The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-02-21
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A
GIRL
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BY MAJOR
ARTHUR GRIFFITHS.
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COPYRIGHT, 1000, BYR. +. FENSo b co.
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Mrs. Collipgham. Smiths, was In
Princes Gardens, and the last, Lady
Delane's, In Princes Gate. My new
friends would have sent me on in their
carriage. especially when they learned
| had not far to go. This near neigh.
borhood was remarked on by the duke,
when. observing that the reception did
not greatly amuse ME. he asked II /
was not dying to get to my dancing,
and where, exactly, was going.
You must let us send you on to
Princes Gardens in the carriage" he
said, very civilly. 1--WE have brought
you out of your way to not very
bright entertainment and now we
ought to speed your departure. We
must stay on here for an hour or so
more, but there is no reason why you
should"
protested that Princes Gardens was
only few yards of, round the corner,
in fact. and l really preferred to walk.
Besides, | only meant to look in for a
moment. Ny real destination was Lady
Delane's, which was also quite close
at hand.
"To be sure, yes, certainly, I know.
Well, well, II you will not be persuad-
cd. But the carriage is entirely at
your disposition. Is that not so, su-
settew
1t occurred to me that the duchess
was not altogether pleased at this off,
hand disposal Of her carriage. So re.
fused the kind offer and left them with
the pleasurable sensation of having
made a couple Of charming new &C.
quaintances.
There was another acquaintance, If
| might SO call him, whether friend or
foe waiting for me outside-the
same shutting, slipshod creature whom
had seen so often that evening. Di.
rectly 1 went out saw him emerge
from the portico Of an unfurnished
house and follow me to the very door
in Princes Gardens.
He was still on the watch when left
Mrs. Collingham Smiths, having found
nothing to detain me there-no sign of
Frda Fairholmc. whom | had hoped
to run down. would now have con.
fronted this pertinacious shadow"
calling him to account for thus DIGGING
my footsteps, and If he gave no salts.
faction, handing him over to the police.
But it would have taken time and felt
l had none to lose.
1t was already long past midnight.
l might miss Frida. and that was not
to be borne. Mrs. Falrholme, her
mother, could give me no news Of her
charge. Eyes, Frida is here, some
where. That is all know" she an
swercd in weary. faroff, SEMI
somnolent voice, as. no doubt, she had
answered a dozen similar queries. "But
| have not seen her for an hour or
more. ! do WISH Mr.. Wood, you would
find her and bring her to me-" she said
plaintively.
As I wandered about dejectedly, all
at once / heard, captain Wood, Miss
Fairholme wants to speak to you" and
| saw hated rival, with no friendli-
ness in his face, pointing to where
Frida sat behind a great mass Of flow
ering azaleas.
She was as gracious a sight as ever,
one of the fairest and brightest Of a
sex created for the delight and tor.
ment Of mankind. Her dress is beyond
my powers of description. think 1t
was a pale blue satin with pink roses,
| but that is all | can say, except that
from the feathery aigret that crowned
her sunny hair to the tip Of a tiny shoe
pushed a little out, but working fret
fully upon the carpet. she was the
most absolutely charming woman had
ever seen.
II don't think shall speak to you,"
began Miss Frida, with sniff. "What
have you to say for yourself? Are you
aware that kept you three Dances
l took a seat by her side without
answering, and then, giving way to an
eation 1 did not exactly feel, In spite
of the great change in my fortunes, l
laughed in her face.
"Really, Captain Wood, am at a
loss to understand this most idiotic
proceeding she went on, with great
stateliness; something must have
happened"
at has--something most strange and
surprising. l have been looking for
you the whole day, in the park, at tho
opera, at Mrs. Collingham Smiths, to
! tell you that-that-that- Do you re-
member once saying that you felt per-
fectly safe with me|
II withdraw 1t altogether. I now be-
Ileve firmly that you are a dangerous
lunatlc, and will ask you, please, to
take me back to mother" She half
rose from her seat.
"Stay-you used to say that there
could be no nonsense between us; that
I was only . pauper, a harmless, in