The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-03-21


here ?'
s. 1t was the first name that occurred to
him, and he calculated by this clever eIpe-
dent to make an easy escape.
g Mr. Alexander Smith ?" inquired Mr..
Jessup, with his searching gaze still bent
upon Jack
"Why, no, think not Mr.. John Smith
/ Is, think, the name
Just here suppressed feminine giggline
from the sidewalk was distinctly audible
''Oh, Mr.. John SMITH He resides not
Car from here, on the next block. As you
appear to be stranger in this neighbor
hood, pray allow me to show you the
house,
Jack protested; lie would not hear of the
gentleman giving himself the trouble But
Mr.. Jessup insisted that it would be a pleas.
ure, and Selling his hat, escorted his unwil.
ling companion up the street 10 the next
block, where he paused before handsome
house.
e fhis sir, is the resi- fence of Mr. John
Smith. The adjoining mansion is that of his
brother, Mr.. Alexander" and the polite
banker opened the gate, aud stood aside for
Jack to pass
Thank you, sir am sure sm greatly
obliged" said Jack, betrayiug no haste to
snter.
lit is rather dark here in the shadow of
the piazza / fear you will have some diff.
,ulty in finding the bell ALLOW me &c
ring"
Jack fervently wished that he could wiring
the ears Of the officious banker, and he look
Ell wilaly around as resounding peal rang
on the stiffness
moment later light step was heard
within, the door opened, and he found him.
self confronted by graceful figure, with the
prettiest and most piquant brunette face
that he could imagine
"Ah, good-evening, Miss Floral" said
Mr.. Jessup, politely This young gentle
man Is anxious to see your father; aud
being stranger, have taken the liberty of
showing him the house. Good-evening
And with malicious CLEAN in his sharp
eyes, the banker took his departure. aud lett
his victim to his fate
What could Jack dor There was the
young lady holding the door open, and in.
yiting him to enter and there was Mr.. Jes-
sup skulking in the shadow at the gate, to
enjoy his discontinue and the same gig
Cling that he had before heard now again
greeted his ears, with a sure premonition OF
what awaited him in the future. unless he
could manage to extricate himself from this
most embarrassing dilemma.
In desperation, and If only to disappoint
the outside lookers.on, Jack stepped across
The threshold
Pray walk in, sir, said tho young lady,
opening another door. Papa, q gentleman
to see YOU"
The visitors face was very red as he found
| himself ushered into brightly-lghted par.
/ lor, where sat two gentlemen, playing chess.
Mr.. John Smith, portly figure, with
iron-gray hair, rooe to meet him, and the
young lady placed chair for him and some
! reInnPK was zz7aas Jack hardly Ene1zzwfis.f
after which followed a solemn silence.
Clearly, Jack must say something.
"I-I beg pardon" he stammered "but
fear there is some mistake. May inquire
| il this is the residence of Mr. Alexander
| Smith,"
mo, sir !" briskly answered the trim lit
tie gentleman, who had been Mr.. Smiths
partner at chess, 90 But il you desire to see
Mr.. Alexander Smith, l ara he, and at your
service. This is the residence of my broth
err, Mr.. John Smith"
Jack looked at the two gentlemen, and
chen glanced at the young lady. He felt
himself run TO bay at last .lr. John Smith
seemed to pity his embarrassment.
"W What can we do for you, sir2 he in
quired, courteously.
"So, thank you, sir-~that is-in fact
SIR" said Jack, in desperation, 81 must re.
ally apologize for this intrusion"
And then he summoned all his self-pos-
session, and in frank, straightforward way,
confessed The truth, and explained how he
had been betrayed into his present most sm-
barrassing situation.
The gentlemen listened, at first with much
gravity, and then with some doubtful witch
ings about the corners of the mouth and an
odd twinkling of the eyes. As to the young
lady, Jack scarcely dared glance toward her,
until just as he explained how he bad been
forced by Mr.. Jessup's benevolent anxiety
to intrude upon his present host, he was
startled by the clearest and most slvery
burst of laughter, aud looking around saw
the beautiful gypsy eyes of Miss Flora Smith
fai. ly dancing with merriment And then
her father and her uncle joined in; and
Jack himself, conscious Of the righteousness
of the whole affair, was compelled laugh
also, and for few moments a merri It party
could scarcely have been seen.
Oh, isn't it too funny !" said Flora.
"Only think, papa, of grown-up gentlemen
going around ringing peoples door-bells
Who would have suspected it 2"
And she looked at Jack-such an arch
look, mingled with just the slightest sug-
gestion of admiration of his manly appear
ance, that he was charmed.
" / am ashamed to confess" he CON.
menced, but Mr.. john Smith interrupted
him.
Come, my young friend, there is moth
ing to be particularly ashamed of. Many
time in my college days have done the
same thing, and even added to it the encr
nifty of carrying of iron gates, or exchang
ing tradesmen's signs l can testify to the
enjoyment Of such forbidden deeds It is
human nature, suppose, and I will not
blame you too severely; especially since Mr..
Jessup has taken your punishment into his
own hands"
Aud again Mr. John Smith laughed, and
the rest joined him. The laughter, how
ever, was as nothing in comparison with the
burst Of merriment which awaited Jack on
his return home, Nellie screamed with de-
light, md even gentle Rosie laughed until
abe cried. Bnt when Jack related his expe-
renee at Mr. John Smiths, they became in
terested.
$50 Flora Smith has come home from
that long visit to her aunt in England" said
| Nellie 81 am 40 GLAD for she was one of