Middletown transcript., 1868-04-18

WIN tremulouS agitation! vi course the
unwonted excitement had Redeemed the tip
of my nose until it had resembled a car
bunclc, and, of course poisonous little
pimple had blossomed out on my forehead,
and my hair saturated with much perfumed
bears grease, fattened itself down on nv
forehead until looked more like convict
from Van Dieman's land, than respecta-
BILE young man of twenty-third street,
New York city. Such things always do
happen when man wants to look his best.
"Pll call on Charley frst-that will
quiet my nerves little, and pass away
time until noon" reflected, glancing at
my watch, Only ten o'clock-time is
winged with lead to-day" !"
"What is the number of Mr.. Dever-
cux's room 1 demanded of the sleek
looking clerk, who sat in the office of the
Marklyn Hotel, with a pen behind his
ear"
The clerk glanced up at magic row of
numbers with keys hanging beneath them
and then referred to ponderous book on
the desk before him, and said" Mis-
ter Dev-ereux Seventeen, sir,-sec-
ond floor, to the left"
So assembled the stairs, reverentially,
remembering how often Edith's tiny feet
must have fitted up the soundless velvet
carpet, x don't judge ME harshly, reader
remember | was only twenty-three, and
madly in love, )-and, wondering what l
should say, or how should behave if my
queen should unexpectedly encounter me
on her way down to breakfast
But she didn't, and l went counting
along, thirteen, fifteen and seventeen.
The door was ajar-I resolved to take
advantage of circumstances, and surprise
my old friend, Charlie.
won't he be astonished ?'' l said to
myself, with an intense chuckle, as l
softly pushed the door open, and crept in
as noiselessly as the creaking boots-con-
found 'em-would allow.
But the room cont ary to my expecta-
tions, was empty-a large sized room very
dirty and very disorderly-with chairs
scattered around in motioness confusion,
the dead drift of the last nights fire still
choking up the CRATE, and the table and
dressing bureau crowded with miscolla-
neous conglomcration of articles that |
could hardly associate in my bewildcrcd
mind with Charlie Devereux. There was
daubed carmine saucer, and bottle of
rouge, with brush in it. What the
mischief could Charlie be doing with
rouge? And a box of pearl powder,
with portion of its contents literally be-
sprinkled over the toilet covers; and
faded boquet, and dirty white satin slip
par, and, oh, worse than all, wig of
jet black curls with long pink train of
flowers still clinging to its tresses.
l stared around me hopelessly. Shade
of Venus, there was a set Of false teeth
in tumbler of water grinning at me
from the window sill
Where was [? What did all this mean {?
1 asked myself.
Had Charlie got married surreptitiously
wonderfully constructed machine, and
screw together in the morning?, L felt
my blood run cold at the idea.
At the same moment door to an inner
apartment opened, and tall figure came
out, woman's figure, clad in, l think,
the very dirtiest and most crumpled old
silk wrapper, it was ever my fortune to
bchold-a woman, with slippers tapping
down at the heel as she walked, and cor
onet of curl papers round her head. Pale
and faded though she was, with checks
the color of tallow candle, and dull eyes,
l recognized her at once.
Miss Edith Morny~
"Good gracious, Mr.. Chelmsford !"
CT beg your pardon, Miss Morny"
l stammered, feeling myself flush as scarlet
as blood. l have been directed to the
wrong room. never for an instant imag-
ined that
"Go go!" she CALCULATED, motioning
me to the door, and instinctively. putting
up her hand to conceal the curl papers.
And l opened, rafting down the stairs
at rate that would have astonished any
casual spectator.
"Clerk !'' l cried, thrusting my head
belligerently into the little square apcr-
ture, "what the deuce did you mean by
directing me to number seventeen?"
Number Seventeen, sirY"
Yes, Mr.. Devereux's room 2"
81 didn't say seventeen, sir ?" asserted
that mendacious villain. I"said seventy
one."
And he clung to the miserable falsehood
with pertinacity worthy ola better cause.
l turned away, disgusted at human nature,
and rushed up stairs second time, Con
this occasion with no sentimental reAec-
tions concerning carpets and feminine foot
falls, to find Charles Devereux.
And all the time I felt as man feels
who has stood on the very verge of a pre-
cipice and been dragged back by some
, merciful hand. Could it be possible that
) the faded, wan creature, could be the glori-
GUS Edith of my love dreams? Suppose I
had never found out about the rouge pot,
the false teeth, and the soiled silk wrap
: per, until oh, fate, how could ever be
sufficiently thankful for the kindly interces-
t sion in my behalf.
/ Charlie was at home in number seventy
one, smoking his cigar and looking as jolly
a | and honduona no avar