Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-03-28
Gales ano Sketfbts.
fHH OTHER AsHrRsrs.
Alex. Ashes Fortunate BIunder.
CONTINUED from yesterdsy.)

CONTINUED from Yesterday
1T was a perfectly natural one." said
Mrs. Ashurst pleasantly. "And now pray
resume your seat. Mr.. Ashe. and let me
explain in my turn. ! have dear old
friend. Mrs. Galloway Cummings of New
buryport, whose sister married Mr..
Francis Ashe of Salem. She wrote some
months ago to say that her Young nephew.
Albert Ashe, was coming on to study in
the Medical School OF Philadelphia, and
we have been looking for him in vague
way since February; so when my daugh-
ters read your. Mr.. A. 6. Ashe,' they
naturally took it for granted that You were
he. You see. there was blander on
both sides, and we have apologies to make
as well as you"
81 cannot regret my share in the mis-
take said Alexander, rising to go, ''since
it has procured me one of the pleasantest
evenings of nv life" He glanced at
Amy as he spoke. Was there a little
answering gleam in her eyes He half
dared to hope it.
| But about these Salem Ashes" said
| Mrs. Ashurst, desirous to set him at ease,
and end the interview without embarrass-
ment. .'are they your relatives in any
way?
| il any. NV uncle, think, has spoken of
some connections at Salem of Marblehead.
and am not sure of the facts. And now
must wish you good evening. with re-
newed apologies and 90 in search ofthese
other Ashursts, at l3-no. 1j14. That
will be two squares farther up in the same
street, will it not ?''
| Yes, and think 1jl4 is Mr.. Walter
Ashurst's number. He is distant con-
nection OF my husbands. but we have
never met. They are old residents in
Philadelphia, and we newcomers. you
must know. You see, we have mixed up
obscure cousinships rs well as names and
numbers in this odd double misunderstand-
ing of ours. MIR. Ashe.'
So. with courteous farewells Alex took
his leave, and finding it too late for further
calls went back to his hotel heavy-heart-
ed, for with all her courtesy and all her
pleasantness, Mrs. Ashurst had not asked
him to call again. What could be done
for 90 he must and would; that he was
resolved upon. His spirits rose. when, a
little later. he missed his letter-case. IL
shall have to call to ask for it," he thought
and fortified by this reflection, went to
bed and slept soundly.
Next morning he devoted himself to
the "other Ashursts." who were easily
found. No 1914 proved to be mansio
of pretensions, wide and ample, with
bays, balconies, carved stone-wOrk, a
stable alongside. and in all respects be-
longing to that order of architecture known
in newspaper parlance rs the truly pala-
ltial." Mr.. Ashe was ushered through a
marble paved hall into two dimly lighted
and magnificent drawing rooms, where
rivulets of satin meandered down either
side of lofty close blinded windows. and a
parterre of huge pale colored flowers from
the looms of Aubusson covered the floor.
Each gilded and carved chair and sofa
wore jacket of linen for the protection
of its silken glories, each table and con-
sole hoasted its unmeaning stew OF costly
trifles; chandeliers, pictures, mirrors. all
were swathed IN tarlatan as protection
from possible flies while the family hearth
was represented by lacquered register
which grinned uncheerfully from the midst
of marble, monumental apparently, which
filled the whole opening OF the fireplace.
This chill and gorgeous solitude Alex had
to himself for quarter of an hour. before
a rustling on the stairs announced the APP
proach of the ladies of the family, and
Mrs Ashurst and her daughters appeared
in resplendence of French dresses. She
a stately dame of the conventional type,
welcomed him graciously, and invited
him to dinner on the next day but one.
1t was but short notice to collect party
she remarked. but they would do their
best The young ladies three in number
were handsome creatures, very like each
other, and like half hundred girls whom
Alex had met before. They thlked enough
for animation. and not too much for good
taste their attitudes and movements were
studiously graceful they had shrill, high.
pitched voices. and were so perfectly at
their ease as to give the impression oi
having been born equal to every social
emergency which could possibly arise in
the course of their lives. Alex mentioned
his mistake of the night before and found
the tale received with rather contemptu-
Gus amusement. There was a family OF
that name, Mrs Ashurst believed. but
she knew nothing about them. They
lived on 18th street. did they All very
odd, to be sure, Hadn't she heard some
where that they taught something or
other Appealing to her girls. Miss
Ashurst thought they did. and with faint
very faint-degree of interest asked,
Isn't one of the daughters rather pret-
tv ?" after which the subject dropped.
| Alex Ashe was conscious of sense OF
relief when. the call over. he found him
self again in the street. What tiresome
women ~ he muttered. Yet why were
they SO tiresome' He had been familiar
with lust such women all his life. but
never before had found them unindurable.
but then had never seen Amy Ashurst'
he meditated. Marry one Of these girls!
Not if they owned the mines OF Golconda.
and Uncle Nat went down on his knees to
me-"
His call of inquiry after the note case
he timed so as TO hit what he suspected TO
be the leisure hour of the family, in the
later evening. He was fortunate; the
ladies were at home, and evidently ex-
pecting him, for the letter-case lay con-
st9icuous on the table. and Mrs. Ashurst
began with apology.
| Il should have sent it to you had we
known your address. but You gave us none
YOU remember.'b
Il should have been most unwilling to