The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-01-02

her brotherly kiss"
"Ralpb!" exclaimed Miss Wright, |
as the blood mounted TO her fore.
head.
"Come, come, Wright, don't ask |
us TO believe that? exclaimed one
Of the group. 4
swell, she cannot deny having
complained to me next day that he
was exceedingly stupid-lhinkiug
| was offended all the while, and
scarcely uttered word that, in
fact. she had to do all the talking"
ave will take that with consid-
cradle allowance, too," replied Que
Of the listeners.
II met the fellow OH the road,'
resumed the gentleman, "and 4
must say | never encountered
man so much like myself in my
lile."
I'm truth you are a barbarian,
Mr.. Wright, to tell such things
about your sister," exclaimed our
hostess, with Il merry laugh.
Gas if | did not owe her ten
times as much,' said the young
man. Ever since that evening
she has been teasing me in every
conceivable manner" he added,
turning round suddenly toward
her; and in doing 50. encounterng
my steady gaze, he calculated, with
a perceptiblc start, upon facing me,
There he is"
Miss Wright flashed q meaning
glance upon him, then suddenly
toward me, as if to observe the el
feet his examination and manner
would produce upon me but was
equal to the emergency, and main.
tained an unruffled composurc.
IL did not hear the first of that,
Miss Wright" | said, as l cast
careless glance over The wonder.
ing group, and another Of pretend
ed astonishment upon Mr.. Wright,
who felt no little annoyance.
"Perbaps it is just us well, was
the reply, as she glanced at her
brother. "Ralph really is unmer-
ciiul when he once begins. | am
glad yoa did not hear the whole ;
but now that it is out | may as
well give correct version OF the
affair. Like an attentive brother,
he permitted the crowd to separate
US at the close Of the opera on Tues
day, and | was so unfortunate as to
mistake for him a stranger, who
accompanied me home without ac-
quainting me with my error,
Thinking it was Ralph, and that
his headache prevented him from
talking, | did permit my tongue
to perform rather more than u fair
share" r.
"Then all the blame must be laid
upon Mr.. Wright. He should be
the last to mention it. His want OF
proper feeling is very much 10 be
deprecated; but let US hope that be
will change for the better" said
our hostess. II think even now
he exhibits signs of repentance.
"UntiI lately" she replied, pIac-
ing an emphasis upon the word,
II had not the slightest clue to the
gentleman"
docs she know the truth p l
asked myself "Havc | betrayed
MYSELF" II might have known
that her woman's instinct would
detect mo-"
While these and similar thoughts
occupied my mind, | became en-
gagged in an interesting converse
lion with Miss Wright, in the
course of which allusion was made
to the last opera night.
"Did [ attend it?'
"RcaIIy, was it the last, or the
one preceding it, or the second?
Certainly attended one of them,
but which one OF them ? My mem
ory was so treachcrous Perhaps
it was the last; at least, there was
Il sutfocating crush"
And the conversation went on
as before. The DEPRESSION removed
all doubt from her mind. |, at
least, had known nothing Of her
adventure prior to that evening,
when her mlschiei making brother
made it public. 't.
| do not think | was romantic at
the time and yet | must confess
that, from the beginning of our
acquaintance, | entertained the
hope that Miss Wright would one
day become my wife. | was not
disappointed. "' '
i; m* = u -
Twas, perhaps, Elk months after
we were married, that | carried
homo in my pocket newspaper
containing a flattering notice OF
Lucy Walters. AS Mrs. Clark ON
ployed herself with her work, |
drew forth the paper and read to
her the notice. Lucy was pursu-
ing her studies and had carried of
the prize medal. AS she listened
to the fattcring comments paid to
her protege; my wile's face lit up
with glow of pleasure.
"Ralph used to laugh at me when
l told him Lucy would one day
make a namo for herself" she said
, musngly. IL have so often won
derod," she continued, as she re
sumcd her work, "who it was thai
gave her the money" .......
"You mean the person who ac
. companied you to your uncle Ora
hams from the concert" said l..
/. "Yes," she replied sit was very
5 singular, his giving the money il
the way he did. ,"
i "Doubtless he did it to secur
| ..s,,,, o.zal o,,;.;on ~ eo;1