The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-02-08


Mr.. Ross adjusted the article oil
dress on one side of his curIs jauntily,
and viewed himself, not iIl-pleased in
the mirror.
| ;" Upon my word; it don't look so
bad, only this long, Tapping veil is
confoundedly in the way. And now
where's the sacque. a little tight in
the sleeve, but otherwise quite de-
cent fit, if fellow holds his arms well
back There's Alice's blue muslin
dress. I've two minds and a half to
put it on, just for the fun of the thing.
A momentary silence ensued, fol-
lowed by the rustling of muslin.
"Don't meet round my waist by
good six inches, but can hold it up.
1 wonder what makes the thing drag
on the floor and hang round ones legs
SO. OH / know, the erinoline ought
to go under" IS sss15 .s-.5..... ~.
? For the /" dignity of manhood" we
are reluctant to chronicle the fact that
our hero, intent on the tableaux soli-
taire, did actually then and there pro-
ceed to the closet, and practically take
down hoop skirt, which he solemnly
lput on.
.Jupiterl how comical il feels~ he
lejaculated, with an amused face "why
i should not dare to go within yard
of vase or statuette, and I'm quite
certain should swamp all the chairs
and tables came near. Bother the
trailing muslin-alWays in the way"
4 For Mr.. Ross had unthinkingly
plunged his masculine boot through
the delicate fabric of the dress.
" Pm not certain but that / should
make quite nice looking woman" !"
1 or hoo b. ard
and forwards before the mirror, with
his Derby hat balanced daintily, and
| the blue muslin revealing about foot
and half of calfskin boots and trow-
sers. On the whole Tomb of the
prophet Is that the girls ?"
Mr.. Ross gave blindly desperate
| jerk at his sacque, and pull at the
crinoline, bat all in vain.
The sweet gay voices, intermingled
here and there with ringing laugh,
or a snatch of song, drew nearer and
nearer.
For an instant Mr.. Ross wildly con-
templated rush through the hall to
his own door, but q moments refec-i
ton convinced him that such retreat
would be simply impossible.
81 must stay and face it out" he
thought with a cold perspiration
breaking out on his forehead but hold
on, there's the closet. It's just posi-
BILE they will only stay here minute
or two."
And Mr.. Kenn eth Ross, totally OBJ
livious to the majesty of man, fled pre-
cipitately into the closet, tumbling
over his crinoline and muslin in a
most disastrous manner, and hopeless
ly splitting open the seams of poor
Alice's sacque.
g Why the deuce didn't / think to
secure the key?" he thonght, as the
girls streamed into the room. GLOW
ever, can hold tight ON the door
handle if any one attempts to get in.
If-by Jove-the girls should see me
in this rig, / should never hear the
last of it. l don't see either, why I'm
obliged to play the eaves-dropper
hgainst my will"
He leaned up against the shelves and
breathlessly awaited the progress Of
events.
"Why,1 calculated a soft voice
-Rosa's own, Where's my Derby !?
Was careless enough to leave it down
stairs? Flora, you have hidden it."
g wonder what you'll accuse me
of next" said Flora, in an injured
voice.
"You told Mr.. Ross that Cousin
Simon's letter was TOTO"
Your aweetheart. Well, he ought |
to be, I'm sure. Mr.. Simon Montrose
is the handsomest man know"
"Oh, Flora, he don't compare with
Mr.. Ross"
"Rosa Fernall, be honest" said Flo
ra, speaking indistinctly, with two or
three hairpins in her cherry mouth,
" which do you like the best, cousin
Ken. or Simon Montrose ?"
& "Flora ]" aso
Tell me, now, honestly"
The answer came in low, half in
audible voice
g KENNETH"
The heart under Alice's sacque gave |
a great joyous leap.
Mr.. Kenneth Ross head came in
contact with something on the upper
shelf, and down came rain of band /
boxes on the occupant.
There was an instant's terrified ST. /
lence, and then the girls began to
scream in chorus.
"Mercyl" calculated Alice. 'what
is it?"
How silly we all arel" said Rosa,
TREMENDOUSLY; it is only the cat"
"As if cat could make such
noise as that" sobbed Flora. I" Call
Uncle John-bring a revolver! Alice,
do look and see what it.is."
mo, you look,D faltered Alice, re-
treating behind the bureau
"I'll look myself" said Rosa Fer
nall, brayely advancing to the rescue.
But when the door handle refused
TO turn, even she blanched.
"Some one is holding the door in
side. Call the men,"
"There is no necessity" quoth a
voice from behind the pannels.
And the next moment the closed
door flew open, and clinoline, and a
whose utter sheepishness
can never be described.
"Cousin Keni" shrieked Flora.
"Mr. Ross" faltered Miss Fernall.
Why, it can't be possible" ejacu-
lated Alice.
each other in paroxysms of laughter
"The fact is, ladies' commenced
Kenneth, confusedly, "I-won,t some
one help me off with this mouse-trap
of hoop skirt. Miss Alice, Pm very
sorry I've split your sack open, but
well, if you don't stop laughing can't
explain, that's the long and short of
it,"
But Rosa Fernall had stopped laugh
ing already, and the pink of her cheek
was deepening into scarlet.
She had just remembered the words
carelessly spoken in that very room
not five minutes ago.
In an inexplicable short space of
time Mr.. Ross had torn off his femi-
nine adornments and fed ignomini-
ously, followed by the peals of laugh
ter of his cousin and Alice Aymer.
Rosa-strange little piece of contra
diction-had begun to cry.
"Poor little thing. she's hysterical,"
said Aunt Meg, who had just appeared
on the scene.
But Rosa Fernall was not hysterical.