The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-08-20

| Va oAAAo VI IL, LII WulCu every
body was permitted to be young
again, and romp with the rompiest.
We played blindman's-buff till we
were tired Of that-Daniel, to LUIS
great delight, coming out splendidly
as blindman, and evincing such
cheek" in the style he hunted down
and caught the ladies that l became
satisfied that nothing but his eyesight
stood in the way Of his making an au-
daclous figure in the world. Then
pretty little girl, lilly Turtelle, who
seemed quite a premature Airt, pro-
posed "Door-keeper"-a suggestion
accepted with great ec1at by all the
children, several grown people assent
ing.
10 BGi11ly-quite as much on ac-
count OF his shining prominence in
the executive faculties as his character
as host-was committed the duty of
counting out the first person to be
sent into the hall. There were SO
many of US that "Aina-maina-mona-
mike" would not go quite round; but,
with that promptness of expedient
which belongs to genius, Billy instant
ly added on. "Intery-mintery-cutery-
conn.," and the last word of the caba-
listic formula fell upon me-Edward
Balbus. / disappeared into the en-
try amidst peals of happy laughter
from both old and young, calling,
when the door opened again to ask
me whom l wanted, for the pretty
lisping airt who had proposed the
game. After giving me coquettish
little. .chirrup Of a kiss, and telling me
my beard scratched, she bade me, on
my return, send out to her "Mither
Billy Lovegrove." I obeyed her
my youngest nephew retired; and af:
ter couple Of seconds, during which
lilly undoubtedly got what she pro-
posed the game for, Billy being o
great favorite with the little gi~is, she
came back, pouting aid blushing,
to announce that Le wanted Miss Pill
grim. That young lady showed no
nook nlodesty, but arose at once, and
laugghingly went out to her youthful
admirer, who, as I afterward learned,
embraced her ardently, and told her
he loved her better than any girl in
the world. AS he turned to go back
she told him that he might send to
her one of her juvenile cousins, Regin-
aid Rumbullion. Now whether be-
cause on this youthful Rumbullion's
account Billy had suffered the pangs
Of that most terrible passion, jealousy,
or from his natural enjoyment of play
ing practical jokes destructive Of all
dignity in his elders, Billy marched
into the room, and, having shut the
door hoh;nd him, Paralyzed tht crowd
ed parlor by an announcement that
Mr.. Daniel Lovegrove was wanted.
I was standing at bis side, and
could feel him tremb1e-see him turn
pale.
"Dear meF' he whispered, in a
choking voice; "can she mean me ?''
"Of course she does," said I. "Who
else? Do you hesitate? Surely you
can't refuse such an invitation from a
lady"
"No, I suppose not" said he, me-
chanically. And amidst much laugh
ter from the disinterested, while the
faces Of Mrs. Rumbullion and his
mother werespectacles ofcrimson aston
lshment, he made his exit from the
room. Never in my life did I 50
much long for that instrument de-
scribed by Mr.. Samuel Weller-a
pair of patent double-million-magnify.
ing microscopes Of hextry power, tc
see through a deal door. Instead o.
this, I had to learn what happened
only by report.
Lottie Pilgrim was standing under
the hall burners with her elbow or
the newell post, looking more vividly
charming than he had ever seen he1
before at Mrs. Cramcroud's social O,
elsewhere. When startled by the
apparition of Mr.. Daniel Lovegrovf
instead Of the little Rumbullion whom
she was expecting, she had no time te
exclaim or hide her mounting color
none at all to explain to her OWL
mind this mistake that had occurred
before his arm was clasped aroune
her waist, and his lips so closely press
ed to hers that through her soft thicl
hair she could feel the throbbing of hi
temples. AS for Daniel, he seeme'
in walking dream, from which h
walked to see Miss Pilgrim looking in
to his eyes with utter though not in
censed stupefaction-to stamme1
*'Forgive me! Do forgive me!
thought you were in earnest"
: $50 I was," she said, TREMENDOUSLY
as soon as she could catch her voice
Gin sending for my cousin Reginald.
"Oh, dear, what shall I do! Be
3 lieve me, I was told you wanted me-
, let me 60 and explain it to mother
; she'll tell the rest-I couldn't do it
I'd die Of modification. Oh, tha
wretched boy Billy!
= On the principle already mention
y ed, his agitation reassured her. "Don
eltry to explain it now-it may g
Billy = scolding. Are there any br
+ intimate family friends here this eve,
= ing ?"
> "No-I think-no-I'm sure" r
piled Daniel. collecting his facultie