The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-06-21
':Quite natural mistake" he thought.

it after supper"
With another lingering glance at the
dainty things, SO suggestive of feminine
loneliness, he replaced the cover and
went down stairs to supper.
Ihree-quarters of an hour later he
rang the bell at 6 Ashland avenue, box
in hand, which he had taken the pre-
caution to do up in brown paper.
The door was opened !'y a rather
recent importation from the 'old coun-
try" with blooming cheeks and wide
awake Irish eyes.
"Docs Miss Marshall live here?" he
inquired.
"Shure, Miss Marshall lives here"
she repeated, with broad smile, as if
the gentleman were an old acquaint-
ance.
"Will you tell her that Mr.. Marshall
wishes to see her on business?"
"Shure, I'll tell her," with a broader
smile. Then, recalling her instructions
in etiquette, she showed him to cosy
little reception room at the other end
of the hall, then disappeared, and he
heard her heavy tread ascending the
carpeted stairs.
The room was unlighted save by the
hall gas. Eugene sat in a shadow. In
a few moments he heard the light rustic
of skirts on the stairway, and an airy,
graceful form darted through the door
way, and with an exclamation of delight
clasped both arms around his neck,
bestowed warm kiss upon his lips and
exclaimed:
ooh Fred Fred | am SO glad
you come !"
'I-I-that is, you have made mis-
take !" Eugene managed to blurt out,
though he hated to dissolve the illusion,
for it certainly was the most blissful
moment of his life. The one glimpse
he had of her in the bright hallway
showed him his sleeping divinity in the
dell.
The young lady started back with a
little shrek at the word.
ooh what have done Thought
it was brother Fred. l expected him
tonight, and he always comes in such
way. Why in the world did not Mag
gle light the gas in here?"
Talking in this confused way she
found match, and the gas fared out
upon an abashed face, GLOWING all over
with noble shame" like Tennyson' s
''Princess."
Eugene was the first to recover him
self.
Il came on little matter of bust
ness. This box" laying his hand upon
it, as it stood on end beside him, "came
to me by mistake | concluded by the
address that it is yours"
"And it was your box that was left
here?" she exclaimed, her eyes bright
ening. "The carrier exchanged them,
the addresses were so much alike"
81 opened it expecting to find my
white vest" he went on feeling very
much at ease with her, "and found in
stead some ladys array. Then l ex-
amined the address closely"
"And l." she said, laughing, wanted
my white wrapper to put on, and was
surprised to find gentleman's vest in
stead. Then | examined the address.
had thought the box seemed very
light before opened it."
81 think you will find it here all
right" he said, delivering the box into
her hands.
"rhanks. We will exchange. Mag
sle," she called to the girl, who at the
moment passed through the hall, twill
you carry this box to my room and
bring down the other with large black
letters on the Govern"
Maggie nodded, giving Eugene a
queer glance.
Take this paper off and wrap it
round the other one. You understand? ?"
'Shure do" and she went off cheer
fully.
eve have only had her week, "
Miss Marshall explained. "She came
up tonight to my room, breathless, tell
ing me my brother had come shure.
hope you will excuse my foolish blum
der" the crimson on her cheeks deep
ened at the recollection.
81 am very happy to excuse it." he
said, CALAMITY ; wondering at himself for
feeling SO much at ease with a stranger.
He did not understand that the disad-
vantage under which she had placed
herself made him so.
The bell rang. Miss Marshall, with
the words: "Please excuse me. | think
that is Fred now,'' flew to open it.
1t was Fred. She led him in and
commenced half laughing explanation
of the blunder, when he interrupted
her, and advanced to Eugene.
Il can't be mistaken. 1t is my cid
chum, Eugene Marshall" he said, hold
ing out his hand.
And Eugene, who had been puzzled
with some familiar likeness in Miss Mar
shall's face, recognized him at once and
grasped the hand warmly he had not
held since that bright commencement
day, ten years ago, when they had
parted in high hope to do brave battle
with the world.
a half hour was spent in hasty remi-
nisCenCes, The Marshalls had been
I;r;no in the city oho,+ , ,.a,r EroJ