Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-01-17

Il may as well own III 10 you. llttle
enc" he said, one afternoon. as they
strolled on the lawn. Il was engaged
To your sister 1t was rather hope
less affair. for | was wretchedly poor.
so We kept it to ourselves. But
secret engagement is an awfully trying
thing. ana l was jealous fool. We
quarrclcd. and parted. and so-and So
! lost her.
Ella was silent.
When she was gone. Courtenay fell
into conversation with Miss Reade.
and Ashby went indoors. Running
upstairs. he stumbled over a bundle
which. on investigation. turned out to
be sobbins child of tender years.
Whats wrong. little one:" he asked.
picking 1t up carefully.
ELLA slapped baby" sobbed the
child.
leila did? Where is Ella. them
Don't want Ella" walled the baby
so heartbrokenly that Ashby felt quite
touched. He was trying to console it
when to his relief the nurse appeared
with flood OF apologies.
I'm so sorry, sir. but l had to go
downstairs fer something. and Master
BERTHE ran after me. We're all ut
SKIES and sevens just now. sir. for the
young ladies being away makes such
a difference
Baby burst into renewed sobs. wall
ing. Me no want nursie: me want Dot.
oh. me do so want Dot"
"Ah. poor little man. /. too. do so
want Do1 sighed Ashby.
That evening the Major received
letter from Laura. informing him that
her amt was better and she and Dot
would return the following afternoon.
Tie kept this 10 himself. intending
pleasant SURPRISE and had himself es-
tablislled on the lawn next Gay 81 tea
time. Ella made such Il pretty pic
ture OF filial love as she hung about
her fathers chair that Courtenay made
IN his mind to delay no longer. but to
asi. her 1T once to submit 70 be trained
after aee-into his ideal woman.
SO he presently asked her to come fer
= stroll around the lawn. and Ella.
reading his purpose in his face, rose
wi,h alacritv. But. alas. in the very
act of raising the costly cup to her lips
it was dashed to the ground. At this
very moment there appeared two Ia
dies. fastening from the house across
the lawn to .oin the party around the
tea table. Ella turned white. Her
father held ont welcoming hands.
''The girls he exclaimed, joyously.
"Welcome home dearsr'
At this moment-whence. no one
could tell-three children dashed across
the lawn and up to the newcomers. ut
tering shouts of welcome.
"Oh. sisters. were so glad you're
back cried the eldest. "Ella's been
horrid. She's made us live in the
nursery and never come downstairs"
The two guests had been looking on
;nystitied, but as The ladies came nearer
.Ashby fairly gasncd for breath. For
the lady round whose neck baby was
clinging was no other than his lost
Dot. AS for Courtenay. he was
stricken speeches. by Laura's calm
loveiiness. Eerc-at least in appear
ance-was his IDEAL woman
Don't you know my daughter. Ash
by:" asked the Major. dot.
mean
1T can't be-" gasped Ashby. hoarsc-
ly. 1T isn't possible. Dot is dead.
Ella told me she died two years ago"
dot dead" repeated the Major, stu
peied. "What-on-earth DO you
mean:'
"But-thnre must be-some awful
mistake. Ella told me-" faltcrcd Ash
by. and then Dot raised her eyes to
his and sad: Ernest" and lie had no
more doubts.
Ella. n:c"nt;;-lc. had most iudiciously
disappeared and her mystified father
postpon~l INQUIRIES Till next day.
Then. however. her little brothers.
WHO had hung about the gardens
many an evenin. and been unsus-
rcr,ad witnesses TO tender scenes and
pathetic plants. told enough to reveal
II the astnnished and wrathful Major
Cirderella's little pio.
Some months later double wedding
tool; place in the village church. The
hT.Gegrooms ;-e:e Colonel Ashby and
s. George Caurtena~. and the brides
We're Cinde:ella's sistors.-New York
News.