Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-12-03

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"Thero isa grea. mistake" said Peter.
bOwing sOrrOwiully, as he would a tale
unfold.
:" see," said Bella, you are trying 10
cover up your red hair with wig. bats
red hair, and the change makes you look -
funny-it does. indeed"
+" l,s all a mistake" persisted John. rcd.
dening"I never wOroA wig in my life,
Miss Bella"
&" Then you must have oolored IL, for ID
was red ten years ago. and I used to laugh
a, you when | was angry and advised you
to keep ono eye epen les, you Sc. the bed
curtain on fire."
"what an awkward situation :" cried
John desperately. "lt Is true am John
Peters, bat no, the John Peters you take
Inc for. As for having rel hair. | never
had that honor. assure you"
I, was now Bella's turn TO look surprised
And who are you ,hOn, II you aro no,
John Peters Of Baltimorc7"
81 AIN John Peters OF Connecticut, a
graduate from tho mercantile college. and
at present in search OF a situation. I am
not your cousin. aad never saw you 10 my
knowledge, until to-day though I mu.t
confess you are the prettlest girl ever did
see, and begin to envy the genuine John
Peters, your cousin. Tor I can't help loving
you already"
=" You do9 Indeed how funny Then
you are no, my cousin from Baltimore ; and
wha, is better ',lll, my father thinks you
are. do de,sst cousin for q husband.
but how did l, happen that father made
such an odd mistAkeI"
"Well. the fact Is, the whole thing !,
mistake from the beginning. and was a,tri-
butablo to an advertisement in the morning
papers. Your father wanted book.kecper
and advertised. | saw tho advertisement
and applied directly for the situation, before
stating my business, introduced myself as
John Peters, whereupon your father forget
tinglthere might be another John Peters in
ths world. bundled me into an omnibus,
aud hurried me hero before could oder an
explanation"
+" How odd! exclaimed Bella. "And
you are not my cousin alter all9 Bot
rather like you aud am no, li,ils pleased
a, the adventure. bscaas, We can both
laugh over fathers mistake. and the abssn,
John Peters rcd hair"
Z" But I must explain the matter immed,.
ately, slough dislIks the idea Of giving
you up 10 the absent John Peters, - answer
cd our hero, with winning smile, 4" esp.-
cially rs YOU have a natural antipathy to
red hair"
e don't see the use of explaining. Sup
pose We both keep quiet and let 1t 20 for
granted that We are cousins-wha, har IN
can there be in ~"
i And then suppo.s he, thinking me
cousin John Peters, should insist on our be-
Ing married before the genuine John Peters
comes IRON 3al,imorsl"
"Oh, /. would bo 50 delightful. d. 50
hate to marry cousin John. Besides, like
you thousand times better. There isn't
the slightest romancs in marrying ono.
cousin. especially such cousin Us John Pc.
tiers Of Baltimore"
Here Bella laid her pretty white hand on
his arm. and said
Z" Bat you don't care for me OF course
you wouldn't like TO be married just to
please me- don't blame you either, for |
wouldn'. marry n cousin II II could help
IT."
"on the contrary" cried John clasping
the little hand warmly, Z" I would give all
the world for tia. happy privilege"
{" Then you must promise to keep still.
and let the matter rest Us IL is. You will
do i,,won't you 20
"Mo.t certainly" said John, II it
please you"
On his return. and to bis no little delight I.
Mr. Msirs found Bella deeply interested in
hls cousin John.
- thought you would come round"
said he. " these eIrls are always peryer.c
when their loser. are out Of sight. but
mighty warm hearted and agreeable when
they have got together. Howbeit fancy
there is slight vein Of dupliei,y in the
. best OF them do"
"oh. no, papa, You should not DO 50
hasty IN your conclusions, for haven't |
told you all along that cousin Johns hair
was red, and that my principal objection
was based upon the iac!9 But you SEQ
there is slish, mistake somewhere, for his
hair, (pointing to the counterfeit cousin's)
~ quite dark aud glossy. | mus, really
confess papa, that | like John very much,
u great deal better than | expected; do
indecd."
Z" Then." said Mr. Msirs. eIultingly,
II were in Johns place, | would just take
the liberty to strike while the iron is hot.
There is nothing gained by delays. and n
week hence you might be as far OF the han
die as you were a week ago"
"Oh, no, am not % Gekle. but will
leave the whole matter with you and john"
"There. Bella, you act like sensible
GIRL" cried Mr. Meirs. ~ knew you
would. like your resolution. There Is
nothing 90 rare in the world rs sensible
girl at your time OF life. John is no fop
or prOaigate. lie will make you good