The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-12-20

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for kiss.
But, to her infinite amazement, the
hero of the seal-skin cap seemed q little
backward in responding to her cousinly
advances.
I'll beg your PARDON said he,
slightly receding, "but I'm afraid there
is some mistake. My name is not
Zebedee, and the lady for whom / am
looking is some years older than you. !"
Bertha Hooper started back, coloring
and confused; and, as she did SO, fat
comfortable looking old lady came
trundling along the eplatform, in an
India shawl and boa of Russia sable
worth its weight in greenbacks.
Charleyr' she cried, II thought /
never should find you. Is the carriage
herep''
"All here, and waiting Aunt Effie, :"
responded the young man; but he
still hesitated second, as Bertha
Hooper stood with averted face and
motionless figure in the shadow of the
building.
Can l be Of any service to your"
he asked. eff you are expecting
friends who have failed to meet
you --''
Anybody here by the name of
Berthy Hoo-oo-per?" shouted stem
torian voice; and tall, raw-looking
lad with lantern also lighted with
red glass-rushed shutting around the
corner.
Zebedee himself! Zebedee, red
haired and shambling and awkward as
he had been in the old fox-and-geese
days.
"Ohp' said he catching up his Ian
tern, so that the scarlet birds wings
flashed out like a spit of tiame-scarce-
ly more scarlet, alas! than Bertha's
own face. "Here you be! I'm a lit
tie late, for the roads is SO alfred bad
and 1 couldn't start the pony out of a
walk. Come on! How de do? Be you
very cold?"
"Zebedee," said Bertha, clinging al
most Historically to her COUSINS arm,
"who's that young gentleman with
with the other lanternp"
"Ehr' said Zebedee. "That Teller
with the old lady in a patchwork
shawl?"
"Yesr'
cts Charley Harcourt, the Squire S
son." said Zebedee. "Just come from
furrin partsr'
"Zebedee," said Bertha, with Gu
rious little sound between laugh and
a sob, "put me into the cutter quick;
and drive me somewhere. Idon't care
where! Because
"Eh?" said Zebedee, staring hard at
his cousin, as he packed the buffalo robe
around her before touching up the lag
gard old pony.
Because" added Bertha, in a species
of desperation, 81 took Mr.. Harcourt
for you; and Rugged him and kissed
him.
">Is that all?' said philosophical
Zebedee. He won't carer'
"No," said Bertha, g but shall!''
"You amt crying, be you?" said
Zebedee, noting the culver in his
Cousins voice.
Elbow can l help it?' walled poor
Bertha.
..'Twarn't no fault O. yourn," said
Zebedee, consolingly.
''Of course it wasn't said Bertha,
impatiently. "How was l to know
that every lantern at Montcourt had
red glass to it?''
And poor little Bertha cried herself
to sleep that night.
The next morning-New Years Day,
all showed up into glorious drifts every
wherein. Harcourt drove over to
the Higgins farmhouse. The young
lady had dropped a fur glove on the
platform, and Mr.. Harcourt felt it his
duty to restore it to her. And, more
over-here Mr.. Charley Harcourt hest
tated little-he hoped Miss Hooper.
would excuse him for being so stupid
as to allow her to fancy him her cousin.
8" ought to have explained sooner"
said he.
mo, you ought not" said Bertha.
p" The fault was all mine'
81 don't recognize a fault any
where" said he. "And if 1 am par
"Of course you are!' said Bertha,
roster and prettier than ever.
Sc In that case, am commissioned by
my mother to ask your aunt's permits
sion to take you over to help us finish
dressing the church in time for morn
ing service. My horse il waiting.
MAY / go, Aunt Almira?" said Ber-
tina, with sparkling eyes.
"Of course you may. said Aunt
Almira.
And so poor Zebedee was left out in
the cold.
What was the end of it alp There
is but one sequel to stories like this,
when youth and bright eyes and hui
man hearts are concerned. The next
New Years Eve Bertha Hooper and
Charley Harcourt were married. But
the bridegroom persists in declaring
that Bertha did the first of the love
And Bertha only laughs.