New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-16


stinctively draw back into the shade, and
she and her mamma pass by without MOTTO
ing me.
1t seems very ridiculous to meet the same
young lady twice in one evening, first as a
waiter, and then as a guest; but there-it Is
done; it is a fat dccomph, and Miss Linton
and are once more under the same ROOT.
wonder if she will recognize me, and watch
her with interest as she goes round the
room. Sooner or later we must meet face
to face, and the awkward moment comes
sooner than expect.
When Miss Linton reaches the door where
| Roche is standing with his partner, she
stops there and talks to them when they
are not dancing.
@Is there any lemonade, Edward o. she
asks presently; 81 want some, if there is"
That's bad sign, Nelly, after dining
| out" he answers in laugh. "There is
some down stairs. l would get you glass;
but you see it is in my turn. If you don't
mind, you will find somebody outside, l
think"
Roche leads off with the third figure;
Miss Linton comes out again upon the land
ing; 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 NE quietly to fetch her glass OF
lemonade
Roche said it was down stairs, and l
| would find it in the diningrOOm. l am rather
| glad of the excuse to get away and have 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 a very natural error, of course; and to
keep up the deception, l put the glass on
tray and go gravely up stairs.
She is quite composed now, and thanks
Il.
ade. Then we stand side by side-I holding
the tray in both hands-till the dance fin
ishes, and Roche comes out to us.
Have you got your lemOndade y he asks.
"That's right. Now you want partner for
the next dance. Who shall it BET am en-
gagged till after supper, unfortunately. Oh,
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 inside
the room.
They are so close can hear what they
"What is the matter, Nelly ?" he asks.
"HOw could you be so ridiculous as to in
troduoe me to him p she replied.
"Why shouldn't L I"
"Why should yOu7 He is a waiter; l
know that. He was waiting at Mr. Dom
villes."
Instead of looking contrite, Roche goes
off into roar of laughter.
at was very stupid of you" she says,
half crOSsl v. 1T forced me to be rude to
him"
"What nonsense, Nelly! l shouldn't
play you such trick as that, of course.
That Il Haphor4s ha "a in Otli, 40
am"
"IOu are not joking, Edward, are you 7"
she asks him quite seriously.
mo; upon my word | am not"
so, am so sorry them she says imme-
diately. But there was somebody just like
him at the D0mvilles. What shall l do ~
"Come and be introduced, that's all. I'll
put it right" And they come together on
to the landing.
"My cousin made q mistake, Herbert"
he says, while she stands by him blushing
deeply. Then he adds, laughing, "She mis-
took you for "a"
" made mistake" she breaks in very
quickly, coming step nearer, :" beg your
pardon"
To save her from any further embarrass-
ment / ask her at once fOr the next
dance; and it is Immediately granted.
=" BY the by, Miss Linton" l say, when
Tic httiiCo 10 OtGIt anu hO arc 5tdHulu@ Ou
the landing again, "you have never told me
what you took me for. An ogre'"
No"
what then!"
Her laughing eyes look up with their
old merry sparkle into my face. They
seem at the time to question me whether |
shall be annoyed if she speaks the truth.
She pauses for moment, and then says,
"a waiter" and presses her lips tightly
together:
"Thank you.'
But it was quite excusable," she begins
hurriedly
Thank you again." l remark, inter
rupting her.
"YOu won't listen" she says plaintively;
81 want to explain"
"That l look so much like a waiter"
add, breaking in again, that it was quite
exeusable taking me for one"
GO. no; l didn't mean that, of COURSE"
she says forced to laugh. But where
was dining there was a waiter like yOu-sO
exactly" and glances quickly up at me as
she does So" and l mistOOk him for a
gentleman, and thought he was one of the
guests"
" So you make up for it by taking me for
a waiter" / answer. "Well, | think the
waiter had the best of it."
But It was excusable, was it mott" she
asks; you two being so much alike"
You installing the waiter for a gentle
man IF he was like me, certainly"
"NO,n with a little stamp Of her foot; tiny
mistaking you for a waiter"
l can't grant that" l answer.
Every well, says she, with laugh. Then
she adds mischievously over her shoulder,
as her partner comes for the next dance,
81 think my first mistake was the more ex-
cusable of the two"
Sand think the last by far the worse,'
reply.
"Do youl Well, / am very sorry" she
/ answers; but her eyes belle her as she goes
off laughing into the dTawing-room.
Fortunately, l secure the dance before
| supper and take her down.
"You don't wait so well as your double,
she says, as hand her some minSe pies.
had just put them before her for minute
and then taken them away.
81 ann sorry for that" answer. "but then,
you see, know you never eat mince pies
How do You know that r. she asks
turning round quickly.
Your cousin has told me a great deal
about YOU" reply.
"Did he tell you, pray, that never cal
mince piesg"
How should know It If he did noti' !
say, with assumed simplicity.
She looks very incredulous. che didn't
tell you that, 1 know; though believe you
men talk a great deal Of nonsense; as much
nonsense as women dop
You own that about women. then and