Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1884-02-22
Eelerf Reaning.
FILTRATION.

To
4 don't know. She's a beauty,
though
Let's walk past, by accident. you
know and be introduced. if he'll do 1t.
Good
The two men sauntered along the
sands of the watering place, and soon
came to the spot where a very PLAIN,
unassuming little man. with hair the
color of weak green tea, and white
evelashes like COW, stood talking to
one of the handsomest girls either OF
the friends had ever meta dashlng
brunette, with fine figure, and cheeks
that needed no rouge to helghten their
brllliancy.
is it possible. Hilton, as live ex-
claimed one of the young men.
Why, Hilton, old boy. cried the
other. Mr.. Hilton turned towards
them.
Pm delighted to see you,' he said.
You've just caught me. shall be
off bv the next train. You are staying
here: Yes? At the-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 |
have another name, said the girl
You never do manage an introduction
properly
oh, yes said Hilton, more confus-
sed than ever. MRS. mean no,
yes, Miss Burnham.
You see, said the girl, hes so used
to callirg me Cousin Clara that he
iorgets other people call me anything
else. Yes, I've no doubt We shall meet
very frequently. Grandpa and | don't
know many people down here. Now,
Cousin Charles, if you are going to
catch the train, good afternoon
She bowed and tucked her arm into
that of Hilton, and they walked away.
Stunning" 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
In the pizzs, and she was very gracl-
GUS. Each gentleman thought her
particularly So 10 him, aud each re-
'sofved upon u delightful Irritation, anu
laid plans to get rid of the other,
Oaks, who was the most romantlc,
even thought that something particu-
lar might come of it, aud decided that
he should try TO win Hilton over to
his side, As an elderly cousin with
evident influence in the family, whose
advice the Young teautr might prob
ably listen to; while Peters resolved
to inquire into the old gentleman's
circumstances. and discover whether
Clara Was an heiress.
So the ball began. The two young
clerks, who had u months holiday,
made the best of their time. Clara
danced with Oaks and boated with
Peters. Oaks took Clara out to rlae,
and Peters drove her in little buggy
to the different points of interest. She
was extremely clrcumspect young lady,
aud allowed no hand squeezing or
sentimentalizing but she was very
frank aud Jolly, and, before the month
was over, each young nan considered
himself very much in love, and fiat
tered himself tha, he was no, dlsliked
by the young lady.
The morning of their departure
Oaks rowed her out to the creek where
wa,erlilies grew, and they stayed longer
than usual. But the evening before
she hal walked with Peters on the
sands for an hour.
| Each Young mans face wore an un-
accountable look Of triumph as they
stepped into the train together. Oaks
wondered what Peters was grlnning
about: Peters wondered what Oaks
was chuckling about, but neither ask
ed any questions.
They were back in the treaGmill
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
and how odd he should be related to
glorious Clara and the same thought
crossed the mind Of Peters, but both
we're wonderfully polite to their friend
and each wondered whether it would
be best TO confide in him entirely, and
each hesltated.
Meanwhile the clerks dug away at
the great ledgers and made more mis-
takes than usual, until one day Peters,
peeping over Oaks shoulder saw that
he had written Clara, instead of cash,
and asked him rather rudely What
the deuce he meant by that
Well, Peters, old fellow said Oaks,
blushing scarlet and using the eraser
violently, 'to confess the truth, | was
thinking Of her-of Clara Burnham.
'And how the duece dare you think
about her"
! How dare think about my Clara?
cried Oaks, in horse whisper.
Your Clara?' said Peters, in the
same tone. Il am engaged to her.
She is engaged to me.' reiorted
Oaks.
Then two hands clenched two blue
neckties, and the clerks rolled together
under the bench.
1t was Hilton who picked them up
and catching certain words and names
which suggested startling ideas to hin
led them. all flushed and rumpled
into little office that happened tt
stand empty, aud shutting the door il
the faces of the other clerks, who ha(
crowded TO the scene of the conflict
dumped them into two chat s and de
manded sternly:
well now-what does all this mean
| have heard names mentioned that