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


port, or were in the lsbit of disport-
ing what they considered such, were
consulting the lookinEglass until that
oracle should annoure' the auspic-
ious moment for theirsetting forth.
Daniel was in conversation with a
perfect godsend Of a GIRL, who under
stood Latin and had begun Greek.
Billy was taking moments vacation
from his boys and girls, busy with
"Old Maid'' in the extension-room,
and. whispering, with his hand in
mine, "Oh, don't I wish she were
here!'' when a fresh invoice of ladies,
just unpacked from he dressing room
in all their airy eleg.n> of evening
costume, floated Though the door.
I heard Lu say: "Ah, Mrs. Rum
bullion! HAPPY 70 see your niece
too. How dye do, Miss Pilgrim ?''
At this last word Billy jumred as
if he had been shot, and the bevy II
ladies opening about sister Lu dis
closed the charming face and figure
Of the pretty girl we had met at Bar
NUNS.
Billy's countenance rapidly chang
ed from astonishment to joy. "Isn't
that splendid, Uncle Teddy? Just az
| was wishing it! It's just like the
fairy books!'' and rushing up to The
party Of new corners, my dear Lot
tie!' cried he, eff I'd only known you
were coming I'd have gone afte1
you!'
As he caught her by the hand ]
was pleased to see her soft eyes bright
en- with qualification at his enthusi
asm, but my sister Lu looked or
naturally with astonishment in every
feature.
"Why, Billyw said she, "you
ought not to call a strange young lady
'Lottie!' Miss Pilgrim, you must ex.
cuse my wild boy
1.uu you must -oavao1 NV mother
Lottie," said Billy, affectionately
patting Miss Pilgrims rose kid, "fo>
calling you a strange lady. You're
not strange at all-you're just as nice
a girl as there is."
"Thero are no excuses necessary
said Miss Pilgrim, with a bewitching
little laugh. "Billy and I know each
other intimately we'll, Mrs. Love
grove; and confess that when ]
heard the lady aunt had been invited
to visit was his mother, I felt all the
more willing to infringe etiquette this
event ng by coming where I had nc
previous introduction"
'Don't you care" said Billy, en-
couragingly. ''Ill introduce you tc
every one of our family; I know 'em
if you DON'T
At this moment I came up as Bill
ly's reinforcement, and fearing lest in
his enthusiasm he might forget the
canon Of society which introduces 8
gentleman to lady, not the lad y to
him, ! ventured to suggest it delicate.
ly by saying:
'FBilly, will you grant me the favor
ofa presentation 70 Miss Pilgrim ?"
"In a minute, Uncle Teddy" an;
swered Billy, considerably lowering
his voice. "The older people first >
and after this rproof I was left te
wait in the cold until he had gone
through the ceremony Of introducing
to the young lady his father and his
mother.
Billy, who had now assumed entire
guardianship Of Miss Pilgrim, with
an air of great dignity intrusted he1
to my care and left us promenadin&
while he went in search Of Daniel
I myself looked IN vain for the youth
whom I had not seen since the en-
trance of the last comers. Miss Pill
grim and I found a congenial common
ground in Billy whom she spoke Of a
one of the most delightfully."- origina
boys she had ever met; in fact, alto
gether the most fascinating youn
gentleman she had seen in New Yor]
society. You may be sure it WASH
Billy's left ear which burned when
made my responses.
In FIVE minutes he reappeared t
announce, in a tone Of disappointment
that be could find Daniel nowhere
He could see the light through hi
keyhole. but the door was locked an
he could get no admittance. Jul
then Lu came up to present-a certai
no, uncertain-young man of tt
feet stranded on parlor furniture ea1
lier in the evening. To LUIS gre'
astonishment Miss Pilgrim aske
Billy's permission to leave him.
was granted with all the courtesy
a preur chevoHer, on the conditic
readily assented to by the lady, tn
she should dance one Lanciers wit
him during the evening.
"Dear me-" exclaimed Lu, after B
ly had gone back like superior (
ing to assist at the childish anus
ments Of his contemporaries. "Wou
anybody ever suppose that was o
Billy~