The Missing Fan

"My fan, some one has taken my fan!" Lady Mary Vancouver was a pretty, nart little widow, richly endowed and & great personal favorite. It was at the hunt ball at Weatherly that she exclaimed about the loss of her fan, having left it for a few minutes on a seat while she danced with Sir Henry Willock. Lady Mary always had a court of adorers. They assem bied round her when she stated her loss, and a vigorous search for the missing fan was at once begnn, but with no successful result. It was nowhere to be found. "It belonged to my great grandmother, is a Louis XIV fan, and more than that, has always brought its possessor good luok. Oh, why did I bring it to this ball? Now all my luck is gone, and I shall hencef orth be the most miserable of women. ' ' Vainly did "the adorers" and some of her lady friends seek to comfort her. Lady Mary was inconsolable. "It must be found - some one has taken it by mistake, " said Sir Henry. "Suppose we offer a reward. " "I don't believe the richest of re-wards will bring back my poor dear fan, ' ' she murmured sorrowf ully. "How much would you give to get it tiack?" asked one of those who stood around. "Myself and my whole fortune, " was the somewhat astonishing answer. There was a laugh and a mnrmur of ■"Happy fan to be so highly valued. " But Lady Mary did not apparently perceive that she had spoken extravagantly. She was of Scotch descent, very superstitious, and on that account fax more than on account of the intrinsic value of the fan she was inclined to make herself downright ill and miserable at its loss. No more dancing! She could not ■dance when she was in mourning for her beautiful fan, but as she was chaperoning two young cousins she etaid on till the ballroom was thinning. Sir Henry Willock remained in devoted attendance, but he was not the only one who did so. He was supposed to be the favored suitor, and there were others who were jealous of him. The loss of the fan and the reward she had offered, though, of course, he could not believe that she really meant it, annoyed him. To the others it gave fresh zest, and the fervor to win Lady Mary 's much coveted hand was increased since she herself had shown the means by which the race might be won. Sir Henry conducted her to her carxiage. It was a four mile drive to the JVIoated Grange, which was a lonely dwelling for a lonely woman. "Do you know M. de Lanteuil - Marquis de Lanteuil is he?" she asked Sir Henry as they went down the staircase. "Never saw him till tonight. " He is mindsome, she went on. "Staying at the Duke of Fotheringay's, ;8O he must be soruebody. If I had not teen so unhappy, I should have cultivated him and asked him to the Grange. ' ' "A mere foreigner, " remarked Sir Henry. ' ' One eau never be sure of those fellows." He was becoming more and more jealous, and Lady Mary, who did not f ail to see it, was, in spite of her mourning, bent on teasing. 'Til give a breakfast, " she said, "more fashionable thana luncheon, and ask all the Fotheringay party - lessconipromising than asking him alone. You can come if I have room. ' ' "Thank you. I am going to town tomorrow f or a few days on business. ' ' She laughed, for she did not believe. "Good night, Sir Henry. Glad to see yon when your business is over. Oh, my poor fan ! Perhaps it will be found before you come back. ' ' Two or three days passed. Lady Mary did not ask the Fotheringay party to breakfast. Perhaps, like the rash reward offered for the fan, it was merely flippant talk. That she was really unhappy about lts loss was nevertheless very certain, and since the fan was not returned it .seemed evident that the thief did not pine for the possession of Lady Mary and her worldly effects. "Some woman, of course, " she said bitterly. "How I hate my own sex! "They re always moan and cruel I" It was an unpleasant, rnisty day, ■whieh might perhaps accouut for an increase of bitterness. A ring at the visitors' bell, however, made Lady Mary once more alert. "Who can that be in such weather?" M. de Lanteuil was aiinounced. She looked just a little bit astonished, as she had not asked him to cali. He bowed profonndly and explained. "I havo been sent by the Duchess of Fotheringay on a mission to ask you if you will waive ceremony and come over to diñe this evening. I bring a noto f rom the duehess. ' ' Lady Mary took the note and wcndered why this man was sent with it instead of a servant. It told her that " M. de Lantén:! TT63 a favorito at Fotheringay and asked if i Bhe would be kind to him as a foreigner and show him the beanties of the Grange, also to be sure to come that evening, as a surprise awaited her. " ' ' What is the surprise?' ' ske asked, lookiiig up at him. "If Mme. la Duchesse has not reveal- ed the secret, how shall I?' ' was the guarded answer. "The duchess loves mystery, " ghe said, laughing, "and you, monsieur, if you would see the beauties of the Grange, you must come ín the summer. " "With pleasure, madame." "All I can show you now is the orchid house." She led the way along a covered path that led to a hothouse. The rearing of orchids was her pet amusement. M. de Lanteuil was entranced. Kever before had he seen such lovely specimens. He himself was a connoisseur. But what seemed to entrance him more even than the exquisite blooms was the lady herself. It was in order to pass an hour with her that he had persuaded the duchess to let him go with a message to the Grange. And what did Lady Mary think of him? He cultivated orchids on his French estáte, and from this discovery there were not for her many steps to take in order to cultívate him. Besides had she not told Sir Henry that he was handsome? Poor Sir Henry ! He had no slight cause for jealousy, and so he would have thotight eonld he have watched the tete-a-tete. At last M. de Lanteuil feit that he must linger no longer, and having obtained a promise that Lady Mary would drive over to Fotheringay castle to dinner he departed, leaving the lady in a state bordering on nutter, which was by no means her chronic condition. She was beautifully dressed, wore lovely jewels and looked charming when she entered the drawing room at the castle. Dinner was soon af ter announced, but not a word was said about a surprise, though Lady Mary was on the tiptoe of expectation, longing to know what it could possibly be. So excited was she about the surprise that she almost forgot how much she was in love with the marquis, while, as for the lost fan, she had for the time being ceased to remember that she ever possessed one. It was not till the gentlemen had joined the ladies after dinner that there was any question of the momentous surprise. Then it was that the groom of the chambers carne up to Lady Mary with all the pompous dignity his office imposed and presented her with a packet. With impaticnce and in some trepidation, since every eye was upon her, she toro asunder the paper that envelopedit. "My fan - my dear, darling lost fan !" she cried. "Who is the lucky being who f ound it? This is indeed a surprise." "M. de Lanteuil, " said the duchess. "He f ound it uiidcr a chair at the bont ball." Lady Mary lcoked at him without speaking. She did not thank him, for she was wondering why ho had kept it from her for so long. She forgot that by the reward she had offered she had made the immediate delivery difficult. A few minutes later he was conducting her to her carriage, the duke remaining discreet] y in the background. Then only did she flnd words to thank him. "And the reward, Lady Mary - the large reward you offered?" "My promise shall beredeemed, " she whispered. For a moment their hands met in one fervent grasp, and she was gona Poor Sir Henry Willock! N one thought about him during the wedding festiyities brought about by the dear, quaint old fan which played no insignificant Dart in the toilet of the bride.