Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-09-07

tlemen came into the kitchen and she
heard their voices discussing the rela.
tive merits of stoves and ranges.
by the way said BERTHE, suddenly,
Il believe there are some very nice clos.
cts down here at least, Marion says
so, and-hallo, the door seems tc
stick =
He gave it jerk. Marion S two hands
held resolutey on the door knob on the
other side Another resolute pull, full
Of well directed energy, and the little
hands succumbed.
The door few open.
Berie staggered back into the middle
of the. room, and Marion stood there
among the preserves, wofully confused
yet laughing withal, like marVelously
pretty mouse in novel species of trap.
'Oh, BERTHE, BERTHE, l.
She stopped suddenly as her shy
glance met the eyes of the tall stranger
She stopped in the middle of the floor,
checked in her instinct of flight by
some still stronger instinct, and blush
ing like pink moss-rose down to the
very tips of her tapery, foury fingers
that were SO tightly ipterlaced, while
the blue eyes, half hidden by their white
lids, were full of sparkling tears, and
the mouth was breaking into tremu-
lous smile for Marion did not know
whether she most wanted to laugh OF
cry.
Sidney, oh, Sidney
He bowed gravely.
Until you introduce me to your hus.
band, Marion, l scarcely know by what
name to address you
MY husband? p repeated Marion,
wonderingly, following the direction Of
Sidney Templar's eye.
'Oh, you mean BERTHE but he isn't my
husband, he is my brother. Berthe,
this is Colonel Ten plar, who fought SC
bravely.'
Marion's face lighted up as she spoke;
she had forgotten all about the preserve
closet and the bibapron now.
Colonel Templar, I'm glad to shake
hands with you, said straightforward
BERTHE. Marion has talked about you
many and many time-ay, and cried,
too, when she talked Of you
'Bertie!'
Now she colored indeed; deep, deep
crimson, like the red heart of a pome-
granate blossom opening under tropical
skies.
'But your husband, Marion?'
BERTHE Caryl broke into genial
laugh
What fellows you soldiers are for
sticking to one idea Our Marion is not
married.
Not married! Oh, Marion!'
He took her hand and locked wistfnl-
ly into her eyes.
Marion, we were very foolish once,
but | think we are wiser now.
She did not raise her long lashes and
he went on:
But Marion, the crippled, war worn
soldier dare not ask the question that
the lover would have pleaded so earn
estly once
She looked up now, with tears lying
brightly on her flushed cheek.
Then l will ask it. Sidney, do you
care for me still?'
DO | care for heavens sunshine? do
I care for the blessed life that beats
within my own heart? Oh, Marion
mine, mine forever ...
AS he murmured the tender words
close into her car, BERTHE Caryl, who
had been abstractedly spin ming the roll
ing pin round, brought it down on the
table with a bang. ...-..- ..
4 have it ! Fifty pounds a year,
'What is fifty pounds year,! ques-
toned his brilliant sister.
why, the rent, to be sure
Never mind the rent just now, Mr..
Caryl,' said Colonel Templar, laughing
good humoredly.
ooh, but it is really fifty pounds a
year, said Berthe, solemnly; 'and-
why, look here! what is this about?'
For Marion had led Sidney Templar
up to him, and was smiling ever while
the tears hung on her wet eyeiashes.
'Wfl you love him very much, BERTHE?
For-I think be is going to be your own
brother.''
Exactly like the last chapter in my
novel, said Caryl, sagoly. Shake hands,
Colonel. And now, Marion, you take
care of him, for most of my writing is
shockingly behind hand
So it happened upon that sunshiny
April day, that Colonel Sidney Templar
engaged not only house for his cousin
Bertha, but wife for himself
'We'.l take down the bill, BERTHE,
I said Marion, delnurely, because Colonel
Templar likes the house, and-I don't
exactly think showing rooms is your
fortep
Don't you 2 retorted Berthe Now
only suppose Colonel Templar had gone
away without seeing what very con-
venient closet that was where the pre-
serves are kept?'
But Marion made him no answer.
/ THIRTY thousand enterprising young
gentlemen in Ohio last year promised to
love, honor and buy "things" for thirty
thousand bright eyed danes and dam.
sells; and the thirty thousand danes and
damsels blushed and whimpered, and
said they "never could go through the
ceremony in the world,' and then very
quietly accepted their destiny, and on
the whole rather liked it.