Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1913-10-28

49, 9 : e - II. 2 e..
Goldingay, one OF the oldest fainilids
in 1Eeland. He furthermore let It be
known that the marquis was bach
elor and In Ill health.
This was quite enough to induce
Mrs. Van Tromp to lay plans for I'M
ion between Mr.. Mackridge aud her
daughter The mother cast or her re-
greet that she couldn't marry Madeline
to a rajah and became interested In
the more practicable scheme OF mar
rying her to a man who was likely to
become a marquis. The first time
after having received this Information
that Mr.. Mackridge joined her and her
daughter on deck she made an excuse
to go below in order to leave them to-
gether.
Miss Van Tromp had become such a
traveller that she was not averse to
picking up acquaintances during voy-
age, but she seldom became familiar
with them. Mr.. Mackridge evinced q
desire for her companionship, but
found as the journey proceeded that
he was not permitted to come to terms
Of intimacy. Mrs. Van Tromp watch
ed his attentions to her daughter and
could not understand why Madeline
gave no more cordial response.
"My DEAR" said the polite mother,
IF you would be more civil to Mr..
Mackridge it might be of great beneft
to US. He tells me that his brother
has q house in London and is usually
there during the season. We may be
Invited there and meet many persons
Of rank"
81 n ght his brother was a bach
elor. .helors don't usually enter
tain
"Oh, Madeline, you don't grasp
things as you should You will never
take the position you should because
you have no push. The fact that Mr..
Mackridge's brother is a bachelor
should lead you all the more to cult
vate him."
II have thought. mother, dear. that
you preferred | should cultivate Mr..
Mackridge himself"
Mrs. Van Tromp made a grimace,
but accorded no reply to such stupid
ty, for she certainly considered any
girl stupid who would encourage a
younger brother of II marquis. even
though the marquis himself wac In bad
health.
During the passage of the Red sea
Mr. Mackridge continued his atten-
tons. and Mrs. Van Tromp was pleas
ed that Madeline seemed more dispos'
ed to accept them This acceptance
could not be construed to mean en-
enlargement. but Mrs Van Tromp felt
more hopeful. and Mr.. Mackridge took
advantage OF it to be more attentive
He gained point with Mrs. Van
Tromp by letting out the fact that he
was "A captain in British regiment
stationed in India. all the officers OF
which were noblemen. He had pro-
cured leave of absence to go home,
having been Informed that his brother.
the marquis. was failing rapidly.
After receiving this additional infor-
nation Mrs. Van Tromp conceived the
idea Of going ashore in Captain Mack
ridges company on the ships arrival
at Gibraltar. He. being British Off
GER would doubtless be hand in glove
with the officers of the garrison and
would be able to secure for the Van
Tromps special privileges. She limited
to Mackridge that she would be pleas
ed to have him with her and her
daughter when they visited Gibral-
tar and he accepted the invitation
with alacrity. But when they reached
the port the captain was confined to
his stateroom with q severe indispoSi-
ton and was unable to leave the ship.
Al. went well with the trio who
were performing this little comedy
during the latter part of the voyage.
Just before leaving the steamer Cap
tain Maekridge managed to obtain a
large bouquet of flowers. Whether he
bought them from bumboat or they
had been cultivated aboard the ship
does not matter The important fea-
ture is that he presented them to Miss
Van Tromp. The gift was made while
the mother and daughter. accompanied
by the captain. were about to pass
down the gangway. The young lady
inhaled their perfume and started
down for the dock with them in her
left hand. carrying a piece of hand
baggage in her right. On reaching the
dock she suddenly remembered leaving
some article in her stateroom.
please take these" she said to
Mackridge handing him the hand bag
gage and her bouquet, land keep them
till return I'll be back In few min.
utes."
Mackridge took the articles. certain
whiteness appearing about his mouth
and an anxiety in his eyes as he did
so Miss Van Tromp ran up the gang
way, passing with difficulty those COM
ing down. and disappeared within the
ship 4 customs inspector, who was
watching for smugglers. noticed gen
tenan standing with large bouquet
i'm his hand and rondered. Had lady
been carrying it his attention might
not have been attracted Suspicious as
all custom house officials are, be
thought ii odd that man should be
carrying flowers. and possibly it might
be used rs a means of concealing du
table goods
'I'll look into that, sir. II you please"
he said to Mackridge.
The Wilderness about the latter's
mouth turned to a sickly pallor as the
inspector took the bouquet from his
hands. Pulling it apart. several arti-
cles wrapped in white tissue paper fell
on the dock The inspector picked
them up. unwrapped one and a large
diamond sistened in the sunlight
When Madeline Van Tromp rejoin-
ed her mother she found her alone.
'.Where's Captain Mackridge2" she