The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-01-19
answering with perfect confidence " Yis, .
slenDed hack Ia LOT him In


stepped back to let him in.
The girl showed the caller into
very dlmly lighted buck paror, and
took his card, on which was engraven
that beautiful name ''Xerxes @. Zettcl."
The owner Of the card subside into an
easy chair, aud awaited the result
Presently he heard female voice in the
hall humming strain from Christmas
carol. The door opened, and voice,
owner and all, entered the room, in the
shape ofN rather pretty woman of about
twenty. Mr.. Zettel was not acquainted
with any of Mr. Poker's family. but
naturally concluded this must be
daughter.
lie arose and greeted her politely as
such; but she seemed too much inter
ested in welcoming him to notice what
he called her, If he had called her
Shovel instead of Poker, it would,
doubtless, have made little difference.
She rushed up to him most cordially
and exclaimed, "0h! Mr. Zeller!" "Mr.
Zeller?" replied the guest 10 a tone OF
inquiry and surprise. "Well, Xerxes,
then" stammcred the young lady, with
bewitchiug droop of the head aud
beautiful blush. Laura said you
wished to be called Xerxes by the
family, but-you know-we're- rot
very well--acquainted," Another blush.
Acquainted !! | should think not"
said Xerxes to Mr., Zettcl; and Mr.. Y.
asked Aerxes "who is this con founded
Laura who takes such liberties with my
name p
Laura ought to have been here this
morning." said the lady, "but you know
it showed dreadfuly yesterday, aud |
suppose the trains are delayed. It's
too bad she isn't hero. Father has gone
TO the depot for her."
Mr.. Zettel expressed great regret at
the absence of these parties, but, to tell
the truth, he was inwardly rejoiced at
the absence Of Laura. Tho girl before
him puzzled his wits most eifectually,
and how he should get along with two
ofthem was more than he could imagine.
Father put in that personal because
he had heard that you were to be in
town, but he didn't know where you
would stop. We are delighted that you
saw it. We have hardly got settled
yet in our new house," observed the
girl, and then apologized for the dark,
ness Of the room. "Some of the pres.
ents are here, and we keep the room
dark, so that if the children come in
they will see nothing. But she added,
4" | don't think they will come in while
company is here, and beside the things
are still in papers. So she turned up
the gas. why, Mr.. Zeler-l mean
-Xerxes," she cried, "why did you
shave off your mustache? think you
looked better with it," "Zeller again."
thought the guest, "and what does she
mean by talking about my mustache ?
| never wore one, Where in the world
has she seen me before?" lnshort, if Mr.
Iettel smelt rat when he fist came in,
since the gas was turned up, he thought
he saw it floating in the air, but he wa,
not quite certain enough of it to nip il
in the bud. While he was in doubt
how he could answer the question about
the mustache, there was call OF
Emma Emma !" from the back part
Of the house, aud Emma excused her.
self and made her exit.
In little while she returned with an
elderly woman who looked very much
like Emma with variations by Time. -
The daughter merely introduced her as
My mother, SIR" SO Mr., Zettel was
spared the pain of hearing himself
called Zeller. The mother said that
they would not wait tea any longer for
MIR. p. aud Laura, and invited Mr.. z
into the dining room, when, after having
two boys of 10 aud IL, and very pretty
little miss of 6 presented to him, they
all sat down to most tempting table.
There was just little embarrassment
on both sides. Mr.. p, who ought to
have been there to introduce to his
family Mr. o., was away.
But the ladies we're qaite sociable,
and SO thoroughly put their guest at
his ease, that he soon forgot the uu.
pleasautuess of having to introduce
himself to the family. When supper
was over they adjourned to the back
parlor, the lady of the house apologizing
for aot opening the front parlor, because
the Christmas tree was there, and the
children, of course, mustn't see it.
Mr.. Zettel was SO agreebly entertain
ed by the two ladies', that he began
to hope Mr.. Poker would prolong his
absence.
But whatever Mr.. Zettel's wishes
were, the front door opened and several
persons entered-judgiug from their
voices there were two gentlemen and a
lady. Very soon the parlor door opened
and one of the two gentlemen walked
in. He was a we'll built man of about
fifty, and was atfectionately saluted by
the ladies as "My pearp and "Fath.
err" After the ladies had done their
duty, they fell back to give the bead Of
the family and the guest an opportunity
to embrace.
Which they don't do.
The guest looked at the host aud made
up his mind that whether the latter's
name began with p or not, it certainly
didn't end with an oker. The host look.
ed at the guest and wondered who the
deuce he was. The ladies looked at both
and couldn't imagine what the matter
was.
At this point the two other arrivals
came in: young lady who turned
out to be Laura, and young gentle
man.
Emma and her mother embraced the