Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-07-04

DY PAUL caEYToN.

the evening, and having entered by means
of his night key, and finding nobody stirring,
he walked leisurly up to his room.
This was the apartment Mr.. Derby had a.
ways occupid in Mrs. Covey house, but on
this occasion it seemed very little like home
Before leaving town he had carefully put
away all his clothes in his trunks, and during
his absence other revolutions had been made
In the room which gave it different air.
Not the least agreeable thing in the room
was darkness. Mr.. Derby had entered with
out lamp expecting to find that desirable
article in the old place; but after knocking
over an ink bottle, vase, and snuff box, in
his blind search, he concluded that the wisest
course would be to stop swearing and go to
bed in the dark
In no very good humor Mr.. Derby began
to undress. To return home after an alb
sence of two weeks, and to be obliged to go
to bed IN such dismal manner, almost broke
his heart. lie might have rung for the ser
wants it is true, and he might have reflected
that his friends were excl1sable since thev'did
not expect him; but Mr. Derby chose to re-
main angry and silent
And where is Margaret Maria?'' NUT
tered the unhappy man. "Oh faithless
daughter of an unfeeling landladyl | didn't t
expect this from you When tore myself
from your arms two weeks ago you protested
with tears in your eyes and perfidy in your
heart that you would watch, with the anxious
eyes of love, for my return! Oh, this looks
like it Even now, know you are making
yourself merry with some fresh conquest, or,
If you are sleeping under this roof. YOU are
dreaming of pleasure III which / have no
share. So saying, Mr.. Derby threw his
trousers on chair, and began to grope his
way in darkness to the head of the bed At
this moment merry laugh, close to his
chamber door, startled him. Mr. Derby
paused.
Margaret Maria's laugh, by all that is
false!' groaned Mr. Derby. ''She said she
would do nothing but sigh and weep during
my absence-and hear herl ah, she laughs
again-the false hearted"
Mr.. Derby's reflections were suddenly in
terrupted by hand grasping his door latch
With considerable trepi,lation he flew to lock
the door, but before he could reach ita mer-
ry laugh, blaze of light and two girls burst
into the room.
Now Mr. ID. was very modest person,
and it was lucky circumstance for him that
the closet door, was ajar, and retreat conve-
nient, and his limbs active. He lodged out
of sight before the girls had time to cast their
eyes about them, and soon the door was shut
and his ears pinned back
What time do you suppose it is?' asked
Margaret Maria. There, the bells are
striking twelve Oh, hain't we had gay
time, Susan?'
Gay enough, wasSusan reply. 'Ha
ha but wouldn't your poor dear, absent
Derby be amused If he knew"
'Ha ha, ha, y laughed Margaret Maria
My poor, dear, absent Derbyl That is
too good if he knew, poor fellow, it would
break his heart. He thinks i do nothing but
sigh and cry during his absence. Am Isuch
a goose 2"
f'Such goose?' Oh, groaned Derby
painfully interested.
''Such goose" echoed Sue. ''He would
not think so if he had seen you eating the
oysters with Dan Robbins
'1I only hope. added Margaret, "4hat he
will keep away week longer.
So that we can have this room 2"
''No-not exactly that-but Dan has in
and you know1 couldn' go if my poor, dear,
absent Derby, should come back in the mean
time"
Derby was trembling with cold and wrath.
You mean to marry Derby, then p asked
Susan.
81 suppose shall, said Margaret gaily.
Il like to f1irt with Dan, and if he had as
many dollars as my poor, dear, absent Derby
''You would choose Damp
TO be sure l would He amt such
such fool as"
''Derby. Hal hal But what's this? A
coat, pair of pantaloonsl"
Goodness gracious How did they come
here 2"
Derby was trembling with excitement
burning with rage, but now he felt new
source of uneasiness The discovery of his
pantaloons might lead to the discovery of
himself Had he been dressed, he woul have
liked nothing better than to confront the
perfdious MaTgaret-but for the present it
was not to be thought Of He felt himself
blushing all over, in spite of the cold. To
his relief, however, the girls after making
out that there was nobody in or under the
bed, did not seem disposed to, inquire into
the mystery of the pantaloons, but Margaret
exclaimed:
''I'lI tell you what j will do, Sue. I'll
dress myself In these clothes, and go into the
widow Slade' ROOM She think it man
and won't she be frightened?'
Frightened? No, said Susan. "She's
had two husbands. But do it See what
she will say"
Will. 1lCfC, uCAp u1C5 OUT La
And here's hat too. How kind in some
body to leave all his clothes here. y
Derby, poor dear, present Derby, was
breathing very hard, his heart beat heavily,
and every nerve shook. What the deuce
was he to do if Margaret went off with his
pants he could in no way determine; and
from the exceedingly interesting converse
ton which was going on, he knew that his
worst fears were to be realized.
"Ohl amt it a fit, cried Margaret
"Only turn up the trousers FIVE or six inches
and | shall be fixed. Here, black my upper
lip with this piece of coal. / shan't make
love to you. Hal hal aint l dashing fel-
low p
And Derby could hear somebody kissing
somebody, and somebody laughing as if she
could not help it.
Amoment aferthe girls hadleft the room,
~ - L e L L