The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-09
A STOLEN NOCTURNE
A LITTLE STORY OF A GIRLS, ADVENTURE.
And How She Met Young Man and
Blithely Ordered Him Out of
His Own House. ~ IS Z

; tiers and doors the girl went about
opening everything to, the glory of
the afternoon sun and the odor of
June roses. In the drawing room
she found the grand piano which
had belonged to her gifted mother.
Lovingly, reverently, 'she-opened It.
busted the long silent Keys and
played. When afternoon deepened
into twilight the faithful serving
woman sought and found her still
absorbed. ,sr.z+
After that Mildred went daily to
Mannerby Hail.. 1t pleased her
fancy TO imagine herself mistress
there. She and Susan cleaned ard
busted and Strengthened, filing the
empty vases with flowers, until
the old place once more took on
the aspect of a home.
One afternoon Mildred was
Punching there, on tea made in on
antique samovar which adorned q
wonderful hand-carved buffet. ard
sandwiches which Susan supplied,
when a young man suddenly Ap-
peared in the drawing room:
Didn't break in, lady fair. The
door was most invitingly open ard
II was temptedalt0 try. for a
closeup OF. the sorceress who con-
jures such heavenly music"
Then you've been eavesdrop-
ping" she censured. II suppose
you've been playing Peeping Tom
as well"' - ~
my name is Tom, but 1 swear I
didn't peek. p ..s -.
His mirth. too evidently. Sup
pressed. nettled her beyond toler-
ance and she ordered him from the
place peremptorily.
The next day at lunch time NIL.
dred somehow was not surprised
to see the man Tom seated on Q
bench near the house. "Yoo hoo"
she called cheerily. Wont you
come into tea?" and he was beside
her in a trice, smilingly extending
his hand. please forget my rude
ness of yesterday" she said. "I'n
get another cup"
The following day he came by in
vitation, and then every day until
late July. Vaguely realizing the
improperly of entertaining a man
she knew merely as Tom, but
keenly alive to the spirit Of adven-
ture, she said nothing to Susan Of
her daily visitor.
One day, when Tom was listen
ing, while Mildred played to him,
Susan suddenly appeared in the
doorway. Holy mother" she
screamed. "rs it Mr.. Mannerby
come back?"
I'm Tom Mannerby, at your
service" replied the young man,
arising.
Susan" exclaimed Mildred.
"You-you never told me there
was "a Mannerby boy! Oh. oh!
And 1 ordered you out Of your
very own house"
Don't let that worry you. I
was more Of a stranger in it than
you were. Besides"
But where have you been?
Why haven't you been here look
ing after this lovely old placer"
I've been in England. where
my father took me after mothers
death. Last spring she died, and
I've been planning ever since to
look the place over"
Mildred refused to be comfort
ed. and slipping to her knees be-
side the, divan, gave way to sob
bling, until Tom Mannerby signaled
the housekeeper to leave them.
When she had gone he knelt be-
side the girl and raised her face
ito his.
"Pease don't cry" he said gently.
You only did what any one would
have done under the circum-
stance: and besides, II love your
face when 1t smiles-it reminds
me of spring. and white heather,
in England.
Tom" Mildred remarked a day
or two later, II must>write Dad
this very night that his anGel child
is about to become mistress Of
Mannerby Hall"
He won't be as surprised as
you think. I met him in London
before ! sailed and told him I was
coming across to execute my
fathers last wish.
What was that?"
ITO marry DIR. Ashby's daugh.
ter, II she'd have me.