Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-02-14

He hesitated Could it be? She had been
the town talk for weeks; her name and
young Melville's who had followed her from
New York, were in every ones mouth
Yet to blunder was ruin. He tore his hair
in his perplexity.
The night was very dark, yet he could
see the carriage was empty. A black driv-
er sat upon the seat, looked anxiously at
George. The latter walked to the door of
the carriage, with the intention of accosting
him. He had hardly done so, however
when he heard hasty footsteps approaching
along the pavement. He turned and look
ed. In moment or two, the new conner
and George saw each other. George
would have sworn it was Melville. The
iatter-seeing man at the door of the
Carriage stopped short, and appeared
uncertain how to act. A few seconds
elapsed then he moved toward the carriage
His mind, thoroughly made up, for he
was certain he held the clue of the mystery,
George boldly seized the handle of the car
riage door, and opened it.
The new conner stopped again-seemed
lost in doubt-then crossed the street.
At that moment female figure rushed
out of the house. George held the carriage
door while she stepped in. Then, whisper
ing to the driver, he sprang in, seated him
self beside her, and the carriage ratified O.
YER the pavement.
Within, all was dark Neither spoke
George could hear the quick breathing OF
his companion, as he held his own breath.
These minutes seemed centuries to him.
| At last the carriage stopped.
"Where are we p cried the lady spring
ing forward.
cat your own home, Mrs. Timms,
where your husband, the doctor, will soon
Join you"
''Saved-saved" gasped the poor wo-
man.
Leaping out, George lifted Mrs. Timms
to the ground, bade the driver drive home
as if old Nick was after him, and in a hall
a minute was seated in the doctors study
With perfect GOODNESS he united Mrs Timms
hat, unpinned her shawl, and divested hel
lof both articles Of dress. She had not faint.
ed; but she seemed in torpid state, indif
ferent to what was going on. A glass O.
water revived her.
| ''What horrible dreamr' she muttered
but I'm at home, am [ not ?"
'~'Of course you are, replied George gay.
ly, ''you'ye got the dress, and Miss Prime
will be here in the morning to finish it,
''But if I'm at home" whispered Mrs.
Timms, with a vacant gaze.
you'll wear it the next time you 90 out
with the Doctor. Now, [ must be of. -
Good-by, dear Mrs. Timms. How odd that
/ should have met you at the dressmaker'sv sv'
"You met me -
Eyes, just in time to see you home,
wasn't [? [ must say, dear Mrs. Timms,
you're model punctuality. Ifyou'll al
low me to say so, [ think the idea of driving
to dressmakers at nine o'clock at night,
on purpose to get dress, quite original
Ha b.! ha! ha. L beg your pardon for laugh
ing, but our Richmond ladies are not such
sticklers for exactness, by any means. Good
night
And taking leave with as much formality
as if he had made an ordinary visit, George
ran down the steps of the doctors house and
hastened home.
When Mr.. Grantham and DR.. Timms
heard the servant say that ''Mr. George
was sitting in his bones,'' they burst into 8
roar of laughter.
"What do you mean 2" asked the former
as soon as he could speak.
But the girl was too much agitated to re.
ply. She trembled, and began to cry, anc
shook her head ominously.
sCome along Doctor, we'll soon see wha
this means,'' said Grantham, leading the
way out Of the room.@ First let us SCI
whether the boy is there
And the two old fogies, quite excited
hastened to Aunt Betsy's window. There
was George as before; not muscle hac
moved
''What the duce did the girl mean p sale
Grantham.
Before the words were uttered, an excla
nation from Dr. Timms drew his attention
once more to the window. What they saw
there might well astound them. They saw
distinctly man leap in the window, seize
George by the throat, and with one power.
full jerk, lift him out of the chair, and throw
him to the other end of the room.
"Murder!" roared Mr.. Timms.
"My poor boy" groaned Grantham.
Surely two old gentlemen, of their size
and age, never ran SO fast as did they to the
scene of outrage. Gasping for breath, the
father burst open the door of his sons
room, and both rushed in prepared for the
worst.
"Phansy their feelinks," as jeans says,
when they saw George standing in his shirt
sleeves, in the middle of the room, as cool
as a diplomat-and on the bed, horror of
horrors a skeleton la Beauchne, recently
imported from Paris, draped in Georges
dressing gown.
"What is this farce, sir p roared Mr..
Grantham