The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-06-03

about. And now | like her less than
ever, and | should think that Harvey
Ellsworth would be positively dis
gusted."
II have no doubt that he is disguised" "
said Matilda Owens. ''Of course he
wouldn't like to show it. And Adele
acts as much as to say, in her quiet way,
He is secretly in love with me- o,
should just like to see her vanity damp
ened little. Girls, let us have some fun;
let us bring Adele Haskell out"
''How do you mean bring her out?' "
s'Why, let US make some plan to set
her face to face with her folly, and
| give her remarkable serene dignity a
] good lesson"
'.What plan can we makeP''
They were not long in finding one; for,
| given the mischievouS intent, and there
is always a scheme ready at hand to give
the mischief expression.
The plan was bold one, and several
days elapsed before it was thoroughly
completed and ready for execution. 1t
might have persisted carelessly as it began
but for one or two aggravating circum-
stances which in the meantime made
Adele appear to be more than ever APP
propriating the desirable Mr.. Ellsworth.
During these few days the susceptible
little George found herself very kindly
noticed by Olivia and Olivia's particular
friends. At last one morning Matilda
Owens said to her: H|'
Georgia, do you want to have some
fun, and help us with plan of ours that
will he an excellent iOkepn
George declared she was ready for
anything; she loved fun, and she loved
jokes. '.....
"Whom is the letter to?'' asked
Georgia.
" That" said Matilda, "you are not
to know. Then if any questions are
asked when the joke comes off you can
say truly that you are ignorant"
George looked thoughtful at this, and
hesitated. q think l ought to know
whom 1 am writing to- she said.
The girls overruled her objection.
''You will know as soon as it is best"
they said. "And you can trust us that
it is written to the right person."
So Matilda dictated:
"Forgve me i'll address you too hastily and
too boldly. You are in all my thoughts every
moment, and | feel thatI can not resist the
opportunity that may never occur again. May
| see you for few moments alone. Ii you
will grant me this request-and | beg you as
you value the true devotion of my heart not
to refuse-please wear tonight in your hair a
yell0U rOSe.n
This letter had been carefully com
posed, and it was dictated by Matilda
from manuscript approved by all the
girls concerned in this practical joke
. Now sign it" said Olivia. H..
" How shall | sign itp' asked the
child, who had succeeded by sharp scru-
tiny of the model in making the writing
quite characteristic.
"Why, Harvey Ellsworth of course.
IT'S pity we could not get his signature
for you to copy exactly, but you must
make it from the letters you have. Thare
is capital H to begin with.''
go, Matilda" said Georgia, ." could
not sign a mans name. That would be
wrong, am sure. No one has right
to sign another mans name Why, that
would be forgery" She was quite de-
cided.
"Well, it must be signed" said Olivia,
7OI IL Will uOb NC Ol any USE vi COURSE
no one would wear rose for an anony-
nous lover. Come, don't be obstinate,
George; we shall lose our whole joke. ="
II will tell you what she can do"
said Matilda, who had some faint mis-
giving of conscience herself on this
point ''she can sign it in initials-'H
E. That might be anybody; at least it
might be any He. Come, child, don't
haggle; the whole affair is nothing but a
bit of fun. He! he! always comes after
a good joke, you know, Georgia"
So George having found in the scraps
of Consequences the proper capitals,
signed H. E.'' with a modest flourish
and the note, after due inspection and
admiration, was signed and sealed.
"Now please let me direct it." said
George, I'm promise not to tell"
80, we have plan about the drec-
tion,' Olivia said. ''Now you have
done your part nobly, and if there is ever
anything we can do for your pleasure,
be sure to let us know" ~
Il should like to see the fun,'' said
| George. candy need not tell me who
it is, for knoeO it is Miss Riley. And
it's almost too bad, only suppose real
old MAZDA real flirting old maid.
mean--doesn't mind whom she wears
yellow roses for She will Just be won
dering why he doesn't come up and ask
her to take drive, or walk around the
piazza by moonlight. lean just imagine
how she'll pucker her funny crooked
mouth, and dart her poor little yellow
eyes around the corners, watching and
waiting till he dom Gomez" and Georgia
laughed at the picture her Imagination
presented of the excitement of the anti
quated coquette, who had been a warn
ing post to the girls all summer to point
out what they might come to if they
kept on dancing and flirting till their
hair turned gray, and their dimples ran
into wrinkles, and their voices cracked,
and so on. 'tt'l it'
Success smiled upon the completion
of the practical joke. When the eleven
a. m. mail had arrived, and the custom
airy application for letters was made at
the hotel Office, Mr.. Ellsworth appeared
there, looking over his own budget, as
fortune would have it, quite alone.
Then Olivia came sauntering gracefully
along the corridor. and coming near him,
paused. s.1.-.. .I. t.,.0 .t.,.. ....,,
80 Mr., Ellsworth" said she. scan