Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-01-30
An Awkward Mistake
By Helen Forrest Graves.


that led to pretty little south room.
! lis glazed walls checkered with the
indistinct shades of foliage from the
vines outside.
Starlight and twilight together dis
closed only solitary figure sitting
there. The captain stole toward it.
"Dotty. my darling"
A slight start. that was all the an
swer he received.
"Dotty. love. why are You 50 silent?"
He half Enelt beside her. taking pos
session OF the hand that hung listiess,y
10y her side. NOW. | know You are
angry with me. but is it my fault?
You should pity me rather. for being
tied 70: life 10 Il cankered old maid.
with nothing 20 sweeten the bitter dose
b"t the money bags she represents.
-yoI never can know-how wretchedly
! am fette-pd by those COMPOUNDED
debts which must he paid. l am a
drowning man. and Abigail PendaSset
is the straw that | cling 10. | know.
as well as you do. that she is old. ugly
and unati:active. but she is my fate.
I cannot avoid her. Dear Dotty you
have refused 10 allow me one single
chance 20 speaS TO you since We have
NET. hut | have not forgotten the de
! liGhtful days ut Long Branch. and
never shall love Won now rs dearly
rs did then. shall always love
yon. aud YOU oaly. Dotiy. There is na
| reason why you shouldn't spend half
yo,Ir time ut Penlasset House Manor
Dotfy. ii son play your cards we'll
We may be very happy yet. ambush.
WIN the t.ence is that:"
The sound of approaching footsteps
broke in upon the tete-a-tete and the
next moment Captain Summerson
found himself alone.
HIS visit that evening was unusually
pleasant. Miss Abigail was in thu
highest spirits. and even Dorothy Wal
lace was trifie more sprightly than
her ordinary mood. Captain Summer
son stayed late-and. after he was
gone. Abigail went into her cousins
room.
''Dotiy." says she. I've found out a
thing or two
Dorothy looked M.
What are they. Abigail:"
zones that you used TO know Cap.
tain Summerson at Long Branch"
lit is quite true" said Dorothy.
calmly.
Why didn't You tell me- before"
What was the use: He chose to
meet me as a stranger should
rake mp the past:''
Yet you cared for him once:'
'Once-but not now
Are you quite sure:'
YES. quite
Il am glad of that. Dotty Wallace"
said Miss Abigail. in voice tina.
;rembled slightly. as she reached out tn
clasp the others hand in hers. Yes
I'm heartily glad-because. il you have
trampled the thing called love under
your feet. I can do the same. and
Will"
Abigail. what do you meaa:"
The bride-elect laughed hoarseIy.
Only that the captain made 4 little
mistake tonight. | was sitting by my
self i'm the south room. AMI he mistOOk
our identity-he thought he was talkin:
TO you. A 'canke9ed old maid'-tha.
was the polite epithet he applied to ths
woman he has pledged himself to
marry within the week: and he went
on 10 VOW that he always had loved
you. and always should. although he
couldn't make you his wife,
And Miss Abigail proceeded TO un
bosom herself of the whole story. Dor
othy listening. pale. quiet and silent.
And what shall you do. Cousin Abb
gail:" she asked. when finally the
| spinster came to a full stop.
DO? What did You do when yOu
discovered that the man was villain:
Cast him of. to be sure
And break your heart:"
"My heart isn't made OF such brittls
materials. fortunately" said Miss Abb.
gail. with a grim smile. We will
both see him tomorrow. Dotty. and
We'll send him about his business with
as little delay as possible
When Captain Alfred Sumnerson
called the next day. he was ushered
into the presence OF Miss Pendasset
and her cousin. sitting together in tho
south room.
We'll. captain" said his PROMISED
bride. compoSeGly (which is IT,"
(which is what" demanded the
somewhat puzzled SCI, III Mars.
The one you made love To in here
last night? All. you don't quite com.
prehend. You thought it was Dorothy
Wallace. but it was /. Beware of lovJ
in the twilight. captain: it makes an
awkward tan.le. sometimes. In this
case il has opened my eyes to the fact
that You are villain. Dorothy. be
lievc. knew II long before. and neither
of MS cares TO have the pleasure ~ your
acquaintance any longer. Good morn.
ing. captain"
Good morning captain" swect!y
echoed Dorothy. with malicious
SPARKLE in her eyes.
But. ladies'" began the bcwljercd
young man.
Miss Pendasset rang the bell vio-
lently.
Hester. show the captain TO the
ccor. II he should ever c2ll again.
you needn't admit him.
And thus sneaked the valiant Cap
tain Alfred Summerson out of the
substantial old manor house. which he
had hoDpd so soon 10 call his own.