The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-05-13

and arrived In time for dessert, With
its red and golden wines, peaches and
temples of tinted ice. With him came
another guest, unexpectedly detained.
M. Fabillon, the French banker, in
whose honor Mrs. Ferrars' dinner hac
been specially given.
He was dignified, white-haired old
man, whose wealth had made him
neither arrogant nor assuming.
You must pardon my want OF
punctuality," said the old gentleman,
with his graceful foreign bow to the
lady of the house, as she welcomed
him to a seat at her own right hand,
"but 1 have this day had great and
unexpected pleasure"
"Indeed?" cried Mrs. Foulke Fer
rars, all smiles.
"A niece, my only surviving rel
alive, has been restored to me. We
have strangely been kept apart by
that fate which you Americans call
Circumstance. She came here in the
steamer ten months ago; l expected
her in that steamer, but not until this
last trip She could not find me, my
poor niece; she knew not even my
name, which had been changed to
meet the conditions OF an eccentric
bequest. An, the poor girl. it is ro-
nance, upon my word"
"And why did you not bring Mad.
emoiselle Fabillon with you? We
should have been so happy began
Mrs. Ferrars.
Pardon, madam" interrupted the
banker, ''she is 'mademoiselle' no
longer she was this morning mar
ried to one who has disinterestedly
wooed and won her in her humblest
estate"
Mrs. Ferrars was little disappoint
ed She had already begun to forA
plans for Bob's benefit.
81 am married, too" observed Bob.
as it were, incidentally.
"You, Bob! And to whom?" shrek.
ed his sister.
"To Desiree Fontaine!"
Mrs. Ferrars, pale as death, was
just about to open her lips with tor
rent of reproaches, when the old
French banker suavely interposed.
This is a riddle-an enigma OF
which alone chance to possess the
clew. Prepare yourself, madam-al.
low me to greet you as relative!-
Desiree Fontaine is my niece-Mr.
Robert Morrison, who married her
this morning before happy accident
made us acquainted with our relation.
ship, is consequently my nephew"
And M. Fabillon went on to tell the
astonished guests how the clergyman
who had performed the ceremony was
an old friend of his own, and recogniz-
ed the brides name as that of the
niece for whom his friend had search
ed SO long and so vainly.
"And you may imagine my gratifica.
ton" said M. Fabillon, with the cour-
teous foreign bow again, when I
learned that the husband of my
Desiree's choice was Mr.. Ferrars'
brother-in-law."
Mrs. Foulke Ferrars grew red and
white; she hardly knew what to say,
and the few hurried congratulations
that she finally stammered forth were
indistinct and confused enough, while
Bob sat by, maliciously enjoying her
embarrassment.
Mr.. Morrison took the next train
back to town; he had only come UP to
witness the denouement of this lit
tie life romance, and was impatient,
bridegroom-like, to return to Desiree.
But as he made his adieu, he whis-
pered roguishly in his sisters ear:
Nov what do you think about what
constitutes a LADY,"
Now what do you think about what
constitutes a iady?"
And Mrs. Ferrars answered, blush.
ing:
"Do have little mercy. Bob? How
was I to know that my waitress was
the great French bankers niece%
81 knew that she was a precious
Jewell" answered the young husband,
enthusiastically.
Nor did Mrs. Foulke Ferrars contra
dict him this time-New York Week.