Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1906-08-10
A . BLUESTOCKING.
ROMANCE S REALITY.
BY MISS ANNIE EDWARDS.

than TO hold II. that case was mine. To
begin with, l. have a haunting fancy
that Sir John Seyerne will not be in
consolable.
Daphne rises hastily and moves
the orchard terrace she can see Sew
erne's figure. just as in the old happy
days. with Paul in his arms. Aunt
Hosie is i'm conversation with him
animated, eager conversation, a look
Of mingled surprise and happiness on
her sunburnt face
Il was thinking badly Of no one" she
answers, very low. II was only won
dering--"
"Over the unaccountably foolish
choice of Clementina Hardcastle. All,
well,r says Mrs. Broughton. falling
back upon one Of her stiff little blue
stocking phrases, -the depth Of human
perversity IN these matters seems still
to be an undetermined quantity You
must remember, II you wish to be char
table" she adds. that l did not go
from my word quite without a strug-
gle. After returned to London in
June 1t was a settled thing that
should marry Sir John; and let the
dreary farce go on--Iet Mrs. Hard
castle busy herself over dresses and
bonnets, and the lawyers and papa
addle their heads over settlements,
without telling any of them that my
heart was breaking l had only to
think of the error of giving up rich
lover-there was the shame of aban-
doning causel As Lady Severne,
with money, with influence. might
have founded scholarships for my sex,
laid the first stone Of new college or
two. and. perhaps, in time. have
stepped into the lecturers chair my
self. As it was--as 1t was. Mrs. Cbes-
ter. broke down suddenly one day,
just as the miliner was to have fitted
on my wedding gowni broke down,
confessed everything, wrote to Sir
John, who was away in Scotland. and
was sent of. in disgrace, to do pen
ance with Cousin Ethelberta, the cross
grained typical old maid of my moth
er's family in Devonshire."
And Mr.. Broughton, what had be-
come Of Mr.. Broughton all this timer"
''FeIlx was in Paris, poor fellow. ex-
pecting daily, so he says. to be asked
over as best man. TO the wedding.
However this may be. he made his ap-
pearance in Devonshire just one week
after arrived there. Old Ethelberta.
to our wild amazement, turned out
brick Yes, BRICK says Clementlna,
with tears in her eyes. and. for the
first time in her mortal life, STOPPING
to a word Of slang. when she heard
my story, and how had given up
money for love. Ethelberta declared I
had behaved as people did in her
youth, and received Felix with open
arms You can imagine the rest
Without bridesmaids. white satin. or
settlements, we were married one
summer morning in the village church.
Cousin Ethelberta acting as witness.
the parish clerk giving me away. and
have lived happily and contentedly
ever since"
The bride pauses.
"And your own family?" asks
Daphne, 'the people who care for you
most? Has your marriage been kept
a secret from them all?"
"Well. in time, naturally, we had to
write penitential supplications. not
only for forgiveness. but for money;
Mrs. Hardcastle sent me down my
trousseau, without word or message
the irony of twenty-four silk dresses.
all with trains, to people who want
bread! Papa inclosed a check for five
hundred pounds. and begged we would
look upon the gift as final one. These
are our material prospects" says
Clementina. cheerfully. "Ethelberta.
however-who looks as il she would
live another half century-hints that
we are to be her heirs, and Felix
thinks he will some day be made Sec
ond Secretary. with a salary Of three
hundred and fifty pounds a year. in
Viennal For this winter. we are going
to economize in Italy You look grave
still. Mrs. Chesterf
Il am thinking of your father-and
of Sir john" is Daphne's answer.
Papa has begun to relent already.
l had kiad little note from him.
written you may be sure. without Mrs.
Hardeastle's leave. the evening before
| left Devonshire. As for Sir John-I
confidently look TO the Lady Severne
of the future. that unknown but not
impossible She" says Clementina.
with meaning. 'to restore his hap
piness. Do you despair of my predic-
tion being fulhlled?.
But Sir John and Paul having by
this time reached the parlor window.
Mrs. Chester's answer remains forever
unspoken.
RTle Endl