The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-12-22

OF course as her father would not be willing 10
him to see her at her residence, the only cours
to pursue would be for her to indicate where an
at what time he could see her. In reply sh
named place for him to go, and the hour
stating that he would find trustworthy servan
waiting there to conduct him to her, and
would know the servant by a white ribbon
which he would wear in his coat, and desiring
Frank to wear bit of red ribbon, that the ser
want might recognize him.
Meanwhile Ben was making fair progress witt
his correspondence and although he often hint
ed to Frank about young lady in Boston, still
he had also promised silence, and dared not Eel
him the circumstances. He had proposed al
appointment to his fair but unknown charmer
andsshe in reply told him she would be mos
happy to see him, but just at that time it wa
impossible for her 10 comply-with his request
but that she would appoint place of -Eneetinf
in few days and sure enough the very mex
letter informed him that if he would be at a GER
tain place at certain hour, naming the iden.
teal time and spot she did TO Frank he would
| see a servant wearing red ribbon, who would
| guide him to her presence, and that the servant
might recognize him, she requested him TO wear
| a white ribbon in his buttonhoe.
! On the evening before the day appointed foi
the meeting Frank, having informed his employ
ers that he was about TO visit Boston that evening
and placing the collar that was now so precious
in his sight, in corner of his valise, left New
| York in the evening train, arriving in Boston
the next morning, and proceeded at once to one
of the principal hotels, engaged q room and
went to bed in order to be in good trim for the
| meeting that was TO take place that afternoon
But sleep was entirely out of the question.
The thought of the meeting too much occupied
his mind to allow him to WOO the g rosy god, y
and after several hours of Intellectual attempts to
compose himself into anything like slumber, he
arose and looked at his watch, and seeing it was
near time for the appointment proceeded to dress
himself, taking more than usual pains to see that
his cravat was fashonably tied, and that each
lock OF hair was adjusted to its proper position !;
and having dispatched the boy for some red rib
bon, he proceeded to fix neat bow in his but
tonhole, surveyed himself in the mirror until he
was satisfied he would do, and then started forth
in quest ofadventure.
Meanwhile Ben had come to the conclusion
that 1t might be sell at any rate be determin-
ed to be on the alert for breakers and it was
not without some misgiving on his part that he
took his seat in the Boston train on the morning
OF the eventful day in fact, after he had pur-
chased his ticket, he had halt notion to retreat
but " faint heart never won fair lady," thought
he, and he resolved to 90 on. He was very care
full to tell no one his errand. Arriving in Bos-
ton, he took room at hotel some distance
from the one where Frank was stopping and
when the hour of the appointment came he was
ready, his bow Of ribbon included But he,
more cautious than Frank, determined to recon-
noitre little before putting it on He proceeded
to the place of meeting, carefully surveying each
tASson he met in his search for the servant with
the " Gu1deeO~: but no trace could he find of
AT length it occurreIl~
other was waiting to see him betvaLnerhaps the
his badge and after taking one more ca.~au
nf m haf ind IN
ribbon, pulled his hat down over his eyes, and
stepping back in one corner watched the progress
ofevenls.
An g intelligent guardian of the peace, who
had noticed him acting so suSpciously, now de-
termined to watch him, as he looked very much
like bounty jumper they had been in search of
for some time, and consequently he resolved to
be very careful that he didn't slip through his
fingers this time.
At length Ben saw person coming around the
corner with the indicated badge in his coat that
he had been looking for-the red ribbon-and
stepping forward to get better view him. to
his ineXpreSsable horror he saw it was his friend
Frank Burton.
In an instant the thought flashed upon him
that he was the victim of one Of Frank S jokes,
but thinking that Frank had not yet seen him,
he resolved to beat hasty retreat. And wheel
ing round he started up the street as fast as he
could walk. But Franks quick eye had caught
the futter of the white ribbon, and thinking it
was his guide he instantly started in pursuit, and
was in turn followed by the policeman Ben
walked up to the corner of the street Mt rapid
rate and looking behind and seeing that Frank
was close at bis heels he made dive down the
neighborng street; while Frank, now recog-
nizing him and determined to Sift the matter TO
the bottom started on a run after him.
The policeman, now fearful least he should
lose his prey, sounded an alarm and started in
pursuit Of both fugitives. Away they went, up
this street and down that until directly the game
was blocked by Ben's being knocked down by
an officer, with the exclamation Ha, ha we We
rot YOU at last, my covey p and our two heroes
were, coared by the two officers who prepared
to take them to the station house.
But this proceeding was interrupted by the
sudden appearance of Bob Smith, who exelaim-
3D.
tsHello, Frank hello Ben What's the matter2
What's all this row about?"
f" Matter % exclaimed Ben, Just ask Frank
what's the matter. Oh, wouldn't like to kick
the stuffing out of you-you scoundrel = shak-
ing his fist at him.
7'Oh, it's all very well for you to say ask
Frank, when you have been playing this kind OF
game on me- But you shall give me satistac-
tion," said Frank, ''You shall"
'Fve been playing game on you y said
| Ben, "didn't you put your memorandum IN
my way for the very purpose of leading me on
this wild goose chase all the way from New
York ?''
At this iuncture Bob called the officers aside,
and made some explanation to them, which cal
led forth considerable merriment on their part
After which he called carriage and pursuaded
Frank and Ben to enter after the officers Informed
them that they were not wanted at the station
house and driving TO the hotel proceeded to bis
room, where he made a full confession Of the
part he had taken in the affair." stated that be
had written that name in several different boxes,
but that he had no idea his correspondents
"Hope' and Tecumsche' were themselves.
"But what's done can't be helped, said he
C and the best thing we can do is to shake hands
over it, and quit square
| The return train that evening carried back
Frank and Ben, wiser if not better men than
they were when they started, but to this day
Frank never puts on paper collar without look
| ing on the inside to see if there is name in 1t.
MoRAL.-Beware of the young lady that wish
eS you to wear fancy ribbon Waoerly Mage
| zine.