St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-03-12

Captain May we're among the later arri-
walls, and made their way toward Mrs. Lea
ford as skillfully as they coull, through
the mass of crinoliDe which swayed around.
"Here he is, Mrs. Leaford ~ ejacula-
ted Monroe, as at length he reached the
lady sought for. "Ive brought him &C.
cording to contract; but, do you believe,
the lazy fellow had coiled up on sofa
for an evening over his books! If it had
not been for my indefatigable efforts, you
wouldn't have seen him here tonight"
"I'm sure I am very much obliged to
you" said Mrs. Leaford, laughing. "Cap-
tain May, the only amends you can make
for such an outrageous breach Of disci-
pline, is to be Just as agreeable as you can
to my fair guests tonight Miss Lynne,
let ME present Captain May!"
As the young officer bowed low over
the extended hand of the New FORK beau
ty, he was half uncertain whether he was
broad awake or wandering through the
mazes of dream. There before him,
stood the lovely reality Of that lovely pho.
tograph, her jetty hair wreathed with
pearls, aud her dark beauty contrasted
with dress Of the softest pink, with moss
roses at ber belt.
If he had been in love before, his case
was hopeless, now-despcrate, irremedia-
BILE!
How quickly the next two weeks few
BY! 1t was not until the night before he
sailed that Captain Raymond May mus
tered up courage to confess to Miss Lynne
that her similitude was in his possession
for, of course, that would necessarily in
volve surrender of the precious property
But he felt that he must at length tell
her the truth and so, with sinking heart
! he marched up the broad marble steps OF
! Mrs Leaford's mansion, and was shown
into pretty little room opening out Of a
| fragrant conservatory.
AS he awaited Miss Lynne's appear
ance. he nervously turned over the pages
of the g,lded volumes that lay on the ia
bic. One was a Photographic album, and
he glanced mechanically at the various "a
ces there contained. without really seeing
them, Until suddenly the rosy face of his
own little Harry-linnie's child-smiled
up in his own
! "Why, is it possible? l must be mis-
taken p
But a second glance convinced him
that he was not mistaken. 1t was Harry
May, and nobody else's baby!
Suddenly a light footstep disturbed bis
reverie.
"Miss Lynne" he said, earnestly, as
soon as the customary greetings of the day
were exchanged, II am in a state Of very
great perplexity. Will you solve the
| enigma for me Z" ".. 49,.
"Certainly-if I cam said Virginia,
blushing, and with a soft, uncertain tre-
NOR at her heart.
"How did this picture obtain place in
your album p
The color subsided into ordinary pallor,
as Virginia replied:
"In rather romantic manner, Captain
May. 1t was sent to ME, with no accom-
ranying message, and l haven't the least
idea whence it came!'
"Ah! that furnishes clue to the whole
mystery" said Capt. May, placing upon
the table the picture which had lain next
! to his heart for the last few days, and re-
lating briefly how it had fallen into his
possession. "By some mistake at the pho.
iographer's, my little Harry's picture has
been sent to you, and your likeness to me.
I am a widower, Miss Lynne, with Que
child. as I suppose you have heard"
NO." said Virginia, coloring, II was
not aware of it, but"
He looked earnestly into her face, where
the tell-tale crimson, was already begin
ming to glow, and the soft eyes to become
shadowed with timid, downcast lashcs he
looked, and saw something that epcour-
aged him to ask another question. III
"Miss Lynne-Virginia-may l keep
the picture ?"> .-- =:
And she did not say, emo"
When Captain May sailed the next day
it was with "something to lock forward
to- on his return. - e-.5 ai..ss>.
"My dearest Virginia ~ exclaimed her
sister, "vbat have you been doing? Don't
you know that Captain May is widower? ?"
eyes," said Virginia, valiantly; "but
that don't make any difference. I love
him, and that's encug gh!'
"And don't you know that he has ba-
by" s:.... 1..a.s4.
"Well-and I love the baby, too, be-
cause it is Raymond's." s.......-..r.---
"Oh! y said Mrs. Walter, archly, $50
you have overcome your horror Of second
hand babies Well, my dear only take
care that he don't keep quoting Mrs.
May Number One ~ r.{t --a.f-.,..
II have no fear,,' said Virginia, quiet
ly. s-..-...--,--
And time proved the correctness of her
premises, for we don't know any happier
young wife than Mrs. May Number Two +;
and it is hard to say which she loves best
her husband. or "BabY Harryv