The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-05-19

The door was opened almost instantly
by dignifed old servant in livery.
ST beg pardon if am making mis-
take" she began, In her most winning
voice. Indeed, am quite at loss TO
explain myself. Has young lady called
here within half hour to see friend, q
Miss Mollie -? My cousin did not
her name." And she paused
with an embarrassed half-smile. But
the old servant had already shaken his
head.
'sNo, Miss; no one has called. know,
because have been right here all the |
time"
Then have made mistake. am |
sorry to have troubled you. But could |
you, possibly"-she hesirated.
ST think there is a young lady next |
door," indicationg the house with his
hand. "We have no young ladies in this |
family"
'.Thank you," aloud. To herself:
THAT accounts for q slight trace of
crustiness in your bearing, my dear sir.
However, you treated me very well-for
tramp.
Should she dare again? Her blood
was up. The merry mood of the morn
ing had not passed. would be no worse
than this horrid promenading, and she
might find her.
This time the door was opened by
pleasant faced young mulatto, who
seemed instantly to appreciate the situa
| tion, for suppressed twinkle in his eye
| answered to the smile that, do what she
would, Grace knew was twitching in the
corners of her mouth.
IT beg pardon" she said, with an air
1 e E. kix14 I'D
| the most suspicious mind. ''My cousin,
Miss RAYMOND, left me to call on
friend, while I made another call in the
near neigh borhood. My cousin pointed
out the house to me, but really do not
know the house, the number, or her
| friends name. She called her only
Mollie. Is there Miss Mollie-? Has
Miss Raymond called? You see, L
| It is really very absurd" and the young
lady ended with little appealing ges-
tnre of the hands that would have done
credit to Frenchwoman.
The young fellow smiled, yet very re-
spectfully.
'There is a Miss Mollie," he said.
"There is Miss Mollie," he said.
Grace looked relieved. But she was not
| yet sure.
"a lady may have called" he contin
ued, although did not see her. Miss
Mollie is in New York"
"Oh, then" began Grace, preparing to
| retreat. But he went on:
"If you will step into the parlor, if
you please, Miss, will go and inquire.
ST thank you. I am sorry to trouble
you."
''How utterly ridiculous this is," she
said to herself, as she took the proffered
seat in o most elegant apartment. "To
think that I, Grace Carter, should be in
such scrape as this! That man is q
true gentleman. How does he know
what I may intend to carry off in my
pocket while he is gone? What would
Alice"
The sound Of half suppressed cough
} in another part of the room startled her.
J She became conscious that she had been
: thinking aloud. Throwing, for the first
time, rapid glance around the room
her eyes met those of gentlemen who
, was almost hidden from her view by an
angle of the room, and the deep chair in
which he was sitting. He rose from his
seat, seeing himself discovered. Grace
arose also, turning toward the door, for
she heard the sound of returning steps.
''The lady is not here. Miss; am
Bozry."
II All Grace thought of now was to get
out of her awkward position as soon as
!; possible. The gentleman advanced to
offer assistance, but Grace, rapidly and
; somewhat incoherently uttering her
thanks and dbapologies to the servant, fed,
and drew 4 long breath of relie. as she
reached the sidewalk once more.
81 feel as if had lived an age, and it
is fifteen minutes since / blundered into
} the first place. If that girl does not ap-
pear before I reach the next corner I
, shall go home without her. There she
is, this very minute, blissfully uncon-
scous of the mischief I have been into. '
, "How nice; you are just in time.
/ Grace. told Mollie You might call for
me, and have been listening for the
bell for some time. Did you have a
pleasant call? Mollie was looking very
lovely this morning; she had on hew
wrapper that is extremely becoming"
} ''Mrs. Benton was indlsposed, so that
did not see her at ALL said Grace
rather grimly.
expression on her cousins face. "Why,
what have you been doing all this timer"
: she asked
01dOO uOSltdbCu' O6A Jou hCOk IL
: to yourself, if tell you something's"
} "Yes, indeed"
"Well, then, I have been making
} morning calls on New Years day upon
| the elite of Beacon street, Boston!'
} "Grace Carter?"
Precisely, that is just what say"
; And half-laughing, half-rueful, she told
the whole story.
, Meanwhile, the gentleman who had
been SO suddenly disturbed in his quiet
| doze did not seem inclined to return to
his chair.
"You say she gave her cousins name
as Miss Raymond, Alfredo"
J Very well. That will do. How long
: before dinner? think will go to the
} store after dinner. My head seems to
be better"
"What a face that girl hadr' he con-
tinued, when left alone. "She is not a
J Bostonian. A needle in haystack! Yet
! / am bound to find her, and I will. Ray.
mond; that is all have to guide me-"
, Alfred went away chuckling to him
self: 'Mr. Franks struck at last. With
q country girl, too. But she's little
lady, that's fact!" But Mr.. Frank
went to the store and studied the directo-
ry with great care.
He had been invited to little New
Years party that evening, and as it was
} to be very quiet, informal affair, he
had consented to going, for, although