The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-10-19
CiCely's
Blunder
Story OF a Girl and a
Chauffeur.
BY CLARISSA MACkIE

| pea SNORT Nv tue Eldhtt Oh MS lNlbhlihN
Eyes
Go on, Jean! or course your wisl
has something TO do with Cicely
| What are YOU wishing for now. d
titled foreigner to fall in love with oul
girl and carry her away to his feuda
castle where she win be miserable
ever after
"Of course not. Daniel | was wish
ing that If she must fall In love Will
some one II might bc one Of the Blair
boys They are delightful
''She has never met them"
II know 1t, but In visiting Aunt
Agatha she Is sure TO see great deal
of the Blairs. They are next door
neishbors and very intimate with
Aunt Agatha"
II thought they were abroad now"
"Nlr. and Mrs. Blair and Betty are
In Norway, but the boys are home.
Peter Is writing book, and Bobby is
examining for his final examinations
Peter sounds the most eligible TO
me-" Mr. Delmalne dropped his news.
paper and grinned broadly "Cicely
doesn't want husband who Is too
lazy TO graduate with his class. Why,
Bobby Blair couldn't earn his salt
wouldn't have him in my Office, not
even If he was Cicely's husband! Don't
worry about our girl. Jean, she shan't
be hurried. and trust her TO pick out
the right kind of man to marry, Blair
or no Blair money or no money!
But Mrs Dclmaine shook her head.
II know Cicelv," she murmured pes
simistically. "She will be perfectly
sweet about ii, but she viii fall in
love with Aunt Agatha's chauffeur.
"Fiddlesticks! The man may be
married. he may he ms old as the
hills. He may be anything but at
tractive! If you have such forebod-
ings why let tae child 60 at all?'
Aunt Agatha wants her. was the
conclusive argument.
SO when Daniel Dclmaine took his
pretty daughter into his arms and
babe her farewell he looked deep into
her gray eyes.
Dear" he said, don't forget that
you are Delmane and that we love
you"
And Cicely gave him back her
straight clear glance and smiled
frankly. Don't worry about me,
Dads" she said.
As the train threaded the Long Is
land countryside Cicely wondered a
little at the gravity Of her fathers
face when he uttered that farewell
warning So far as she knew, she
had never caused her parents an
hours anxiety unless it had been |
when she had been secretly helping
the invalid wife of her music master |
and her mother had believed she had
discovered a Irritation between the two.
Afterward, when the truth was out,
Mrs Delmaine had been only too
eager to help little Herr Frickel and
his sickly wife and send them to
more congenial climate.
Cicely suddenly remembered the lit
tie note her mother had tucked into
her hand at parting.
Read this on the train, dear" her
mother had whispered.
Cicely took the note from her pocket
md read with amused eyes that grew
misty with tears:
Dearest daughter" wrote Mrs. Del
maine, don't, don't fall in love with
Aunt Agatba's chauffeur Some Of them
re very attractive, and you will break
'ur hearts. Mother
'rhe dear thing" whispered Cicely
Is she tucked the note away. "As IL
/ Delmaine could fall in love with a
A handsome limousine car was
lrawn up at the platform Of Rose
wood, and the smart looking chauf
eur came forward and touched a fin.
yer TO his cap.
"For Oakwood, missy he asked.
Yes" Cicely stepped into the car
md handed the man her baggage
hecks.
"Thomas wifi bring the trunks later"
aid the man as he placed her dressing
ag beside her and closed the door.
Cicely saw him walk down the plat
orm. fine. manly figure in the pale
uff livery Of Aunt Agathas servants.
lie was young. with dark, clearly cut
aatures and q firm resolute mouth.
lie handed tne baggage checks to
h0mas. who was a rudy faced little
.ngishman. waiting beside a yellow
zap.
Presently he returned and took his
Eat.
Az they glided over the hard roads
icely found herself watching that pro
lie through the window instead Of re-
Dicing IN tic charming panorama or
bling hills. dusky woods and spar
ling blue sea
Now they were within the gates Of
atwood, and Ciceiy was looking for
le first glimpse Of Aunt Agatha's alert
tile figure. Miss Agatha Delmaine
rs Cicely's great aunt and had spent
many years abroad that now she .
ID returned CiceIy found TO her sur :
Use that Aunt Agatha was almost
ranger and oakwood an entirely new .
scorery. e
NY dear child. murmured Aunt 9