The Shasta courier., 1872-04-27

dalntlly, and the blue muslin revealing
about IA foot and half of calf skin boots
and trowsers "On the whole Tomb OF
the Prop let Is that the girls -
MIR. Ross gave blindly desperate jerk
at his sacque, and pull at the crinoline.
but in vain
The sweet, gay voices, intermingled
here and there with ringing laugh, or a
snatch of songs, drew nearer and nearer
For an instant Mr. Ross wildly contem-
plated rush through the hall to his own
door But moment s reflection convinced
him that such retreat would be simply
impossible.
Il must stay here and face it out" he
thought, with a cold perspiration breaking
out on his forehead; 'but hold on; there 5
the closet. It's just possible they will
only stay minute or two"
And Mr. Kennelh Ross, totally oblivi-
Gus of the majesty Of man, fed precip-
lately into the closet, tumbling over bis
crinoline and muslin in most disastrous
manner, and hopelessly splitting open the
seams Of poor Alice's sacque.
"Why the deuce didn't | think to Sc
cure the key 2" he thought, as the girls
streamed into the room "However, can
hold tight Oh the door handle if any one
attempts to get in If the girls should
see me in this rig, | should never hear
the last of it. | don't see, either, why
am obliged to play the eavesdropper
against my will.
lie leaned up against the shelves and
breathlessly awaited the progress ofev
why" calculated soft voice-Rosas
own where's my Derby? Was | care
less CROUCH to leave it down stairs Flora,
yuu have hidden it,
IL 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
"Y our sweetheart Well. he ought to
be, Pm sure. Mr.. Simon Montrose is the
hindsomest young man | know"
"Oh, Flora, he don't compare with Mr.
Ross"
ROSA Fernall, be honest" said Flora,
speaking indist nctly with two or three
Lair pins in her cherry mouth; (which do
you like best, cousin Ken or Simon Mont
rose
"Flora "
"Tel me now, honestly"
The answer came liz low, half audible
v,icc-
"kenneth
Tue heart under Alice's sacque gave
great joyous leap.
Mr.. Kenneth Ross head came in con-
tact with something on the upper shelf,
and down came rain of baud boxes on
his occlput.
There was an instant of terrified silence,
and then ali the girls began to scream in
chorus
Mercy" calculated Alice; "what is
it?"
GLOW silly we all are" said Rosa trem-
ulously, Its only tie cat"
CAS- if Cat could make such noise as
that sobbed Flora. 'tall Uncle John-
bril- g a revolver. Alice, do look and see
what it is
mo, you look" faltered Alice, retreat
ing behind the bureua.
"Ill look myself" said Rosa, bravely
advancing to the rescue
But when the door handle refused to
turn even she blanched
''Some one is holding the door inside
Call the men"
There is no necessity" quoth voice
from behind the panels.
And the next moment the closet door
flew open, disclosinga a tall form in blue
muslin and crinoline, and countenance
whose utter sheepishness can never be
described.
"Cousin Ken F" shrieked Flora.
"Mr. Ross" taltered Miss Fernall
"Why, it cant be possible " calculated
Alice.
Aud then the three girls clung to one
another in irrepressible paroxysms Of
laughter
"a he fact is, ladies' commenced Ken
meth, coufusedly, 'I-won't some one
help me off with tn mouse trap Of a
hoop-skirt? Miss Alice, I'm very sorry
I've split this sacque 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 LAUGHING
already, and the pink OF her cheeks was
deepened to scarlet
She had just remembered the words
carelessly spoken in that very room not
five minut before.
In an inexpressibly short space of time
Mr. Ross had torn off his feminine adorn-
meuts and fled ingloriously, followed by
the peals Of laughter of his cousins Flora
and Alice.
Rosa-strange little piece of contradic
tion-had begun to cry.
"Poor little II ing, she's hysterical,
said Aunt Meg, who had just appeared on
the scere.
But Rosa Fernall was not hysterical
81 he full, delicious moon of summer
was in the mid heaven that night as Ken
meth Ross strolled inlo the garden, moodlly
putting cigar, and cont plating the
feasibility Of leaving quiet "arbursh to
avoid the gIr-slrcas
Il was foal quoth Ken leth a'op /,
'.but-who's there
/ 1t was nosa, with two or three wblte