The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-01-04

mouth ike a dash Of scarle. velvet,
Her. lovely golden hair was fastened
straight back in arggeat lUstrous twist,
en- deshaLiHs evidently, butrquito pretty
enough 10 excuse all defects of flour
sprink!ed hands and hair halflo
Door bell?" repeated the young man,
yacanIly.
"Yei. Some one to see the house,
suppose, and such figure, Do please
80 TO the door, Bortie, that's jewel.
Mary hiss gone to the groccr's and see
what a state I'm in"
She held up both dimpled hands, md
nodded arclly in the glass alta large
Hour patch on each 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 q
gem ola little kitchen, but don't let EN-
in, for the cake is halfmadc and the bread
half baked, and I'm half distracted, and
the roIling-pin and spice boxes and egg
heaters are all lying around loose, and.
there
Aud the young lady expedited matters
with . push that left Eve white finger
dots from her five finger ends, on the back
Of Mr.. Hcrbcrl's cashmere dressing
gown.
"Tho dear, abscnt-miniel goose," she
ponderod, as she ilu!tcred down stairs
into Tie kitchen; "if there's any mistake
to be made he'll be sure 10 make it. The
more absent-mindcd the more lie grows,
| do believe"
why, yes, this Is the house to let,"
said Mr. Berthe, in answer to the courtc-
Gus inquiry Of the stranger, and
suppose you want to look at it,"
Col. Tcmplar smiled.
81 Should like 10 inspect the rooms
that's, if its quite convenient" tr-
"Oh, quite. This is the hall, and l
believe those are the stairs, aud-ch here
are the parlors."
| Sidney Templar gazed carclessly
around the lofty rooms. thinking they
would suit his ambitious little cousin very
well, when suddenly a portrait hanging
over the mantelpicce caught lis eye. :
Marion Cslyl.'
lie did not articulato The syl!ables, but
they sounded through his brain as if u
thousand silycr-tongucd bells had pcalcd
them forth. Yes, it was bright Marion
Caryl, with the bright, golden r;nglcts
floating away from her fair, blue-ycincd
temples, and the rose mouth ready to
break into smiles, that were answered by
the dcwy sparkle OF her eyes.
"Marion Caryl," he repeated vagSely
to himself. Sand this is Marion'is
house, and Marion's husband leading INC
through the rooms. How drGamlike it
seems"
I'm afraid you're tired" said BERTHE
looking compas,ionately into Sidncy's pale
face. and wondering that he had not be-
fore noticed how colorless he vas.
"a little tired" stammcrcd Col. Ten
plar, feeling the hot blood rush once
| more 10 lis brow, "but no matter. Do
not let me detain you. believe you said
the rent vas"
"Rcnt? / hayn't Tie least idea. J
believe its one hundred, or eighty, or
perhaps sixty. | know we paid fifty, but
the landlord is going TO raise it, and Ma
ron and were thinking Of furnished
cottage in the country, somewhere"
"Msrion's husband is not man Of bu-
sincss," thought Sidney.
"NIariors husband" How the words
cut to lis heart.
"Wcll, l'llasl; Marion--shc Knows"
said Herbert. "Now, then, III take
you down into The lower department"
Oh, Bcr.io, BERTHE, had you already
become oblivious ofthc words Of caution
heapcd upon your lncklNss head.
Pretty Marion, screwing The top on to
one of her spice boxes, heard lie i'd
yaneing footsteps with a sudden thrill Of
apprehension.
at can't be possible that that goose
Berthe has forgotten what told him.
she thought. ale has, though, inst 40
sure as the sun is shining, and am
caught"
Marion dropped her box of fragrant
allspice, and looked with wide open eyes
Of dismay at her bib-apron.
"They are coming" sho s.ammored,
turning alternately red and white.
There's no help for it. I shall have to
hide in the preserve closet"
And our little heroine, ignominivusly
taking refuge in fight, ran lightly across
the kitchen floor, and hid herself among
preserved Strawberries, East India giu-
ger, and glimncring jars Of cherries.
"if don't lecture Bertic,n said Ma
rion, setting her little white teeth TO-
gcther like belligerent pearls as the two
gentlemen came into the kitchen aud
heard their voices. discussing the relative
merits Of stoves and ranges. ala
"By the way said Herbert, suddenly
II believe there are some nice closets
down here, At least, Marion says SO, and
halo, the door seems to stick"
| llo gave it a jerk. tlarion's two
hands held rcsolutely on NE door knob