Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-05-15

fell on the door.knob, and she came into the
room, looking prettier than ever, in white
cashmere morning wrapper, relieved by the
futter of blue ribbons. "a a9asfs
"Lizzy," she said, coming to her sisters
side, II have had the strangest adventure this
morning."
"What do you mean" asked Mrs. WI alter.
"As opened one Of my letters" she said,
laughing in . half pleased, half puzzled man.
ner, s'out fell the photograph! OF course,
supposed it was one of those had taken Of
myself just before left New York." 7ns
"Wellw calculated the eager chorus of
listeners, ''and it was" +4l
.'The prettiest baby you ever saw ~ ex-
claimed Virginia, holding up tho pictured
representation of our old acquaintance, "Baby
Harry" and her auditors bounced ecstatically
upon her, uttering various feminine adjec-
tives Of delight and admiration.
Saturday night arrived, most propitiously,
with keen wind, brilliant starlight, and Mrs.
Leaford's spacious rooms were soon filled.
Mr. Monroe and Capt. May were among the
later arrivals, and made their way to Mrs.
Leaford as skillfally as they could through
the mass Of crinolipe which swayed around.
"Here he is, Mrs. Leaford" calculated
Monroe, as at length he reached the lady
sought for. 1--WE brought him according to
contract but, do you belieye, the lazy fellow
had cooled up on sofa for an evening over
his books II it hadn't been for my inde-
tatigable efforts, you wouldn't have seen him
tonight" .. >.1..s.
"Tm sure I'm very much obliged to you," "
said Mrs. Leaford, laughing. Capt. May,
the only amends you can make for such an
outl ageous breach of discipline is to be just
as agreeable as you can to my fair guests to-
night. Miss Lynne, let me present Captain
May" .3.1-I 1ss agt .-;-.s. . +5~4ss..5
As the young officer bowed low over the
extended hand of the New York beauty, he
was half uncertain whether he was broad
awake or wandering through the mazes Of a
dream. There, before him, stood the lovely
photograph, her jetty hair wreathed with
pearls, and her dark beauty contrasted with
dress of the softest pink, with moss roses at
her belt. If he had been in love before, his
case was hopeless now-desperate. irremeed
liable! %
How quickly the next two weeks flew by |!
1t was not until the night before he sailed
that Capt Raymond May mustered up cour-
age to confess to Miss Lynne that her simili-
tude was in his possession - for, Of course,
that would necessarily involve the surrender
of 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 on fragrant conservatory. AS ne waited
Miss Lynne's appearance, he nervously turned
owe the pages of the gilded volumes that lay
on the table. One was Photographic album,
and he glanced mechanically at the various
faces there contained, without really seeing
them, until suddenly the rosy face of his own
little Harry - Minnis's child - smiled up in
his own
"Why, is it possible? l must be mis-
taken |" ta~' 4s4-'
But second glance convinced him that he
was not mistaken. 1t was Harry May, and
nobody else's baby.
Suddenly light footstep disturbed his
revery.
"Miss Lynne" he said, earnestly, as soon
as the customary greetings Of the day were
exchanged, II am in q state of very great
perplexity - will you solve the enigma fol-
! me ~
Certainly, if cam said Virginia, blush
ing, and with soft, uncertain tremor in her
heart ... .-.a-. 10 -..f..-.. ..-
How did this picture obtain place in
your album"
The color subsidized into ordinary pallor. as
Virginia replied: SIN rather a romantic
manner, Captain May. It was sent to me,
with no accompanying message. and l have
not the least idea whence it came"
"Ah! that furnishes clue to the whole
mystery" said Captain May, placing upon
the table the picture which had lain next tc
his heart for the last few days, and relating
briefly how it had fallen into his possession
"By some mistake at the photographers, my
little Harry's picture has been sent to you
and your likeness to me. | am a widower,
Miss Lynne, with one child, as, | suppose,
you have heard" rti ~-
I "No," said Virginia, coloring, 81 was not
aware of it; but 49, S-+---.~t
He looked earnestly int, her face, where
the tell-tale crimson was already beginning to
glow, and the soft eyes to become Swallowed
with timid, downcast lashes - he looked and
saw something that encouraged him to ask
another question.
"Miss Lynne Virginia - may keep the
picture p 1slJ7 f.-~
And she did not cay "No."
| When Captain May sailed, the next day,
it was with Something to look forward to-
on his return. -. ---9.-
my dearest Virginia" exclaimed her sis
ter, "what have you been doing?@ Don't you
know that the Captain is a widower ?"
/. eyes," said Virginia, yaliantly, ''but that
don't make any difference; love him, and
that's enough!'
"And don't you know that ne has q
baby ?' 7 RI = a CT A# RI
I ..Well-and I love the baby, too. because il
is Raymond's."
"Ohr' said Mrs. Walter, archly, $50 you
have overcome your horror of secondhand
babies? Well, my dear, only take care that
he don't keep quoting Mrs. May No. l."
II have no fear" said Virginia, quietly. i
And time proved the correctness OF her
premises, for we don't know any happier
young wife than Mrs. May No. q and it IS
hard to say which she loves best, her husband
or Baby Harry" y .vGAle
81 DoN'T LIKE Ny BUSINESS. - There il
4 noigreater fallacy in the world than that en-
Il mt