Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-03-02
accept readily and go back with Roche

! Iaccept readily and go back with Roche
TO his house.
i Nine o'clock. We have cleared the room
for dancing, and the first quadrille has JUS
commenced Not being able to get part
ner, am standing on the landing, when {
carriage rolls up to the street-door, anc
there is loud knock announcing the ar
rival of some newcomers
Mrs. Roche hurries down and meets
them in the hall l hear her say, as they
come up stairs, You are Just too late fol
the first dance, Helen"
The name quite makes me start.
By Jove, if it should be Miss Linton!'
is my muttered thought.
half hope it may be; half hope it may
not be; and haven't time to decide which
half is the stronger, before Miss Linton
herself comes laughing up the stairs.
AT the very first glimpse Of her, in,
stinctively draw back into the shade, and
she and her mamma pass by without no
ticing me.
1t seemed very ridiculous to meet the
same young lady twice in one evening
first as waiter, and then as guest; but
there-it is done, it is fait accompli and
Miss Linton and / are once more under
the same roof. wonder If she will rec.
| ogniZe me, and watch her with interest
as she goes round the room. Sooner OF
later We must meet face to face; and the
awkward moment comes sooner than ex-
| pect.
| When Miss Linton reaches the door
/ where Roche is standing with his partner,
she stops there add talks to them when
they are not dancing.
els there any lemonade, Edward ?" she
asks presently; II want some if there is. y
"That's bad sign, Nelly, after dining
out" he answers, with laugh. "There is
some down stairs. l would get you a
glass but you see it ia my turn. If you
don't mind you will find somebody outside,
think"
Roche leads off with the third figure
Miss Linton comes out upon the landing
and move from the shadow OF the wall
into the light.
She gives quick start with her head,
and opens her eyes in surprise as she secs
me. There is just little tightening Of her
lips, faint blush rises to her cheeks, and
then she asks me quietly to fetch her a
glass of lemonade.
Roche had said it was down stairs, and
find it in the dining-room. / am rather
Situ VA tIC CAtuoO W NV away ohN ""'S
my laugh out for the whole thing is more
and more absurd, since Miss Linton has
made second mistake, and thinks l am
waiter. 1t is very natural error, Of
course and to keep up the deception, /
put the glass on q tray, and go graveIy up
stairs.
She is quite composed now, and thanks
me unconcernedly as hand her the lem
onade. Then we stand side by side--I
holding the tray in both hands till the
dance finishes and Roche comes out to us.
"Have you got your lemonade?" he
asks. "That's right. Now you want a
partner for the next dance. Who shall it
be? am engaged till after supper, unfor-
tunately. o, here! Let me introduce you.
Miss Linton, Mr.
Instead of waiting to hear my name, the
young lady puts down the glass quickly
and looks indignant.
"Don't be absurd, Edward" she says
as she walks off.
"Some mistake, old fellow" whispers
Roche to me, and catches her up just In
side the room.
They are so close I cant hear what they
'sWhat is the matter, Nelly?" he asks.
GLOW could you be so ridiculous rs to
introduce me to him?" she replies.
"Why shouldn't II"
"Why should you? He is a waiter; l
know that He was waiting at Dir. Dom
villes."
Instead of looking contrite, Roche goes
off into roar of laughter.
at was very stupid of you she says,
half GROSSLY. at forced me TO be rude to
him"
"What nonsense, Nelly! shouldn't
play YOU such a trick as that, of course
That is Herbert; he is in the same Office
as am"
"You are not Joking, Edward, are your"
she asks him quite seriously.
"No; upon my word, am not
90, | am SO sorry, then" she says i'm
mediately "But there was somebody Just
like him at the Domville's. What shall
/ do?"
"Come and be introduced, that's all. I'll
put it right" And they come together onto
the landing.
"My cousin made a mistake, Herbert"
he saws, while she stands by him blushing
deeply. Then he adds, laughing, "she
mistook you for a."
81 made mistake" she breaks in, very
quickly, coming step nearer. ~ beg
your pardon"
To save her from any farther embarrass-
ment, ask her at once for the next dance;
and it is Immediately granted.
Blythe bye, Miss Linton" say, when
the dance is over and we ARE standing on
the landing again, lyon have never told
me what you took me for. An ogre
If No.
"What them"
Her laughing eyes look up with their
old merry sparkle into my face. They
seem at the same time to question me
whether shall be annoyed ii she speaks
the truth. She pauses for moment and
then says, "a waiter" and presses her lips
tightly together.
THANK you.A
But it was quite excusable," she be-
gins, hurriedly.
"Thank you again" remark, interrupt
ing her :.
"; II want to explain"
"That look SO much like waiter,N
I add, breaking in again, "that it was quite
excusable taking me for one"
90, no; didn't mean that, OF course,
she saws. forced to laugh. But where l