The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-03-26

GueSlIou, Sdlu hOnFOe. 'OOuC, 10
up for moment from the entrancing pho
tograph, and give fellow some attention
Il want to know if you are going to Mrs
Leaford's Saturday night ?'
"Yes-no-I don't know I haven't
made up my mind
"All right; I'll call for you at nine to
a moment"
Away went Monroe, leaving Raymond
May yet bending over the. fair counten-
ance which seemed to enchant him like
dream.
The exotics in Mrs Leaford's bay win
dows were in full blossom and brightness
the fire, which one or two days had rem
dered far from disagrceable, even in A prl,
glowed checrtuly in the CRATE, aud half
dozen young guests matronized by their
pretty hostess and Mrs Walter from New
York, were busy, some reading, some
chatting and some engaged In the grace
tul mysteries OF embroidcries and crotch
cts.
''Bv the way, where is Virginia 2" ask
ed Mrs. Leaford, glancing around.
"She will he down presently" answered
her sister "she took her letters up stairs
to read"
nat very iuStdHt .iISS uuc
touch fell upon the door knob, and she
came into the room. looking prettier than
ever, in white cashmere morning wrap
per, relieved by the futter Of blue rib
bopS.
"Lizzy," she said, coming to her sis
ter's side, Il have had the strangest adven-
ture this morning."
'.What do you mean ~ asked Mrs.
Walter.
As I opened one of my letters, she
said, laughing in half pleased, half puz
zled manner, "out fell a photograph . OF
course | supposed it was one Of those [
had taken of myself just before left New
York"
"Wen,' calculated the eager chorus of
listeners, ..sand II was
''The prettiest baby you ever saw y ex-
claimed Virginia, holding up the pictured
representation Of .'baby Harry" and her
auditors pounced sarcastica!y upon it,
uttering various feminine adjectives Of
delight and admiration.
| Saturday night arrived, most propi-
| tiously, with keen wind and a bright
st;xli yht, and Mrs. Leaford's spacious
rooms were soon flled Mr.. Monroe and
| Capt. May were among the later arrivals,
and made their way towards Mrs Lea
lord as ssHiliully as they could, through
| the mass OF crinoliue which swayed
! around.
"Here he is, Mrs. Leaford ~ calculated
Monroe, as at length he reached the lady
sought for ''I've brought him, accord
ing to contract butt do you believe, the
lazy fellow had coiled up on Il SOFA for
an evening over his books IT it hadn't
been for my indefatig gable effo,ts, you
wouldn't have seen him here to- night"
'I'm sure / am very much obliged to
you," said Mrs. Leatord, laughing, Cap
tain May, the only amends you can max e
for such an outrageous 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"
As the young officer bowed low over
I the extended hand % the New \ ork
beauty, he was half uncertain whether he
was broaG awake or wandering through
| the nazcs Of dream. There stood be-
fore him the lovely reality Of that charm
ing photograph, her jetty hair wreathed
with pearls, aud her dark beauty con-
trasted with dress Of the soitcst pink,
with moss-roses at her belt
If he had been in love before, his case
was hopeless now-desperate, irremeiia-
! BILE
How quickly the next two weeks flew
by-l 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 her 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 ushered
into a pretty room opening out of a
fragrant conservatory. as he awaited
! Miss hynue's appearance, he ncrvously
turned over the pages of the gllded vol
umes that lay on the table. One was j
Photographic album, and he glanced at
the various faces there contained, without
really seeing them, until suddenly, the
rosy face of his own little Harry-Min
nio's child-sm:led up IN his own
!. .Who, is it possible? l must be mis-
taken"
But second glance convinced hin
that be was not Mistaken 1t was Harry
May, and nobody else's baby.
Suddenly light footstep disturbed hi
reverie.
"Aiss lynne" ne said earnestly