, 1881-07-22

"4ou were too hard upon me, IL IS
true, Margaret, and it cost us twenty
years of unhappiness.
"Why did you not speak sooner,
John?"
Because, Margaret, was determined
that the first overtures should come from
YOU"
"From me?" said Margaret, flushing.
''How could you expect me to make over
lures TO yOu?"
"But you have done So" he returned,
bending toward her as though to again
kiss her"
ing herself away.
Nay. nay" said John Elwell. sooth-
inely. "You must know, Margaret, that
you made the first advances"
81 did no such thing" returned Mar
garet.
''I should never have spoken had you
not said"
"What?"
"Well-Kiss me-"
Margaret was now really offended.
''Why, you asked me to kiss you," she
said with heightened color.
81 protest did not. You whispered
it as softly as possible"
''For shame, John! You said it Just as
you used to say it in the old days."
''On my oath, Margaret, l never did.
''I suppose you know what an oath is,
said Miss Courtenay, doubtfully.
81 think SO, L have enough to do with
them in court"
And you would take an oath that you
did not ask me-"
II will do more; will take my oath
that you asked me"
Margaret stood looking ct him with
flush on her delicate cheeks, thinking
that he really only meant to perplex her.
''JOhn, you know me better" she said
softly. ''You are doing this to tease me,
but you should not"
kiss me-" again echoed through the
room, and then followed the sound of
kiss, and a whisper of "Oh, you dar-
ingr'
''There is some one in the next roomp'
cried Elwell, and they sprang apart like
guilty creatures.
They moved toward the curtain be-
tween the drawing rooms, and confronted
Nellie, Margaret's eldest niece, who with
her cousin Harry Martin. was advancing
to meet them.
81 am sorry. Aunt Margaret" cried
Nellie, ''we did not mean to be caves
droppers, but was so wet when gos in
from my ride that I came to wzrm my
feet before going up to dress, ana Harry
came in with me-"
80 it appears. And you have been
warming your faces too" said Mr..
Elwell. laughing and pointing to Nellie's
fair cheeks.
''The fire is rather ferce," she re-
turned.
''The fire of the kisses?" he asked,
laughing there. we will not tell tales
out of school"
Nevertheless, Nellie, am rather sur
prised at your conduct" said Aunt Mar
garet, primly.
"Come, come, this won't do" cried
Harry. 1--WE are ready enough to keep
your secret, but 1 can assure you we have
not been following your good example,"
81 should think not, )" said Nellie. ST
never asked anybody to kiss me in all my
life."
''Then who kissed and who was the dar-
ling?" asked John Elwell, slyly.
Aunt Margaret, replied Nellie
stoutly.
"Oh, Nelliei you shamefaced little
coquette," said Margaret rebukingly.
kiss me, kiss me, oh, you darlingp
was waited softly through the room, and
q whole shower of kisses followed this
affectionate outburst.
"Good heavensp they all exclaimed at
once. '"There is a third couple in this
room"
''Let us light the gas and discover the
culprits," said Harry, producing some
wax candles from his pocket.
The freight was soon quenched and
every corner of the room illuminated,
hnk oil 20 he
Harry and Mr.. Elweli looked behind
curtains and chairs, and carried a light
into the conservatory, and peered about
among the orange trees and eamelias;
the place was empty.
''Some one must have been playing a
trick on us" ssid the two gentlemen, re-
turning.
''Or the room is haunted" suggested
Miss Courtenay in a whisper.
''By the spirit of st. Valentine" cried
Nellie, ''for to morrow is the fourteenth
of February"
1.-The season when birds choose their
mates, said Harry; ''and-"
But he was interrupted by Nellie, who
fell on the sefa in commissions of laugh
ter, taking off her riding hat and shaking
her bright blonde hair into soft eurls
about her shoulder.
''Oh, auntie, auntie! I shall die of
laughingl To think our being such
geese 1t is the bird in the corner,
Aunt Margaret. the new parrot papa
brought home yesterday"
Yes, there, sure enough, sat Polly in
her gray dress and red trimmings, laugh
ing softly to herself, in imitation of
Nellie's more joyous peal. kiss me"
she cried, with her head coquettishly
aside.
''The mystery is solved. rising and
gathering up her habit. Nevertheless,
Aunt Margaret. am rather surprised at
your conduct"
81 shall be surprised il You are not
late for dinner, Miss Nellie sad Aunt
"unless you go up stairs at
once"
"Quite true; there goes the first bell.
Come along, Harry, for you can't ap- |
pear In boots and CATERS"
And they heard them stumbling to- !
gether as they stumbled up stairs.