Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-09-07

The blue-eyed lady looked after Col.
Templar as he strobe away, with puz-
zled face.
dts as we'll I didn't let him come in,
was her internal comment. He looks
as if he might be a little crazed'
While Colonel Templar stroked his
moustache, and pondered obviously
within himself:
i wonder if do look like rogue
Herbert! Berthe don't you hear
the door-bell? BERTHE, l say!'
The gentleman apostrophized as
BERTHE was sitting at an old-fashioned
mahogany desk, absorbed in a pile of
blotted manuscript, with disheveled
hair. and middle finger deeply stained
with ink-evidently young author
very much in love with his profession.
Directly before him stood the speaker,
a young lady of % or thereabouts.
She was exceedingly pretty, with the
innocent, dimp!ed beauty of white
kitten, or pet rabbit; blue-eyed, with
complexion where faint roses seemed
to glow through the transparent skin,
and a mouth like a dash of scarlet vel
vet. While her lovely golden hair was
fastened straight back, in great lus-
trous twist. En- deshabille evidently,
but quite pretty enough to excuse all
defects of four-sprinkled hands and
hair half loose
Door bell,' repeated the young man,
staring yacantly.
yes, some one to see the house, l
suppose, and l such figure. Do,
please, go to the door, BERTHE, there's a
jewel, Mary has gone to the grocer's,
and see what state l am in
She held up both dlmpled hands, and
nodded archly in the glass at huge
foury patch on the peach bloom cheek.
There it goes again ! Do make haste,
BERTHE, and on your life don't show any
one into the kitchen. Tell 'em its a
gem of little kitchen, but don't let
'em in, for the cake is half made and
the bread half baked, and I'm half dis
tracted and the rolling pin and spice
boxes and egg beaters are all lying
around loose, and-there.'
And the young lady expedited mat
ters with push that left FIVE white
dots from her fnger-ends on the back
of Mr.. Herbert's Cashmere dressing
gown.
'The dear, absent minded goose !! she
pondered as she futtered down stairs
into the kitchen 'if there's any mistake
to be made he'll be sure to make it.
The more absent minded he grows, |
do believe
'Why, yes, this house is to let,' said
Mr.. BERTHE, in answer to the courteous
inquiry of the tall stranger. And l
suppose you want to look at it.
Colonel Templar smiled.
4 should like to inspect the rooms !;
that is, if it is quite convenient
'Oh, quite-walk in. This is the
hall, and | believe those are the stairs,
and-oh here are the parlors.'
Sidney Templar glanced carelessly
around the lofty rooms, thinking they
would suit his ambitious little cousin
very well, when suddenly portrait
hanging over the carved marble mantel-
piece caught his eye
Marion Caryl!
He did not articulate the syllables,
but they sounded through his brain, as
if a thousand silver tongued bells had
pealed them forth Yes, it was Marion
Caryl, with the bright golden ringlets
floating away from her fair blue veined
temples, and the rose mouth ready to
break into smiles that were answered by
the dewy sparkle of her eyes.
Marion Caryl ? ne repeated vaguely
to himself. And this is Marion S
house, and Marion's husband is leading
me through the rooms. How dream
like it seemsn
Il am afraid you are tired said
honest BERTHE, looking compassionately
at Sidney's ashen- pale face. and won
dering that be bad not before noticed
how colorless it was
a little tired stammered Colonel
Temp'ar, feeling the hot blood rush to
his brow once more. But no natter
don't let me detain you. l believe you
said the rent was
Rent 1 havn't the least i1ea. l
believe its either one hundred and
eighty, or perhaps sixty. | know We
paid fifty, but the landlord is going to
raise it. and Marion and | are thinking
of furnished cottage in the country
somewhere
Marion's husband is not man of
business thought Sidney.
well, I'll ask Narion-she knows
said BERTHE. Now then, III take you
into the lower apartment
Oh, BERTHE: BERTHE, had you already
become oblivious of the words of caution
heaped on your luckless ears.
Pretty Marion, screwing the top on to
one of her spice boxes, heard the ad-
vancins of footsteps with sudden thrill
of apprehension.
1T can't be possible that that goose
BERTHE has already forgotten what l told
him. she thought. 'He has though,
as sure as the sun is shining, and l am
caught
Marion dropped her box of fragrant
allspice, and looked with wide-open eyes
of dismay at her apron.
They are coming, she stammered,
turning alternately red and white.
There's no help forit. shall have to
hide in the preserve closet
And our little heroine, ignominiously