Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-12-12
ded archly in the glass at huge floury patch
on the peach bloom check.

"There il goes again Do make haste,
BERTHE, and on your life, don't show any one
into the kitchen. Tell 'em it's a gem of
kitchen, but don't let 'em in, for the cake is
half made and the bread is half bake d d
I'm half distracted; and the rolling pin aud
spice boxes and egg bcaters are lying around
loose, and--there. ar
And the young lady expedited matters
with push that left five white dots from
her Ave finger ends on the back Of Mr.. Her
berts cashmere dressing gown.
"The dear absent-mindcd soost. sli.
pondercd as she fluttcrcd down stairs Into
the kitchen; "if there's any mistake TO be
made he'll be sure TO make it. The older
he grows the more absent minded he be-
comes do believe"
"Why, yes, this honse is TO let, said Mr..
BERTHE, in answer to the courteous inquiry
of the tall stranger. g And suppose you
want to look at its
Colonel Templar smiled.
81 should like to inspect the rooms that
is, il it's quite convenient
sob, quite--walk In. This is the hall and
Il believe those are the stairs and-oh
here are the parlors." sa
Sidney Templar glanced carelessly around
the lofty rooms, thinking they would suit his
ambitious little consin very well, when sud-
denly portrait hanging over the carved
mantlepiece eanght his eye.
"Marion Caryl"
He did not articulate the syllables, but
they sounded through his brain as If a thou
sand silver tongued bells had pealed them
forth Yes, 1t 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 thai were
answered by the dcwy sparkle of her eyes.
"Marion Caryl!" he repeated vaguely to
himself. "And this is Marion's house, and
Marion's husband is leading me through the
rooms How dreamlike it seems.
"I'm afraid you're tired" said honest
BERTHE, looking compassionately ut Sidney's
ashen pale face, and wondering that he had
not before noticed how colorless he was.
ga little tired, stammered Colonel Temp
lar, feeling the hot blood rush to his brow
once more. "But no matter, don't let me
detain you. believe you said the rent was
-"
81 haven't the least idea. believe it is
either one hundred or eighty, or perhaps
sixty. know we paid fifty, but the land
lord is going to raise it, and Marion and
are thinking of a furnished cottage some
where"
'sMarion's husband is not u man of bust
ness" thought Sidney.
"Marion's husband!" how the words cut
to his heart.
"Well, I'll ask Marion-she knows" said
Herbert. "Now, then. I'll take you down
into the lower department"
Oh, BERTHE, BERTHE, had you already become
oblivious of the words of caution heaped on
your lucklcss head?
Pretty Marion, ,screwing the top on to ont
of her spice boxes, heard the advancing o
footsteps with sudden thrill of apprehen-
sion.
at can't be possible that that goose, Ber'
tie, has forgotten what told him." she
thought. "He has, though, as sure as the
sun is shining, and I'm caught"
Marion dropped her fragrant box of all
spice, and looked with wide open eyes ol
dismay at her bib apron.
"They are coming" she stammcred, turn
ing alternately red and white. "'rhercs No
| help for it, l shall have to hide in the pre-
serve closet"
And our little heroine, ignominiously TAX
ing refuge in flight, ran lightly across the
kitchen floor and hid herself among preserv'
ed Strawberries, East India ginger and glim
mering jars of cherries.
'If | don't lecture Berthe" said Marion
setting her little white teeth together like
belligerent pearls, as the two gentlemen
came into the kitchen, and she heard thei
voices discussing the relative merits OF stove
and ranges.
"By the way" said Herbert suddenly. :
believe there are some nice closets dow
here, at least Marion says so,and-hallo !! th'
door seems to stick!"
He gave it a jerk. Marion's two hands hel'
resolutely on the door-knob on the othe
side. Another resolute pull full of well di
rccted energy, and the two little hands sue
cumbed.
The door few open.
Berthe staggered back into the middle Il
the room, and Marion stood there anon
the preserves, woefully confused, yet laugh
ing withal, like marvelously pretty nous
in new species oftrap.
"Oh, BERTHE, BERTHE, I"
She stopped suddenly as her shy gl'nc
met the eyes of the tall stranger She sl"l
ped in the middle OF the floor, checked i
her instinct of flight by some still strong,
instinct, and blushing like pink moss-ros
down to the very tips of her tapery flour
fingers that were so tightly interlaced, Will
the blue eyes, half hidden by their whit
lids, were full of sparkling tears. and I'll
mouth was breaking into tumultuot
! smile; for Marion did moi know whether 81
most wanted to cry or laugh.
"Sidney, oh, Sidney
" He bowed gravely.
"Uniil you introduce me- to your liusbin'
. Marion, scarcely know by what name
address YOU
"My husband ?" repeated Marion, follow
ing the direction of Sidney Templar's ey
.e "Oh, you mean Berlie! But he isn't II
husband; he's my brother! Herb 1t, Ii
;" is Colonel Templar who fought so hravely
" Marions face lighted up as sho spokei 81
i had forgotten all about the preserve clos
n and the bib apron now.
a "Colonel Templar, I'm glad 10 sla
III hands with you" said straightforward B'
I'd tie. "Marion has talked about YOU ma
or and many time-ay, and cried, too, VIII
she talked of YOU
n "Bertie."
or Now she colored indeed; deep, de,
IN crimson like the red heart of tho polnegr,
yh ate blossom open under tropical skies.
"a .'But your husband, Marion 2"