Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-02-27

a
corner. The maid had not announced
him, aud nobody seemed 10 realize
bis presence, SO that he had an ex-
cellent opportunity to single ont the
lady whom he sought; but, although
Peters eyes were good, he looked in
vain for the gray ccrls OF his landlady.
Two tall blondes standing near him
were taking to fair, sober German !;
q pretty brunette was discussing
music with graceful Italian, and .
knot Of four or FIVE persons were
gathered around the piano; but not
one of them looked like the lady who
was determined to give Peter ten
dollar bill. He stood awkwardly at
the door for seven or eight minutes.
which scanned liked an hour to him,
and thenone Of the children spied
him and JAILED the little lady's atten.
ton to hin. She rose, as he stepped
forward, md stood looking at him
over the head of pretty, dark haired
baby thatnestled in her arms.
4 am Miss FELTON, she said, in
answer to Peters question.
Not thu Miss Pelton that l wish
to see,' herejoined. She is an old
lady with gray curls, and not--not at
all like yoi,' he added, with glance
that he would have been more than
man to omit at the pretty, dark face
that looked up at him smilingly.
oh sad she, you mean the Miss
Pelton who owns the Liston build.
ings. Younever can find her here.
She's queer person, and goes in and
out at all hours. Wouldn't you bet.
ter leave word where she can End
you, or give me message for her p
'I'll write, | think said Peter, and
accordingly the next day he sent the
ten dollar bill and a formal warning
to his landiady. In the afternoon he
received 6 formal acknowledgment
and the bill, and daily for q week the
performance was repeated and then
Peter, extremely wrathful, made his
second appearance in the Pelton par.
lor.
Il am sorry to trouble you,' he said
to the little dark lady, as she came
across the floor to meet him, arrayed
in something white and misty, and
buttoning long glove high up on a
round arm, but I'll only detain you
for q moment Your aunt, or what.
ever she is, Miss Pelton, absolutely
refuses to take back some money that
she lett in my rooms by mistake, and
don't know what to do with it or
or about it. | have given notice that
| shall leave at the beginning of the
next quarter and / shall not see her
again, and if you will give her this
money from me, and try to impress
upon her the utter impossibility of my
taking it back, you will confer a
great favor upon me. She is good
old lady, ! SUPPOSE said Peter; 'but
She Is rarts-s rer2mpsory aasa Wissuf,
and she SEEKS inclined to continue
sending me this money so long as we
both shall live, which-Good gracious,
Miss Pelton!'
For few moments there was a
very lively scene in the pretty parlor,
and then Miss Pelton shook off the
rug and two table covers and ban.
ner screen in which Peter had wrap
ped her when he saw that her light
draperies had floated into the flame
Of the CRATE fire, dropped into chair,
and coolly said, well, sir, the BILL
Peter was q lawyer, and profession-
ally bound to admire cool self-posses.
sion. Blu, initiating it under such cir
cumstances was beyond his powers.
'The bill !! he gasped.
Precisely said the young lady,
apparently obliyious of strong smell
of burned illusion, and of small
pyramid Of broken vases aud books
lying on the floor, and holding out
one white glove, perfectly spotless
and smooth, while the other, blacken.
ed and scorched, lay in her lap.
Peter searched for the bill in vain.
He had had it in his hand when he
snatched up the rug, but it had dis.
appeared. He turned to apologize,
after looking everywhere, and found
that Miss Pelton had slipped out of
her chair, and was lying in heap on
the floor. There was the usual ring
ing of bells and gathering Of every
body 10 the house, the German and
Italian of Peters previous acquaint-
ance coming with the rest, and la
menting that the beloved fraulein and
the dear signorlna could not sing at
the charity concert, for which she had
been preparing so long. Miss Pelton
revived when stayed with TASKS Of
cologne water, and comtorted with
| shifts Of ammonia, and then the gath.
ering resolved itself first into an inves.
tigating committee and then into an
admiration society, and having found
out why the room was in confusion,
praised Peter until he made hasty
departure.
The next morning as he was going
out to breakfast, he met his landlady
at the door.
You are nice young man., said
she, sto break my vases and scorch
my screen, but under the circumstan-
ces suppose that / must forgive you.
You lost that ten dollar bill, too, I'm
happy to hear. Now, perhaps you'll
stay in my room and behave yourself,
but whether you will or not / owe
something for last night, and you'll
find small sum of money to your
account at the Prescott Bank. Good
morning.
She was half out of the room, bu.
Peter caught her hand, crying Stop =
Never was womanly obedience
more prompt or complete. She did
stop; in fact, she tainted and dropped
into Peters arms so suddenly as to
stagger him. He carried her to a
chair, sprinkled her face with water,
and in minute she revived and MUIR
INJURED, MY hand
Peter looked down at it. It was
very small, and as much of it as could
be seen for bandages was very white
and youthful in appearance. Helook-
ed at her face. The gray curls had
slipped back with the little hat, and
dark locks were seen beneath them,
and lower still, dark eyes, half yelled
by tears of pain, were dancing with
fun. Miss Pelton' seemed to be
duplex being. Peter said 90. and his