The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-04-12
THE PRESS.
ITinsley's Magazine.1
The Outfitter OutWitted.
BY MRS. ADOLPHE SMITH.

Mr. Walters smiled somewhat constrain-
edly, not liking to own even in Joke that there
was anything he could not supply at the
shortest notice.
"1 lou must acknowledge, sir, that the de-
mand is rather unusual"
"Of course it's uuusual,,' replied Onslow,
''and my predcament is unusual, and deuced-
ly unpleasant. But you needn't look so
solemn, Walters, am not relying upon you
seriously. And now, look here, there are
several little matters of more practical bear
ing upon which shall offer few obser-
vations; so let's to business"
When Onslow's outfit had been discussed
and commented upon by Onslow himself in
his own peculiar and ioculiar manner, and be
took up his hat aud turned to 60, Mr.. Walt
srs said to him, with something as like
twinkle IN his eye as business man may
venture TO have during business hours
81 don't consider myself outwitted yet. sir.
you know"
Wen, let me know il you hear of any
thing; can give good references" laughed
Onslow; and be went on bis way, mutterlDg
to himself as he went, Gifts getting beyond
ajoke though. The times flying and I am
not bit more advanced than was week
ago. It's just my luck to get a berth like
that, encountered with such a condition, and
at such short notice, too"
"Hallo, Ons!ow, my boy" cried CHEEKY
voice; and Onslow feeling friendly dig in
the shoulder, turned round 10 greet the own
er of the CHEEKY voice, and OF CHEEKY face,
too, whom he accosted as Burton. 81 heard
of your appointment" said Burton, taking
his friends arm; otis a capital berth, I've
no doubt. but am very sorry it will take
you SO tar away"
"Oh, hang The berth v' exclaimed Onslow,
81 feel inclined to throw it up dozen times
day, upon my honor l do. The fact OF the
matter is that it is hampered with such un-
pleasant restrictions that it's more worry than
it's WORTH"
s'Well, walk with me as far as Chaliog-
Cross Station" said Burton tthey were al
ready in the Strand Sand consider me as
your father cohfessor."
Onslow unbosomed himself accordingly to
his friend, much to that friends apparent
amusement; and by the time Onslow had re-
lated his grievance they had reached the sta
ton, which they entered together,
'.I,s au awkward fix, certainly" said Bur-
ton, as the two men stood on the platform.
"Haven't you got any cousins or that sort of
thing?" he asked, stroking his long NOUS
tache thought!ully.
20, yes" said Onslow. carelessly. "There's
big house at Lewisham or Blackheath, or
some place of the kind, with one or two
cousins in every ROOM"
"Why, there you are, then, my dear fell
low" said Burton, reassuringly $50 down
and have look at them. You see you will
have no preliminaries to enter upon just
few days devoted to the cousin that suits you
best and the matter is finished. Besides, it
so safe, you know; you are sure what you are
about as to family and connections. I should
decidedly make shot for the cousins"
But Onslow made wry face.
cat any rate" said Burton, ''beggers can't
be choosers, it's generally agreed; don't
see as you have any choice in the matter. I
should 20 straight to that suburban house,
keep an observant eye on the brood of cous-
ms. and make judicous selection. must
be of, or shall miss my train, 60 good-by,
dear boy, sorry Pm obliged to leave you, but
it's an old engagement. I say, by the by"
he said hurriedly, as he shook hands with
Onslow. and as the people were seen run
ming toward his train, ''don't forget to de-
cend upon them in the morning; that's the
time to try feminine virtues-temper, tidi
ness order, industry and. appearance; you
may take the word of an experienced Bene-
dict like myself, and look those cousins up in
the morning. Good-by, and good luck to
youv'
And with this parting piece of advice, Bur-
ton ran off to catch his train.
Onslow devoted some twenty minutes re-
Election to BurtOn's observations, and finally
decided to 60 down to Blackheath and see his
cousins, and look them up the following
morning, according IN the hints of his wary
counsellor. He might have been seen, there
fore, walking from the Blackheath Station up
to his uncle's house on the hill at about half
past eleven, A. NJ, the next day, with per
turbed expression on his face, aud with many
muttered inprecations on the heat coming
from him in short erunts. The weather was
certainly warm for June, and the nature of
his mission to that hospitabe home he was
approaching did not tend to cool him so that
by the time he reached the gate, and had
solemnIy walked along the broad pathway to
the front.door, he felt singularly uncomforta-
Bile. When he had been let into the house
he went to his aunt's room, where he found
her half doing in the warm sunlight over
account books. She greeted him, however,
with delight (was he not her dead brothers
child p and showed an interest in his con-
Gems and his welfare that had something
m0thery in it.
81 was almost asleep, do believe,,' she
said, presently, "when you came in the sun
is SO warm, you know, aud 1t came straight
int TINS room; and the account books are so
wearisome that really do not think I am to
be blamed. Won't you 60 and see the girls,
Harry2"
''Of course will" replied onslow; "but
where are they all9'
"They are in the school ROOM" replied
Mrs. Latimer; 'yOu remember it. They sit
there in the morning over their reading and
sewing, and so Oh. They will be pleased to
see you"
Onslow went of, and presently sound as
OF a cheer from number of feminine Threats
announced his arrival in the school room.
sWhat fearful lot of girlsI' ne exclaimed,
as he stood inside the school room, the door
safely shut behind him. and surveyed the
scene before him. A very pleasant scene it was
too, and the party of healthy, happy, pretty
English girls gathered about their books,
their needle-work, thei drawing, with the
summer sun shining in the room, the flowers
and creepers nodding in at the open win
dows, and the broad expanse of green lawn
and sturdy shrub and bush in the garden be-
yond just visible, made picture worthy the
painters brush.
Onslow's exclamation provoked consider
able number OF CALCULATIONS from the ''girls''
assembled, of the nature of swell, Pm sure"
'It's like your impertihence!' "a fearful lot,
too," aud so on; but they were too pleased
at the advent of q young man. and a good
looking one, and cousin 10 the bargain,
with whom they could laugh and talk freely,
to be resentful, and he was besieged with
questions as to the hour of his arrival, the
length of his stay, and the reason of his long
absence.
snow, look here, girls" cried Onslow,
still standing at the head of the table, and
contemplating the half dozen or more pretty
faces before him, "before answer your ques-
tions somebody must answer mine. Would
any one of you like to marry me?'.
At this startling proposition there was
general shrek Of laughter and protest. 80,
Harry, how can youp'' what dreadful
ideaW $50 unromanticr' 'sNobody wants
youv' they cried, while Gertrude, quieter
and milder young lady than her sisters, said,
soberly:
''No, zoe wouldn't marry you because we
know you too we'll, but Peg would. She has
just been saying she wanted husband, so
that she might be her own Mistress"
"But I couldn't marry any one called
Peg" said Onslow; II couldn't hang my
hat up there"
20 Harryp ooh, isn't be rudeq" was
exclaimed by the cousins.
'But this is in confidence, of course" said
Onslow. "Peg isn't present, is she ?"
There was another bubble OF delighted laugh
ter, and very pretty head that had been
bent over some muslin work, and of which
he had only as yet seen the ripples of golden
hair and the white parting, was raised,