The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-03-05

en-. .lme, my dear boyp"
Come! leave a lifts piece of him |
LOT me, mother" cried the girl, kissing |
me affectionately.
Ano then, as though in that kiss she
haa found me out, she started, and !
looneu at me keenly, but said nothing. 4
AS lor me, felt like a traitor and VII |
IAN. Here was I-not willingly, to be /
sure. out none the less certainly-in this
mousse sailing under false colors, receiv-
ing welcomes and greetings which were
deciuedly never intended for me. was
too utterly bewildered to gaess even at
Whae IL could mean. No doubt it was
SOME curious and most unfortunate mis-
take. lda's lips were the sweetest had
ever touched, and l was sorely tempted
to give her kiss for kiss. Perhaps my
omittlng to do so caused her to look at
me 50 strangely. They were all crowd
ing round me with questions and kindly
words, and 1 felt / could bear it no
longer. lI
+" My dear sir,'' / exclaimed impa-
tienty, "you are placing me in a very
painful position. What can do to con-
vince you that am st anger to youP"
laa changed color, from white to red
ana from red to white. The elder lady
looked from one of us to the other for
an explanation of my words.
Is 1t not absurdPn said the old gen.
tleman. 81 have brought him home
almost by force, protesting to the last
that ne has never seen me before; but
nov he is carrying the joke too far"
idv (how pretty and graceful she
was y walked quietly up to a reading
lamp, which stood on table at some
distance off, and raised it to my face.
go papa!" she exclaimed, "this is
not Teddy. What is to be done? Don't
you remember he has scar across his
right eyebrow, which this gentleman has
notp" 1t was difficult to convince him
even then; but the mamma disowned
me at once.
"Only to think that I should for q
moment have been deceived" she
said, apologetically. "But, indeed, the
likeness is marvelous!"
Ida said but little; and whenever our
eyes met she blushed, remembering,
doubtless. how warmly she had en-
braced me.
soon found out that my host was a
Mr.. Bayley, who almost overpowered
me with apologies for his mistake.
They insisted upon my sleeping there,
and ! accepted on condition that they
would let me depart before they were
down in the morning, that mi CHIT es-
cape the observation my dress-clothes
would call upon me from the very a.
MINIS in the London streets; and also I
was really anxious to see my friend Tom
Bruce, and explain to him the curious
events of the evening.
To this they agreed, exacting from
me a promise that would come down
again before they left Richmond for the
sea. can acquaintance SO strangely be-
gum" they said, "must not be allowed
to fall through"
And Mr.. Bayley even now found it
hard to believe his mistake, and could
scarcely take his eyes off my face, which
so curiously resembled his own sons.
The next morning an early breakfast
was brought to me in my room, and |
was en- route to London before nv new
friends were awake. I escaped the
jeers of the street arabs by jumping into
hanson and whirling home as fast as
the horse could carry me. .t
Tefpsw still asleep, but reused up
when opened his bedroom door, and
called loudly for me to come in.
Holloa! who is thatp o, George, my
boy, it is you, is it? Come and tell me all
about it. Have you found the silver
spoon, ehP"
81 have found the prettiest girl ever
saw in all my life,' l replied with a
smile.
40, it's that sort of spoon, is tP''
cried he, with loud guffaw. "Well,
George, didn't expect that of you, and
you so many years my junior; but l
forgive you, my boy, and will be best
man. When is it to beP"
"My dear Bruce, what are you driv-
ing atP l tell you have met a pretty
girl, and you ask when it's to bep You
and my new friend, Mr.. Bayley, might
run in a curricle for two lunatics,
really think" answered, impatiently.
Whew!" cried Tom; "bad as all
that, are your Well, well, it's what we
all come to sooner or later; it's a COM
plant it is better to have young. Now,
George, what's she likep' s..
"Whop" replied, resentfully. "Do
you mean Miss Ida Bayleyp" ......
Yes, to be sure, if that's her name. Z"
swell, then, Miss Bayley is the pref
test girl ever saw" l answered, en-
Enthusiastically. ..-. ......-.
Eyes, l know" replied he, calmly !;
"you mentioned that before.'
"Why, Bruce, old man, you don't
expect me to describe every feature, do
you, like a cheap Jack at fairP and if
1 would, l couldn't. How do / know
the color of her eyesp but know how
they look. What does it matter to me
whether her mouth is the shape of
Cupid's bow or notP--I know how it
smiles. Ida Bayley is not the girl you
could criticise as you talk to her; you
feel she is there-that if she is not beau
tiful, beauty can not be worth having
| I looked up at my friend, who was
regarding me fairly open-mouthed.
"Do you underestimate" asked.
"Quite," he replied, with an honest
smile, "and / congratulate you; and
now, George, tell me-has Miss Ida a
sister? If so, / think will accompany
you to Richmond" .a..t. .5....-. ~
| Well, of course, went down into
Surrey again; and; odd as it may seem,
became quite a favorite with all the
Bayley family. 1t was my strange re-