The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-11-09

nv lII''Ntuib " WI oI'i'lN WV Wv
that our hero, intent on the tableauS
solitaire, did actually then and there
proceed to the closet, and practically
take down n hoopskirt, which he
solcmnly put on!
Jupiter! how comical it feels" he
calculated, with an amused face
"Why ! should not dare to 60 within
a yard Of u vase or %statuettc, ana
Pm Qui C certain | should swamp oil
the chairs and tables | came near
Bother this trailing muslin-always
in the way" ..,.
For Mr.. Ross had pnthinkingly
plunged his masculine boot through
The delicate fabric Of the dress.
w'm not certain but that should
make quite Il nicc-looking woman,"
unused Kenneth, strutting back wards
and forwards before the mirror, with
his Derby hat balanced daintily, and
the blue muslin revealing about a
foot and d halt ofc0lf skin boot and
trousers. con the who!c!-Tomb OF
the prophet! is that the giIls?
Mr.. Ross gave n blindly desperate
jerk at his sacquc, and a pull at the
crinolinc, but all in vain.
"Thc sweet, gay voices, Informing
led here and there with a ringing
laugh, or n snatch of songs, drew
nearer and nearer.
For an instant, Mr.. Ross wildly
contemplated rush through the hall
to his own door, but n moments re-
Election convinced him that such n
retreat would be simply impossible
81 must stay and face it out" he
thought with q cold p%erspiration
breaking out on his forehead "but
hold on, there's the closet. US just
possible they will only stay here a
minute or two"
And Mr.. Kenneth Ross, totally ob.
~livious of the majesty of man, fled
prccipitatcly into the closet, tumDling
over his cr:noline and muslin in Il
most disastrous manner, and hope
lcssly splitting oren the seams Of poor
Alice's sacque.
Why the deuce didn't | think to
secure the key p! he Thought, as the
girls stlcamcd into the room. GLOW
ever, | can hold tight on to the door
handle if any one attcmI t. to get in.
lt-by Jove-ifthe girls should sec
me in this RIG, | should never hear the
last Of it. | don't see, either, why I'm
obliged to play the eavcs-dropper,
against my will"
lie leaned up against the shelves
and brcathlcssly waited the progress
Of events.
"Why, calculated n soft voice
Rosa'- own-"whcrc'5 my Derby =,
Was | careless enough TO leave II
down stairs? Flora, you have hidden
it,"
81 wonder what youll accuse me
of next" said Flora, in an injured
voice.
"You told Mr.. Ross that cousin
/ Simon's letter was tO-tO--"
"Your sweetheart. Well, he ought
to be-, l'm sure. Mr.. Simon Montrosc
is the handsoncst young man J
know"
"Ol, Flora, he don't compare with
Mr.. Ross"
"l;osa Fcrunll be honest, said Flora,
speaking indistinctIy, with two ur
! three hair-pins in hcr cherry month ;
which do You like best, cousin Ken,
or Simon Montrose?
"Flnra~
"Tcll me, now, honestly.
The answer came in low, hGlf in
audible voice
Kenneth!
The hcartundcr Alicc's sacquc gave
II great Joyous leap.
Mr.. Kenneth ltoss'S head came in
contact with something on the upper
shelf, and down came II rain ofband-
boxes ON his Occiput.
There was ai instant terrified 81.
lcncc, anl th'n all the girls began TO
scream in chorus.
"Mcrcy y calculated Alice, "What
is III
wIow silly we oil are. said Rosa
TREMENDOUSLY, it il only the cat.
"Asif q cat could make such n
noise rs that" sobh0A Flora. "CaII
Uncle JOhn-bring "A revolver"
Alice, do look and see what it is.
"No, you look" faltcrcd Alice, re-
'rcA'iHg behind the bureau.
"iu look myself" said Rosa Fern
all, bravcly advancing to the res
sue.
But when the door handle refused
to turn even she hlanched.
"Somc one is holding the door in
tide. Call the men,"
"Thcrc is no necessity" Quoth o
voice from behind the panels,
And the next moment the closet
door flew open, disclosing u tall form
in blaze muslin and crinolinc, and a
coun.cnahGo whose utter %slecpish-
ness can never ba described.
cousin Kcnw shrickcd Flora.
"Nlr. Ross" falicrcd Miss l%'crnall
"Why, il can't be possible" 81 II
lated Alice.
And then the three girls clung to
each other in irrcprcssiblc paroXysms
of laughter.
"The fact il, ladies'" commenced
Kenneth, coniuscdIy, "I-won't some
one help ne of with this mousc-trar
Of II hoop.skirt Miss Alice, Pm very
sorry I've split your sacqnc open, but
well, if you don't stop laughing, ]
can't explain that's the long and the
short oi it,"
But Rosa ternaii hal stoprcd laugh
ing already, and the pink OF her
checks was deepening into scarlet,
Sic had just remembered the words
carolcsSly spoken in that very room,
not FIVE minutes ago.
I'm M inetplicably short space OF
time Mr.. itoss had tor. o.; his lcmi-
nine adOrnmcn's and fed Ignom H.
iously, followed by the pcals OF
laughter Of his cousin AMI Alice
Aymcr.
Eosa-strangc little piece Of contra
dic,ion-had began to cry.