New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-06-06

the only alternative, whether mistaken or
not, was TO put the best face on the matter.
Mr.. Dean, my niece, Miss Thayne," intro
duced Miss Jemirna, and they bowed to each
other in regulation style, - murmuring some
thing about being $50 happy to meet YOU"
etc.; and henceforth Mr.. Dean and Miss
Thayne were supposed to BIO acquainted with
each other.
| After the introduction, the conversation
became general, and in short time Fred felt
| quite well acquainted with Miss Thayne, and
mentally concluded that she was charming
young lady, and that he was on the brink oil
doing as his friend had recommended him to
falling in love with her. Indeed, he rather
| thought he had been in love with that face,
with its saucy bright eyes and red cheeks,
since the first glimpse he had OF it.
| Dinner was announced, and he had the
pleasure-the very great pleasure-of taking
out Miss Susie Thayne.
II think you are looking better than when
first saw you," remarked Miss Jemima, as
she did the honors. "You looked quite pale
then, Mr.. DEAN
Fred answered that he never fslt better in
his life, and looked at Miss Susie, who sat
opposite, and how she blushed delightfully."-
under his very earnest gaze.
" He does look remarkably well for man
who has a skeleton in his closet,'" said
Lockwood, very demurely, yet with mis-
| chievOus look at Dean.
| Fred's face turned pale. Susie, who
couldn't help thinking of her crinoline, heard
the remark, and saw Deans face color up,
| and was not at n loss to understand Lock
| woods meaning And so her face grew
ruddy, and her eyes sought her plate, not
daring to lift themselves for fear she should
bctray her concern in the matter, if it was to
be understood sufficiently.
"a skeleton in his closet" repeated Aunt
Jem, hardly comprehending what Dick could
mean, and looking from one to the other.
"Ohv' with sudden light breaking in upon
mean now. Did Susie leave her skeleton at
your office, Mr.. Dcan?"
| Somebody did," answered Fred, unable
longer to control his features, which would
smile and Susie, whose risibilitcs were also
considerably affected, burst into a peal OF
laughter, in which the others joined.
81 see through it now," said Dick, as soon
as he could speak. sit was your skirt, was
it, Susie? Do you remember what you told
me about finding its owner? You see, fate
took the matter in hand for you. l shall eX-
pect to see you trudging up here tomorrow
with the aforesaid article under your arm, in
order that you may restore it to its owner.
I'll tell you in confidence what he said about
falling in love with the skirt, and the prOba-
bilty of his falling in love with the owner, il
he ever found her, added Dick, in an aside
to Susie, but loud enough for Fred to hear al
he said.
OF course they blushcd, and then Aunt
Jem, who was as much of tease as Dick, had
something to say; and between the two, they
kept Fred and Susie pretty well frustrated fol
the remainder of the meal.
After dinner there were duets in the parlol
o1> LN,.nI hi lie
Aunt and Dick played backgammon.
When the young men took their departure
Fred voted that he had just spent one of the
most delightful evenings he had ever known
and had promised to call again.
whenever you choose to-" said Aunt
Jem.
And, of course, he did call. And the enc
of it was, as you have all foreseen, that he
restored the i" skeleton" to it's former owner
and received her hand in payment for "ser
vices rendered" And they " lived happily
ever after"