The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-05-30

LIsETTH's MISTAKE.
By HELEN roaarsr GRAVES.

"Of course shall not marry him r.
said Lisette Norman, hautily.
Lisette was just the kind of CIR
upon whom a little hauteur sits with
not unbecoming grace tall, we'll de.
veloped and featured like a Greek
statue.
Ernestine Grey, blue-eyed and soft.
voiced, was as unlike her as possible,
as she sat there, her delicate cheeks
flushed and her restless fingers work
ing nervously at the fringe of her
scarlet shawl.
"But why not, Lisette !" she asked
timidly. "He is noble, refined, we'll
educated-a1l that man should be
in this exacting age of the world"
''In short, laughed Lisette, mock.
ingly, ''he is a perfect gentleman.
Why don't you say so, Ernestine,
and done with it. lido believe you re
in love with Henry March yourself. -
Ernestine's face grew as scarlet as
her shawl.
ST respect and admire him, Ii
sette," she said "a woman may do
that with reference to any man."
$50 do / respect and admire him, "
laughed Lisette. mockingly.
"Then why do you refuse him 2"
"Ernestine," (" said Lisetse, proudly,
"do you think l would marry a car
penterl Are you mad enough to inn
agine for single instant that / would
become the wife of a common me-
chanic? No, indeed When / marry
it will be to elevate myself in the So
cial scale, not to sink among the
plebian herd"
"Lisette," pleaded Ernestine, "I
think you are wrong. 1t is the man
you marry, not his social position or
rank"
"They can hardly be dissociated.
"But, Lisette," went on Ernestine,
port paEe np tO 0tE this HVfR f bdP people f
YOU are receiving the addresses of
Mr.. St. Armand
"Well, and supposing that I am
what then?"
"Oh, Lisette, he is bold, bad
man."
Nonsense, child; he's no worse
than other people" said Lisette
sharply.
Gle drinks, and he CANDLES, I
know it, for have brothers."
Everyone takes social glass now
a-days, and as for gambling, why,
I've none of the stiff, starched New
England prejudices against an occa-
sional game of cards. He is younger
son of the St. Armands of Worcester
shire, and if his elder brother, Leon
St. Armand, should die, Hubert sue
ceeds to the property, and"-she ad-
ded with a conscious smile, and a
slight deepening of the carmine color
on her cheek-''I shall be Lady St.
Armand, of Armand's Hope"
"Lisette, has it gone so far as that ~
GAS what, you tiresome little lee
turer 7"
care you really engaged to that
sinister-faced man 7"
ST really am" answered Lisette,
demurely.
"Then it is of no use for me to
argue further with you."
"Of no use in the world. My
mind is fully made up on the subject,
and no amount of arguing will move
me. 1 have some ambition in the
world" /"
Ernestine Grey went home, sad
and thoughtful. True, she had seer
but little of Hubert St. Armand, but
In that little time she disliked hin
with almost instructive antipathy, ano
the idea of her lovely, willful friend
casting her lot with his dark fate wa!
repulsive to her in the highest degree
She was sitting alone at her sew
ing when Harry March was announ
ced-the young carpenter whom Ii
sette Norman regarded with such In
veterate Scorn.
He was tall and handsome, with
face whose frank, pleasant expires
sion seemed In itself letter of intro
duction to the world around him.
Ernestine's welcoming smile AM
blush were an earnest of her pleasur
in seeing him. He sat down besid
her work table and began to pla
carelessly with the scissors.
81 suppose you have been to Sc
your friend, Miss Norman, today 2
he said.
eyes"
"You have heard, of course, ther
what fool I've made of myself" b
said, with slightly contracting brow:
"I have heard that she refused you
offer of marriage, Harry" she answer
ed, with gentle remonstrance In he
tone.
"I was a fool, Ernestine," he sale
gravely. ST can see it now fnysel
as look back over the course
events. Lisette is lovely and fasc
mating, but she would have made n
fitting wife for me. I think I mu
have been under a spell for the la
few weeks, and the glamor has at la
passed away. 1t was severe lessor
but / am thankful for it, nevertheless
and 1 shall profit by it, Ernestine,
you will allow me-"
eff I will allow you, Harry"
''It is all in your power, Ernestin
Will you accept secondhand love-
;ratta has raiactad rne-ui1l voi1