Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-12-27
FILTRATION.
BY E. II. W.

BY e. II. W.
"Who is that girl Hilton is talk
ing tor"
II don't know. She's a beauty,
though"
Lets walk past, by accident,
you know, and be introduced, IL
he'll do it."
GOOD"
The tvo young men sauntered
along the sands Of o little water
iDg-place. and soon came to the
spot where a very plain, unas-
suming little man, with hair the
color Of week green tea, and
while eye-lashes ike COW, stood
talking to one OF the handsomest
girls either of the friends had
ever meta dashing brunette,
with a fine figure, and cheeks that
needed no rouge to highten their
brilliancy.
"It is possible? Hilton, as l
liver exclaimed one Of the young
mens
why. Hilton, old boyF cried
the other.
Mr.. Hilton turned toward them.
"I'm delighted to see you,' he
said. you've just caught me.
! shall be of by the next train.
You are staying here? Yes? At
I. the z House? Then you'll be
apt to meet -my--my-my
Cousin Clara. Clara: Mr.. Peters
Mr.. Oaks"
"And the gentlemen will be
obliged to address me as Mr..
Hilton's Cousin Clara, unless you
remember that I have another
nams," said the girl. "You never
do manage an introduction
properly"
"Oh, yes," said Hilton, more
confused than ever. "Mrs.-I
. msan-oh, yes. Miss Burnham. /"
"You see. said the girl, "he's
SO used to calling me Cousin
Clara that he forgets other people
call me anything else. Yes. I've
no doubt we shall meet very fire.
quently. Grandpa and I don't
know many people down here.
Now, Cousin Charles, If you are
going to catch the train, good
afternoon"
She bowed aud tucked her arm
into that Of Hilton, and they
walked away.
"Stunningr' said Mr.. Peters.
"Charming?" said Mr.. Oaks.
And they also left the sands
arm in arm.
Fortune favored them that
evening. Miss Burnham and her
grandpa were ON the piazza, and
she was very gracious. Each
gentleman thought her particular
ly 30 to him, and each resolved
upon q delightful Airatation, and
laid plans to get rid Of the other.
Oaks, whowa the most romantic.
even thought that something
particular might come Of it, and
decided that he should try to win
Hilton ovsf to his side. as an eld-
: esls cousin with evident infu-
encxp the family, whose advice
the ! bng beauty might probably
listen p; while Peters resolved
to inqdire into the old gentle
mans circumstances, and dis
cover whether Clara was his
heiress.
So the bali, began. The two
young clerks, who had q month Z
holiday, msda the best of theil
|. time. Clara danced with Oaks
and boated with Peters. Oaks
took Clara out to ride, and Peters
drove her in q little buggy to the
different points Of interest. She
was an extremely circumspec,
young lady, and allowed no hand
squeezing or sentimentalizing
bnt she was very frank and jolly,
and before the month was ovel
each young man considered him
self very much in love, and fat
tered himself that he was no
disliked by the young lady.
The morning Of their departure
Oaks rowed her out to the creel
where water lilies grew, and
they stayed longer than usual
But the evening before she hat
walked with Peters on the sand
for an hour.
Each young mans face wore al
unaccountable look of triumph
IS they stepped into the train to
gethcr. Oaks wondered "Wha
Peters was grinning about?
Peters wondered "What Oak
was chuckling over?' but, neithei
asked any questions.
They were back in tine tread
mill again. Hilton, the head
clerk, had greeted them cordially
and inquired about his cousin
What plain little man he was
to be sure, Oaks thought. ant
how be. ehould be related to glol
ious Clara; and the same though
crossed the mind of Peters, bu
both we're wonderfully polite t
their friend, and each wondere
whether it would be best to con
fds in him entirely, and eac
hesitated.
Meanwhile the clerks dug ava
at the great ledgers aud mad
more mistakes than usual, unit
one day Peters, peeping owe
Oaks shoulder, saw that be ha
written "Clara,D instead
"Caah," and asked him rath,
~. ttyxTlok tl,o la,,o< l.