Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-07-28
CiCely's
Blunder
Story of a Girl and a
Chauffeur.
By CLARISSA MACKIE

Mrs. Delmaine smiled across the
hearth at her husband.
~ wish she began, and then stop
ped short at the glance of his twinkling
eyes.
go on, Jeanl OF course your wish
has something to do with Cicely
What are you wishing for now, d
titled foreigner to fall in love with ouI
girl and carry her away to his feudal
castle, where she will be miserable
ever afterT'
"Of course not, Daniel. | was wish
ing that If she must fall In love with
some one 1t might be one Of the Blail
boys. They are delightful"
"She has never met them"
II know 1t, but in visiting Aunt
Agatha she is sure to see a great dea
Of the Blairs. They are next door
neighbors and very intimate witt
Aunt Agatha"
~ thought they were abroad now"
"Mr. and Mrs. Blair and Betty are
in Norway, but the boys are home
Peter is writing book, and Bobby II
examining for his final examinations.
"Peter sounds the most eligible t
me-" Mr.. Delmaine dropped his news
paper and grinned broadly "Cicely
doesn't want a 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, no
even If he was Cicely's husbandl Dom
worry about our girl. Jean, she shan
be hurried, and trust her to pick ou
the right kind Of man to marry, Blail
or no Blair, money or no money!"
But Mrs. Delmaine shook her head.
II know Cicely," she murmured pes
simistically. "She will be perfectly
sweet about 1t, but she will fall II
love with Aunt Agatha's chauffeur
"Fiddlesticksl The man may be
married. He may be as old as thu
hills. He may be anything but at
tractiveI If you have such forebod
ings why let the child go at alp
Aunt Agatha wants her." was thu
conclusive argument.
OO WhCh Dhultl IOOk iii
pretty daughter into his arms an(
babe her farewell he looked deep int
her gray eyes.
Dear" he said, don't forget tina
you are a Delmaine and that we Low,
your
And Cicely gave him back he
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 q
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 1t had been
when she had been secretly helping
the invalid wife of her music master
and her mother had believed she had
discovered 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 a
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
and read with amused eyes that grew
misty with tears:
Dearest daughter" wrote Mrs. Del.
maine, don't, don't fall in love with
Aunt Agatha's chauffeur. Some Of them
are very attractive, and you will break
our hearts. Mother"
"The dear thingp' whispered Cicely
as she tucked the note away. "As II
Delmaine could fall In love with a
chauffeur
A handsome limousine car was
drawn up at the platform of Rose
wood, and the smart looking chauf-
feur came forward and touched a fin.
ger to his cap.
For lakewood, miss p he asked.
yes" Cicely stepped into the car
and handed the man her baggage
checks.
"rhomas will bring the trunks later"
said the man as he placed her dressing
bag beside her and closed the door.
Cicely saw him walk down the plat
form, fine. manly figure In the pale
bun livery OF Aunt Agatha's servants.
He was young, with dark, clearly cut
features and firm, resolute mouth.
He handed the baggage checks to
Thomas, who was a rudy faced little
Englishman. waiting beside yellow
trap
Presently he returned and took his
seat
Az they glided over the hard roads
Cicely found herself watching that pro-
file through the window instead Of re.
joicing In the charming panorama Of
rolling hills. dusky woods and spar.
king blue sea.
Now they were within the gates Of
lakewood, and Cicely was looking for
the nrst glimpse OF Aunt Agatha's alert
little figure. Miss Agatha Delmaine
was CicelyS great aunt and had spent
20 many years abroad that now she
had returned Cicely found to her sur.
prise that Aunt Agatha was almost a
stranger and lakewood an entirely new
discovery.
my dear child" murmured Aunt
Agatha as she gathered Cicely into her
arms, and over Cicely's shoulder she
called sharply to the chauffeur, who
was bringing Cicely'a droaainO has.