The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-11-18
AN UNPLEASANT PRED1cAMENr.

Anefoh aA eno OK my waiting Tor ono month at
least"
Kenneth Ross pushed his papers into con.
fused heap, and lighted cigar in sort of o let
despair.
There Is my cousin Flora, Alice Aymer, and
Rosa Fernal blue eyes, black eyes and melting
gray. BY the way, that little monkey Rosa isn't
bad looking. l rather fancy that peculiar shade
Of flbert.browu hair, nd big grey eyes, and
cheeks whe.e the blood futters like q pink pen.
non. Rosa Formal would make tolerable study
for my next heroine. l may as we'll put her to
some useful purl ose. Heigho!"
Kenneth Ross paused moment, as the peals
OF girish laughter echoed in the adjoining apart.
ment.
They're laughing at me, I'll wager my opal
scarf pin. Girls always think bachelor fair
game; they've no more respect for the dignity
OF man than 30 many Brazilian MONKEYS /"
And Mr.. Ross looked rather complacently in
the mirror opposite, which reflected an oval
brown face with shining black hair and nous.
tache brilliant dark eyes and mirthful spirited
mouth.
Tap! tap tap sounded softly on the panel
OF ms door, even while he was engaged in tax.
time to take his heels Of the table before Miss
Flora Edgworth put her sunshiny little head
into the ROOM
"Ye."
'May We come in ?"
"Why, you'll come in whether grant per.
mission or lot, and I may as we'll say yes.'
IL Just want the girls to See what a dear little
scholarly den you've got here, all hung with pic.
lures and 1peerschaums and deer horns. and
darling dismal skulls, and"
Flora threw open the door, aud admitted her
comp"nlons-rosy, laughing damsels of eighteen
and twenty-one.
"Here be is, girls; the old bachelor "a he an.
pears IN his native wilds!"
snow, l tell you what, Young ladies +, said
MI. Ross, throwing his half smoked cigar delhi.
erateiy out OF the window, I'll trouble Won To
DO little less unceremon,ous
For Alice and Flora had pounced on his Iooss
manuscript, aAt were already laughing over
his rather illegble clirograpby.
MISS fernal stood near the door, a little oon.
fused, and very pretty, in her bushes and nm.
certainty. N-'
alice Flora: don't" she appealed.
Tvs no use, Miss Rosa" said Kenneth. des.
pairinSly. "Girls, will you be so kind q, 70
leave my writing desk alone? There's NO use
IL .'ooAihs into that drawer, either, unless YOU
are D. rte di.sy Interested in blackinv bru,he.
and ola boots
''tIow can you, F.ora:" pleaded the shocked
Rosa. 'Ao"
"Uh, my kris. ;" trittered Miss Ellsworth.
ecststcally, no "es bottle of real Farina ca.
logne-out with ,7our pocket hapdke,ebief,-
qnot Go on, Keu what are you saying ?"
But Mr. Ross preser, cd stately silence.
"Don't be cross Kenneth" said Flora spruk
lie scented dew on her elbow curls from the
slender, '2reisn shaped bottle 1--WE are going
to the postotiice now, Rosa Fen nal has written
a twelve page letter to her sweetheart out in
Cauada--"
"Flora,' exclaiued Rosa Formal. turning
scarlet.
And" pursued the rentless Flora, "wer q go
ing to post it. Come girls; the sun ia getting |
more oppressive every moment"
And the next moment Mr.. Ross was left alone |
IN the summer silence OF the room, with heavy
musk roses nodding at the open easement, and |
the dreary murmer OF maple boughs and fur of |
bees N his ear.
"a twelve page letter to her sweetheart {" |
pondered Nj. Kenneth, with very ominous |
contraction of his eyebrows. "She must have |
hao something very interesting to write. | |
wonder who he il. Cauade, eh ? I wish IL was |
Won Diemans Land"
Mr.. Ross rose from his easy chair and ha,ar |
to walk up and down the floor.
"lts too confoundcd hot to breathe here" he |
shlc, l'hpAteu!ly taking up his straw hat. "I'l |
60 ahc take a tramp III the woods. Twelve |
pages what could she have found TO Fill I'D |
twelve pages ~
The sun Was low in the cloudiess sky when
Kenneth Ross returned from his abstraoted ram. |
bic III She woods, and the wide, old fashioned
country house was very still, as he assembled the
oaAtG stair case, and went absently along the
eotLIuHr toward his own apartment.
Dir Ross salod vacantly round the room with
son'''plnE OF the bewidered feeling that might
80 UIloHseH TO the Eastern prince. when he
an enchanted dream.
I'm IN the wrong room, I do belieye--for
theie 10 Flora Edgworths white ZEPHYR shawl
OF INC oee, aud Ruso's black velvet narb, I'M,
ana DO ena oi nSbons and gloves and lace col.
!a'S u. 'he bureau. don't zee how ever ogme
TO make such buUder--I must have been IN f,
brown study" '' ~
ne balanced the coquetsh little black velvet
"Dtrty bat oh has hand as he spoke.
80 this Is the fashionable style Of cbon,,u
ell T 1t cerJaiEiy ~ u fact that women borrow
thelr cHleG dress ideas now days from the no.
b!er sex. lhiS hat is "A fac simile of nv last
summers tie, and that little saque with the biz
horn buttons is my cut away coat over nyainf
wonder now il Rosa's little hat would it ma ~
Air. Ross had adjusted the article of dress
iauniily or one side of his curls, and viewed
hin-eu not illpe6sed, in the mirror.
Upon my word 1t don't look 30 bad, only This
long, Tapping veil is conioundedly in the way.
And now where's .4o 'Gque? A little tight IN
the sleeve, but otherwise quite decent AZ, IL
fellow holds his arms we'll back. There'a
Aliess blue muslin dress. I've two mind, and
half to put it on, just for the Joke Of tho
thipg?"