.
81 should have consulted you in any
event." she murmured.
1 <huu uttNS DeCu
when you CAME" he said. Perhaps
he added, with faint smile, you have
come on that very errand today"
Il am not quite sure" said Eleanor
softly.
The managers cheeks paled slightly as
he looked at the girl. Then he spoke
hurriedly.
| perhaps you came to ask an account
of my stewardship" he said in q tone
that was half banter, half serious.
when l looked up at the sound of your
voice, l might have fancicd you were
about to say: The keys and the books.
What have you made of the talents in
trusted to your"
| The girl looked up quickly.
| "This isn't nice of you, John" she
said. You know that no such idea en-
tered my head"
But he persisted.
"By n strange coincidence l had just
filled out little summary of the condi-
ton of the business. 1t is just six years
ago that your father placed this RESPONSE
bility on my shoulders. l want you to
know that l have not shirked it." He
arose and bent over her and picked a
paper from the desk. "There are the
totals then, and here they are now," and
he placed the slip in her hands.
| HIt seams lilo lark of confidence In