Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1874-03-30
MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 30. 1874.

After last lingering look Into the looking
glass, John started forth into the darkness, tax.
Ing the shortest road possible to the residence OF
Israel Ives.
ing. bright light CLEANED out through tne
front windows, with welcoming beams, and he
fancied he could see smiling faces there, yet bis
heart thumped so very singularly under h.s
shining satin vest that II was several minutes
before be could make up his mind TO knock at
the door he walked up and down the road
past the place several times, to calm himself,
and to think over the words he proposed saying
when in the presence of Miss Ives.
At last he turned in at the gate, and walking
boldly rp to the front door, he made his pres
ence suddenly known To the Ives family, by
means of the friendly assistance OF the heavy
brass knocker.
Israel Ives came to the door with daring
candle In his hand /; he gave sudden little
| start of surprise upon recognizing his visitor.
"Why, JOhn, J" said he, "is this your"
ais Miss Ives at home ?" said John, nervous
| ly, forgetting In his sudden embarrassment TO
designate the particular NJ ss Ives lie wished to
see.
.Certalnly, certainly" replied Israel, smiling
mischievously, "walk right into tne psrlop :
| and sit down and she will come In presently"
Leaving his hat upon the rack In the hall,
| John did as he was bid he sat down upon the
outer edge of the chair and awaited the young
ladys coming He heard several suppressed
gggles In the adjoining room, aud subdued
suggestion that they had best not act silly and
| foolish. Then the door opened and In sailed
Miss Saphrony Ives, followed by Patience, Pris-
ella, Malvina and Lucy Ives, each simultan-
eonsly smiling and trying 10 look as sweet and
| pretty as possible. They advanced one by one
| and gave john greeting, after which they ar
ranged themselves In q graceful group about
him; then began the liyeliest conversation John
had ever listened to. He began to grow uneasy
and to lose his self-possession. This was later
more Miss Ives than he had anticipated meet
lug. -..
At last sudden idea occurred 10 him.
"Girls,n he said, "io any of you play blind
mans buff D." ....
The young ladies all suddenly gigged.
'Sometimes," said Miss Sophrony, with sly
glance at her sisters.
Suppose We have game then," said John
earnestly.
Several handkeIchiefs were simultaneously
produced, and before John was aware he was
in midnight darkness.
"But you must be blinded too, Lucy" said
Miss Malvine, "it always makes is livlier to
have two, you know"
SO Miss Lucy 3 sight was temporarily obscur.
ed in the same manner that Johns had been.
Then the word "ready" was given, and with
out word of warning Sophrony, Patience
Priscilla and Malvina noselessy glided from
the room.
For while John and Lucy grouped limo
Gently about them, each failing TO find the OBJ
jects they sought; at last John spoke:
~ say, where are you alp" he said helplessly
No answer came to his question from thos,
c he was seeking.
: "John," said Lucy, 81 believe they re al
> hiding"
. Just at that moment the two approached
4 each other with their hands extended, and thel
were each suddenly clasped in each other
arms This was q sensation SO new to Juhi
, that it almost deprived him of articulation.
4 80, is it you, John?" said Lucy. 81 do be
! lieve they're fooling u.s."
v She suddenly removed the bandage from he
! eyes, and the next IN, ment John felt her def
little fingers untying the knot In the bandker
!. chief that was bound about his head.
!. "Look a here, John" she said in q halt pro
a voked sort Of way, just see what trick ihey'v
played upon us. l might have known wha
1 they were up to. Never mind, We'll have a rea
Q pleasant visit now"
q They sat down side bv side on the high-bacl
9 ed sofa, and Lucy talked so pleasantly and Ell
j. couragingly to John that he soon felt perfect
at home. He was almost astOnished at hi
s self possession. The minutes heightened iut
; hours, and. well, he never could fully explai
, how 1t was afterwards, but the fact was tina
o Lucy promised him that she would lie Mrs job
Jansen Whenever be was ready to claim her n
. his own, aud john went home that night YER
proud AID happy, and on the following morn
T. ing he informed his astonished father that all
time that farm was ready he would be read
h to 60 to housekeeping.
Q Peter Jansen kept his word, aud John wa
often subsequently, heard to say that il it hadD
n been for that friendly game of blind man
buff he would hardly have known how TO llav
z; made choice.