Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1883-10-12
sflrrt Story.
A COMEDY OF ERRORS.

fTeach the nail, had nung open the
door, taken the envelope from the lad
and hurried back into the morning
room, opening the telegram as ! went
"From L. Hetton to May Hetton-
Meet me at Charing Cross Hotel,
Tuesday, eight \. NJ. Cannot leave
Mrs. Elliott
: "Yes, grannie dear cried, having
read the contents, "it is from Tom,
dear old fellow, ] am to meet him in
town. | wonder what he will be like
land however can | get to Charing
/ Cross Hotel by eight o'clock tomorrow
morning. YOU"
"My dearest child,' interrupted
i grannie's soft sweet voice, lust one
moment, please. Have you closed the
door, and did you tell the boy whether
there would be any message back"
Good gracious, no. ! exclaimed
inelegantly. Il forgot all about the
boy;' and once more | made a hasty
Journey into the ball.
To dismiss the lad was the work OF
a moment, and then | again returned
>pie, eager 10 make plans for
In the morning.
ks, owing TO certain unto
tances. were not easily
the first place, Elnslde
suburban detached cot
3Eive FROM Charing Cross.
leeer OF course. no trains were
ole; and, lastly. grannie did not
like the idea Of letting me go alone.
Betty, Pitchers subordinate, was at
home for holiday, and old Andrew,
the gardener and general fac,otum,
bad that very afternoon declared him
self wholly incapacitated by an attack
of 'rheumatics, so it was very evident
| must 20 uneseorted. or not at all.
Cabs were unknown in our pretty
but ihconvenient suburb, but u certain
respectable serious minded individual
named Tomkins had q vehicle, Il fly,
much patronized By the old ladies OF
the locality. and to Temkius We ap-
pealed for help. Accordingly early
nSsxt morning. fortified by tea and
started for town, not = little
ervohs. II The truth must BE told. al
The prospect Of meeting my long alb
sent brother.
sas still in deep mourning for our
dear father. and bad tied little
embroidered Grape veil over my face,
through which could hardly see. and
thus. as | argued. could not be seen.
They fly WAS clearly Inisnomer. for
/ Tompkius crawi,d on stoIidly at a
suaII's pace. and as sat, NY thong us
reverted sadiy to he country home,
md TO my dear fathers last loving
words, 10 The of,-repeated-
''1om wIil take care Of nv little
maid. You must look 10 /, IN. darling.
when ! am gone.
/ | was just eighteen, al orphan. and
Tom Was my only brother, or rather
half brother. my fathers son by his
first wife. He was nearly twenty
years older than ], aud bad bteu in
India since | MAS eight years old; So
naturally | did no, remember much
about him. But had grown up
with the greatest admiration for Tom
and Toms sayings and doings; and,
now that he Was really coming home,
and We were TO live together, | Was
greatly pleased snd exci'ed.
Mrs. Elliot Was the invalid widow
of a general officer who had teen kill
ed in the recent outbreak, and | un-
derst, od Why Tom would not leave
her alone at the hotel, but would, af-
ter hours rest, take her down to her
fathers place in Norfolk.
At last we drove into the courtyard
of the hotel, and /, shy country girl,
felt rather awed and nervous; but |
managed to inquire whether Mr.. Het-
ton bad arrived, aud was told that he
had, and that he had desired the lady
might be shown to room where
breakfast was prepared
l followed the man up stairs, and
down long corridor, and then he
opened door, announced NJ iss Het-
ton,' and closed it quickly after me.
A tall fair mani could see that
through my veil and the tears that
welled up in my eyes--was in the
room.
'Ob, dear, dear Tom And then
found myself with both arms round a
manly neck, and my fearful face up
lifted to a soft golden moustache very
much higher than my head. Il am SO
glad! OF course grannie could not
come; but she sent all kinds of mes
sages; and you will never leave me
again; and, oh, it is deliciousn | con-
tinued, giving Tom a most sisterly
embrace
1t struck me, however, even in that
first agitated moment, that Tom did
not quite seem to know what to do
with me; but then, poor fellow, he
had been in India so long. Still even
in India | suppose men kiss their
sisters.
Really, madam, l fear he began,
when the door opened, and great
tall, gaunt, angular old lady walked
in and stood petrtied, gazing at the
spectacle of a gentleman who was red
and uncomfortable, and young wo.
man, redder, and more uncomfortable
still, who had just unclaspeC her arms
from the young mans shoulders, and
whose affectionate kisses seemed to be
ecohing still round the great lofty
room. The old lady recovered speech
first.
Nephew john she said solemnly
in voice with strong Scottish accent