The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-05-23
Seleft Stnrp.
BERTHE and The DOORSTEP.
John worne in the Sketch.

thing was little apt TO give way to TEN
per, and Berthe certainly was lax in hiS
view Of the duties of a finance. But not
nearly half the things that people said of
him were true: in this case, for instance,
it really was his cousin with whom he had
been seen at theatre the evening before.
But Eva didn believe him for one mo
ment. And what more, she fully in
tended not to believe him 81 long a he
kept up that irritating ''dOn care man
uer. a if he ran no risk Of leasing that
priceless jewel her love, She meant to
show him this time that he was playing on
the edge Of preciPice,
She had just denounced him hotly at
some length, making it clear that hence
forth their paths lay far asunder We'll
| suppose that's al W. need ,ay about
that. he said. cheerfuIly Il see what
YOU mean Let's talk Of something more
pleasant
Never ,pcsk to mc again -he re
piled haughIily; and kindly leave the
housc.
| was talking this atterucou. he said,
with an exa>Pera,iug dFawl. with the
man yea were engaged to the season he-
fore last This wa- shaft he found
u>eiul whenever they parted for evrr.
Not Mappam, you kuow-she "theF
,,ne She tossed her head indi znaa,ly
4 Sc often Irigl to fiad ou' from him
be wrus on, whether yoa left him or he
LETT you, den, you know This, was
more than anyt,siy csald bear She vas
accustomed to his franku,-ss IL sas en- of
hIs charms but this--
She hurric,l To the dasr
Are yoa gang ? he said Il sup
p.Se shall end you at the Warllsss ,n.
n,shi hall call again tomorrow after.
nooa
You shall never come into 'bs, hoine
a-aiu' she aid, hsrcsly
Then ,hall b. ~,.u,,ih,B. that vail
make you -srry
Wha, wiIl yoa b. r she asked
Baild usc vliiow cabin a yogr
gatc. and sal upoa my =.ul within the
hoase They b. that in Shaks-T-arc
She laruci o,u,smTsuoa,l, and leil the
r,.osn. and. aadins !, ,lall 4ioa.c. be seat
t.ss
4, shs WaFdlaw> that evening. shea
be ,zme Hp foF hi, usual AZ daBesz.. shs
sa, oddly unaware that n. hAi eys5 bsvn
lu,roduovi % him. lie ap1logilssl and
bgoasht Lady wsrlaN uho. though .hr
hal ku5wu ihrai h.Sh ,inls childhood.
l-.rSuFass-i the ueSs~saFy yvrvGaany Thee
be- discovered ,hat she uas ssrry. bat
hsdn' .Iase dance on her programme
H., pif,-r,,i ,a -ci her anssher s,ne. . aice
cIean aoe. sni srite "a 4 himself She
,iscline-i ~ he ianeyi rryrn times absru-
siysly wilh Manie Nvrrham, whom ,he
hated c,,niinG ~ at interval, To- iaiorn
hes that she bsd jroplsSl her program an,l
handius bet nrw une each tins. all t,au
,siali, dl,,l up uuh his swa initial. ASH
the tariuns r., names DE- ruJoyvi IN hap
J.irr tiules Bun it was al of 10 ,,c.
Next day he appeared At the doar at I
o el,.ek aud rang. The G>,smaa had had
-triy, orders
Mis-. Bewen at houpe 2. --.' Ma. ar. %
Nrs Rowen MO. ,ir
Mr.. Rowcu No. sir.
Any Of the little Roweu, ? No,
III.
The nurse, perhaps Ne. sir
All
shall .ay yoa called, sir
oh, 10. u rxpecteI' Dido thes
tell You
Very good, sir With difficulty the
footman repres>ed smile As BerIie
showed no signs of going he Was puzzled
The situation was new What does a
well trained servant do when a popular
guest, not tramp. refuses Ia leave the
doorstep;
Don't keep the door open said Ber-
tie, there a draught
Very good, sir. The footman put
his hand over his mouth
Oh by the way, John"
Yes, sir
You might just mention that am
here
Very good, sir Aud be went to
the drawing room. Ii was Ms Rowen'
'at home day, Il fact which Berthe knew
Eva was entertaining two early arrivals
At least, it WASH really entertaing, but
that is what it is called. Solemnly, John
announced, Mr.. Rertie Pilkingame is on
the doorstep, Miss
Eva bit her lip You told him Mr.
Rowen was not at home
YES, Miss
That will do. " John retired. solemn
ly, and Eva congratulated herself on her
happy idea of pretending that he came to
see her father. 1t saved awkward expla-
nations. BERTHE stood outside and studied
the beautiful brass knocker.
\ carriage drove up and two ladies got
out He knew them, shook hands, and
rang the bell John appeared The elder
of the two asked if Mrs. Rowen was at
home John looked at Berthe, hesitated
for fraction of a second, and said "Yes,
Ma am.
The two stepped inside, expecting Ber
tie to follow; but he only said. 81 Is Mrs.
Rowen at homey
John coughed and said, mo, sir, -
Miss Rowen ?''-''No, sir.
..NIr RoUen 9'--ssNo sir -