Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-06-11


be long, and nobody would notice that
it was a night-gown, sir; and if you
don't mind, sir, would go and fetch it
at once, for there is no time to lose"
The girls concluding words were on
ly too true; and, however much he
might have hesitated at her suggestion
in cooler moments, he was thankful
now for any solution to the difficulty.
"TeI your mistress that 1 shall be
very grateful for the loan she proposes,
if she thinks the deception will not be
discovered"
The servant vanished, and was soon
on the spot again with snowy linen
night gown. The neck at the back had
been torn down to admit broader
shoulders, and linen handkerchief had
been hastily stitched in to hide the rent
Most of the Communications had been
cut away but enough remained to prove
that the garment belonged to lady of
very dainty tastes.
Thankful for this semblence of sur
plice, and too hurried to feel amuse-
ment, Mr.. Byron arrayed himself, en-
tered the chancel, and the service be-
gan at once. He observed with sigh
of thankfulness that the chapel was very
dark; and this enabled him to read
without much nervousD ess. Two gen
tlemen came forward with the baby and
it's nurse, and for brief time during
the service the young clergyman saw
indistinctly the slender figure of lady
standing in the dimly-lighted aisle. Be-
fore the end of the ceremony her feel
ings seemed to overcome her, for she
left the church sitting what might have
been a sob, but which sounded strange
ly like laugh.
What Mr.. Byron feared would be a
trying ordeal was soon over. and ne re-
entered the vestryroom with q much
lighter heart than when he left it.
While disrobing, a name in indelible
ink on the gown. attracted his attention.
Perhaps he should have respected his
fair benefactress' wish to remain I'M
known; but the temptation was too
strong. He turned to the light and
read the name Miriam Douglas"
under the tucks and embroidery of the
robe which he had just discarded.
Was it coincidence, or had kind
fate led him to the shrine of his idol
The uncertainty was not to be borne.
twill you ask Miss Douglas if she
can grant me few minutes interview
before I go?" he said to the girl who
came, in great trepidation, for thenovel
surplice.
In cosy little reception-room Ju-
Illus Byron was presently received by
her who had been the companion of his
happiest dreams during more than
three years The blushing bashfu1-
ness had vanished, leaving in it's stead
a graceful womanly dignity. She was
sweeter, fairer Miriam even than of
old, "divinely tall and divinely fair"
ooh, Mr.. Byron, how Mortified you
must bel You signed initials only to
your note, and [ little suspected to whom
[ was offering that garment. / recog-
nized you at once in church, and, in
spite of the solemnity of the occasion,
I had to laugh. It was such an uncom-
monty bad fit"
ut was great boon to me, and /
shall be everlastingly grateful to you
for coming to the rescue"
A sudden Indifference as to the hours
of departing trains seemed to take pos
session of Mr.. Byron, and he found him
self, with certain amount of equanimi-
ty, accepting an invitation to spend the
night at the hall.
At the conclusion of her visit to her
cousin, Mrs. NARROW, Miriam betook
herself to the house of a friend, who ex-
tended many informal invitations to
Mr.. Byron as we'll.
One soft, fragrant evening, among
the June roses, julius Byron told his
love story, and Miriam listened with a
look in her eyes which told her lover
that he spoke not in vain.
y
"How provoked you, in your turn,
must have been at finding my surplice
instead of the fancy costume!" said Mr..
Byron TO his friend Willis, when they
again met.
81 was in a rage at first, I admit, "
answered Mr.. Howard. "But affairs
turned out not so bad, after all. I put
on the surpl1ce to see how it became
me, when one of the maids, catching a
glimpse of me through the window, set
up scream declaring that she had seen
a ghost. . This brought a lot of visitors
out of their rooms, among whom, to my
surprise, was Edith Fulton my Edith,
you know. We had quarreled and
parted, never to meet again; but the
ridiculous feature of this scene seemed
/ to break the ice between us, and-Well,
Bryon, I have blessed the memory of
your surplice ever since!"
"The contretemps of the satchels was
a lucky thing for both of u.s."
piper and Tipson and their bum
bugs foreverp exclaimed young How
ard.
Condition of the Navy.