The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-12-26


is some downstairs. l would get you a
glass; but you see it is my turn. If you
don't mind, you will find somebody out.
side, think
/ Roche leads off with the third figure;
Miss Linton comes out upon the landing;
and l move from the shadow of the wall
into the light.
She makes a quick movement with her
hand, and opens her eyes in surprise as she
sees me. There is lust a little tightening
OF her lips faint blush rises to her cheeks
and then she asks me quietly to fetch her
a glass of lemonade.
Roche had said it was downstairs, and
/ find it in the dining room. l am rather
glad OF the excuse to get away and have
my laugh out; for the whole thing is more
and more absurd since Miss Linton has
made second mistake, and thinks | am
waiter. 1t lisa very natural error of course,
and to keep upthe deception put the glass
on tray and 90 gravely upstairs.
She Is quite composed now, and thanks
me unconcernedly as hand her the lemon
AIDE. Then we stand side by side-I hold
| ing the tray in both hands-till the dance
| finishes, and Roche comes out to us.
Have you got your lemonade ~ he
asks. "That's all right. Now you want
a partner for the next dance. Who shall it
/ be? l am engaged till after supper, I'M
/ fortunately. Oh, here. Let me introduce
| you. Miss Linton, Mr.. -
Instead of waiting to hear my name, the
young lady puts down the glass quickly
and looks indignant
'' Don't be absurd, Edward ~ she says
as she walks off.
| Roche to me, and catches her just inside
the room.
| They are SO close l can hear what they
! say.
What is the matter, Nelly ?" he asks.
How could you be so ridiculous as to
introduce me to him ?" she replies.
"Why shouldn't 10"
| "Why shouldn't you? He is waiter;
know that. He was waiting at Mr.. Dom
ville's.
! Inst, al of looking contlit,, Roc goes
Oft into roar of laughter.
6 1t was very stupid of you,' she says,
half GROSSLY. at forced me to be rude
! to him."
What nonsense, Nelly! l shouldn't
play you such trick as that of course.
| That is Herbert; he is in the same Office as
am"
"You are not joking, Edward, are
you?' she asks, quite seriously.
"Oh, | am sorry, them she says, i'm
mediately. "But there was somebody just
like him at the Domvilles What shall
doo''
"Come and be introduced, that's all.
I'll make it all right"
And they came together to the landing.
My cousin made a mistake, Herbert"
| he says, while she stands by him blushing
deeply. Then he adds, laughing, "She
mistOok you for a -"
81 made mistake" she breaks in very
quickly, coming step nearer. 81 beg
your PARDON
To save her from further embarrassment,
asked her for the next dance, and it is
Immediately granted.
"By- the-by, Miss Linton say, when
the dance is over, and we are standing on
the landing again, ''you have never told
me what you took me for. An ogre? ?"
Ono"
What them"
Her laughing eyes look up with their old
/ merry sparkle into my face. They seem at
the same time to question me whether l
shall be annoyed if she speaks the truth.
She pauses moment, and then says, GA
waiter" and presses her lips tightly to-
gether.
"Thank YOU"
"But it was quite excusable," she be-
gins, hurriedly.
"Thank you again." l remark inter
rupting her.
"You won't listen" she says, plaintively;
81 want to explain"
"That look so much like waiter"
| add, breaking in again, "that it was quite
excusable taking me for one."
"Oh no; didn't mean that, of course"
she says, forced to laugh. Is But where |
was dining there was waiter like you
SO exactly like you," she emphasizes the
word exactly and glances quickly up at me
as she does so, "and l mstoek him for a
gentleman, and thought he was one of the
guests"
$50 you make up for it by taking me
for a WAITER answer. "Well, think
| the waiter had the best of it,
but it was excusable, was it not ." she
asks, "you two being so much alike?'
g. You installing the waiter for a gentle
man. If he was like me, certainly"
"No," with stamp of her foot, "my
installing you for a waiter"
81 can't grant that" answer.
every well,' she says, with laugh.
Then she adds mischievously over her
shoulder, as her partner comes for the next
dance, 81 think my first mistake was the
more excusable of the two"
"And l think the last by far the worst, :"
l reply.
"Do you? Well, am very sorry" she
answers; but her eyes belle her as she goes
off laughing into the drawing room.
Fortunately l secure the dance before
supper and take her down.
GU don't wait so well as your dou-
ble," she says, as l hand her some mince-
pies, had just put before her for min
ute, and then taken them away.
81 am sorry for that" l answer; " but
then, you see, | know you never eat mince
| pies"
! "How do you know that" she asks,
| turning around quickly.
"Your cousin has told me & great deal
about you," reply.
did he tell You, pray. that | never eat
mince pies?'
"How should know it if he did not ?'
| say with assumed simplicity.
! She looks very incredulous. "He didn't
! tell you that know, though l believe you
men talk great deal of nonsense; as much
nonsense as women do"
"You own that about women, then, and
yet you want to have seats in Parliment? ~
"Oh, now l am certain you must have
been at Mr.. Domville's," she cried; for |
never said so till to-day at dinner and then
only in opposition to my neighbor. If you
were not there, how could you have known
what l said ?"
"Do you believe in the theory, Miss Lin
ton" | begin, with a grave face, "of a
person knowing, by a sort of affinity, the
| thoughts and actions of another person
whom he never seen. but whom when he is
permitted to see, he is at once, by fate
most deeply interested in?'
"No, DON'T" she replies, laughing.
elbow nonsensical you are"
Before | can go on expounding my i'm
promptu theory, Roche come up and claps
| me on the shoulder.
"Well, Herbert. how's Crumms ~
! Roche has often been to my rooms, and
knows my landlord, of course; but what
| demon possesses him to come at this mo-
ment and pronounce that fatal name, |
can't imagine.
"Bravo- ~ cries Miss Linton, clapping
her hands. "Now know; you went there
with Crumms.
event where?' asks Roche in surprise.
"To the Domville's" she answers
s'Mr. Herbert was there with Crumms
| raitinu Now weru't Won % she asks