The Russellville Democrat., 1880-06-10

all spread With EHStenlng glass and china, an epergne of flowers, ferns and tropical fruits in it's center, cold roast fowl, delicate salads, steam-tureen of oysters, and a huge boiled ham, stuck all over with cloves. While Mir. Burgoyne, entering from an opposite door, rubbed his hands calmly.
 "Upon my word, cousin Lucille" said he, this looks good. You must live like | aldermen here"
 "But this isn't our dinner" gasped Lu- cilla, thinking of the pound and half of beefsteak, and the quart of sweet po- tatoes on the kitchen table below.
 Whose is it, then?" calmly demanded Mir. Burgoyne.
 Its some mistake," faltered poor Lu- cilla.
 No mistake at all, lady, grinned tke waiter, who stood ready, with napkin over his arm, to serve out the oysters, and pass around the bread. "Ordered at the United States Hotel for Miss Car ver."
 Then Lucilla introduced Matty, and Matty, shrinking and coloring, recog- nized in our cousin from Omaha the very gentleman with the diamond studs and silky moustache, who had restored her scarf and hadn't smiled at her mar. ket-basket. tt And it was surprising how soon they all became excellent friends, and forgot the little embarrassment incident to their first introduction
 When the grapes and bananas and velvety hot-house peaches were brought on the table, it transpired that Mir. Bur goyne was about to stay in town on business for several weeks.
 "You will be our guest, win you not?" cried Matty eagerly, with dash ofrose- color in her cheeks, and her great dark eyes all luminous with pleasant excite ment and joy.
 But thls invitation Mir. Burgoyne smilingly declined. He would see them as often as he could; he would be most frequent visitor at tke house, they might rest assured, but his business forbade his being sojourner there. He smiled to see the pretty brunotte's evident dis appointn ent at his words. 4.
 "She it getting reconciled to cousins from Omaha" he thought. aa
 Days and weeks 'crept on, and Mir. Burgoyne's tall figure haunteds the cot tage like shadow, while pretty Matty got to watching his coming with feverish intentness.
 The mystery of the hotel banquet yet remained unsolved. Mine host of the State Hotel, when questioned upon the subject, was as imperturbably uncommu- nicative as the sphinx itself, and at last Lucilla and Matty Carver were fam to abandon the fruitless quest. ,"
 But on the way to the concert-Matty, be 1t remembered, was to sing in one of the quartettes--a paste-board box ar rived from New York, directed to Miss Matty Carver" l@a @fA> ga
 What can it be?" cried Matty, all in a tremble.
 You'll never know if you don't open it and see," said the more philosophical Lucilla. Here, I'll cut the strings."
 And there, shrouded in innumerable layers of oiled silk and tissue paper; ap- peared an exquisite dress of ruby silk, with train of glistening ruby satin, and such lace on the bodice as our poor lit- tie village maiden had only dreamed of never seen; while card labeled Miss Matty Carver, to wear at the concert" was laid among the scented folds. Matty was very pale, with red eyes and heavy lashes, when Mr. Burgoyne dropped casually in that afternoon.
 Julius" said she, q have found you out" 4oe
 Found me out, eh," said Mir. Bur goyne, hall smiling. Am I so much like a conundrum?"
 "It was you that sent me that dress!" flashed Matty s .f
 Because I knew you would look like princess in it," said JulIus, coelly.
 And it was you that ordered the din ner. the first oay that you camel" aeiI
 Do you suppose that wanted to eat up your ribbon loops, and swallow your crepe llsse frills?" retorted the gentle man with a merry twinkle in bis eye.
 II never, never will speak to you again, as long as 1 live,p sobbed little Matty. .....,.. ..s.
 But you shallp' said the cousin from Omaha resolutely possessing himself of both her little hands.
 "You shall tell me that one day you will learn to love mel You shall prom ise to go back to the West with me as my cherished bride. Matty, my own darling, don't you turn your rosebud face away from me, for love you, and my life will be but half life unless you pledge yourself that you will share it with meP"
 And almost before Matty knew it. she was engaged to her cousin from Omaha.
 And to think" said Lucilla, half laughing, half crying, "that it all comes from unexpected company. Matty, thought you said you hated cousins?n
 ''So did" said Matty, looking charm ingly confused. "But-but-then I've changed my mind since"