Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-06-11


our hero, and the next moment found him
face to face with the most bewIchingly
beautiful creature he had ever seen.
This is Bella!' said Mr.. Meirs, with
some pride: you doubtless remember her.
This is your cousin John. hope you have
not forgotten him. What in the world
makes you stare so. huzzy? l told you his
hair would be as dark as your own by this
time, but you didn't believe it, Here Mr.
Meirs consulted his watch, and said: But
l must be in Wall street by ten; so shall
be obliged to trust you to your own gov
ernment'
With this Mr. Meirs departed, leaving
our hero indescribably confused. No soon
er was he gone, than bella burst into a
ringing laugh, and exclaimed: How fun
nyP
Merriment is said to be contagious. John
laughed response to Bella, and he had a
most beautiful way of doing it, which Bel
la in spite of the novelty of their silua-
tions, very readily acknowledged with a
blush.
There has been a great mistake made,
said John Peters, bowling sorro Nfully, as
though he would "a tale unfold
Il see,' said Bella, you are trying to
cover UP your red hair with wig. 1hate
red hair. and the change makes you look
funny--it does indeedl'
1T is all mistake persisted John,
reddening. i never wore wig in al my
lifep
Then you must have colored it, for it
was red ten years ago, and used to laugh
at you when was angry, and advise you
to keep one eye open when you slept, lest
it set the curtains on fire.
What an awkward situation,' cried John
desperately. 1T is true, am John Peters,
but not the John Peters you take me for,
and as for having red hair, never had that
honor, assure you
1t was now Bella's turn to look surpris-
ed
And who are you then,' cried Bella, if
you are not John Peters of Baltimore?'
On the contrary, am John Peters Of
Connecticut, graduate from the mercan-
tile college; and, at present in search of a
situation. an not your cousin, and new
er saw you to my knowledge, before today
But must confess you are the rrettiest
girl l ever did see. and I begin to envy
the genuine John Peters, your cousin,
for cant help liking you a great deal al
ready"
'You do? Indeed, how funny? Then
you are not my cousin from Baltimore, and
what is better STILL my father thinks 7ou
are. / detest cousin for husband, and
above all red haired husband, whether he
be cousin or no. But how did it all happen
that pa should make such an odd mistake?
Tell me all about it,
We'll, the fact is, the whole thing was
mistake from beginning to end, and was at
tributable to an advertisement in the morn
ing paper. Your father wanted book
keeper, and advertised | saw the adver-
tisement, and applied directly for the situa-
ton. Before stating my business. intro
duced myself as John Peters, whereupon
your father, forgetting there might be an
other John Peters in the world, bundled
me into an omnibus, and hurried me here
before l could offer any explanation
How odd!' exclaimed Bella. And you
are not my cousin after all? but 1 rather
like you, and am not little pleased with
the adventure, because we can both laugh
together over fathers misl take, and the abb
sent John Peters red hair
But must explain the matter immedi-
ately. though confess / dislike the idea
of giving you to the absent John Peters,
answered our hero, with winning smile;
especially as you have natural antipathy
to cousins with red hair
Il don't see the use in explaining Sup
posing we both keep quiet and let it 60 for
granted that you are my cousin John, what
harm?'
And then surposing that he, thinking
me cousin John, should insist on our be-
ing married before the genuine John Peters
comes?'
%, it would be delightful! 1 do SO
hate to marry my cousin; besides, like
you thousand times better. There isn't
the least romance in marrying ones cousin,
such cousin as John Peters,
from Baltimore
Here Bella laid her pretty white hand on
Johns arm. and said: But you don't care
for me; Of course you wouldn't like to be
married to please me? / don't blame you
either, for wouldn't marry cousin John.
if | could help it,