The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-11-22
WAS IT A KISS In MISTAKE?


And splendid lights shall on our pathway fall
WAS IT A KISS In MISTAKE
1.-THE family of Mr.. BenjaminYB arby, 6
gentleman of very close habits, was alarm.
ed one bright, sunshiny morning by the
venerable old gentleman, whose voice was
heard in all parts of the house at the same
time. He had run from the garden crying
K1'Martin, Martin Where is that prec-
ious rascal, Martin
Martin was bustling active servant in
the family, remarkable for his polite and
agreeable manners, which quite atoned fol-
the ugliness occasioned by patch over one
of his eyes, and another across his nose.
The family of Mr.. Barby consisted of him.
self and ward, young lady of 10, to whom
he had been left guardian by an old friend
and school-fellow.
He did not like the idea of being set as a
Watchdog over the inclinations of young
lady, but respect for his friends memory
would not admit OF his refusing to take
upon himself the charge.
Seeing the host of suitors addressing
her, and being unable to separate the
wheat from the chaff, he resolved upon
discountenancing them all by expressing
his determination that Mile Winter
should not marry anyone.
She shall have no husband at all, F" he
cried. "Better be without husband,
Mile, than TO have a bad one J"
The wary old man accordingly chose for
Miles maid remarkably curious-looking,
hump backed old woman, thinking she
would be true to his interests.
But Mr.. Barby was mistaken, for Julia
was remarkably fond of money! 95 note
would throw her into state of delirium,
during which she would be entirely oblivi-
Gus of all that might be going on around
her.
Martin responded not to his masters
summons. But still the OLD gentleman
cried:
aThe precious william Oh, that my
family should be so insulted and disgraced.
I saw him press his lips to my wards
cheek. and the sound of the kiss still
lounds in my ear 7!
At this moment Martin appeared and
mildly asked:
'sDld you call sir ?"
Whereupon the enraged old gentleman
rushed upon him and cried:
'sZounds; you scoundrel, what do you
mean by kissing my ward
81, sir?" exclaimed Martin, with a sur
prised and innocent look.
civilian! Ny own eyes have not de-
ceived me. / saw you ten minutes ago
steal behind Miss Millie and-and-"
ssSir, sirr" exclaimed Martin, writhing
IN Barbys grasp. sit is impossible"
And thus saying, he struck his hand upon
his forehead. As sudden thought occur
red to him, he continued
'sSir, thought strikes me which may
Justify your suspicious. There is some
strange mystery in this"
Mystery !" quoth the old gentleman, in
all enraged voice. 81 think there is. =
81 confess, sill" said Martin, with tone
and look of shame, ''that did steal into
the garden just now and take chaste
salute but on my honor, sir, believed the
person to be Miss Winters maid, the
worthy Julia, to whom have the honor of
paying my addresses"
civilian !" repeated the old man, stamp
Ing his foot but Martin interrupted him.
ssYou know what bad sight have, sir,
he said. "One eye is entirely gone and the
other is very treacherous, as it is now
proven to be, seeing that / mistook the
mistress for the maid, and have thus
insulted lady and offended worthy gen.
tleman, whom my inclination and duty
have ever prompted me to regard with pro-
found respect and generation"
Mr. Barby was compelled to admit that,
owing to the defective sight of Martin, it
was possible for such mistake to have
occurred, and the precious villain" was
called careless fellow.
Wishing perfectly to retrieve his charac-
ter, he explained to his master that he and
Julia were to be married-that he had
obtained Miss Winters's consent, and that
he was thinking of asking Mr.. Barby that
very morning. The old gentleman ex-
pressed his surprise that spruce little
dandy like Martin should wish to unite
himself with the old humpbacked Julia
but Martin clasped his hands, and with
rapture declared her the woman of his
choice and paragon of womankind and
Mr.. Barby, not to wound the honest fell
lows feelings, contented himself with say
ing; - 49,. :. .,.o,,,,.;,,,, Co. ....., .
In the course of the day Mr.. Barby acct
dentally met Julia in the garden.
s'Well, Julia !" he exclaimed 81 wish you
Joy in the new situation you are going into"
Ella, sir" said Julia, ST amt going into
no new situation"
''Why, yes, you are you are going to be
married r
married, sir ?" echoed Julia, in astonish-
ment. 81 a-going to be married La, sir.
wish was
ssWhat's the use, old woman, of your
standing there counterfeiting such sur
prise? I know all about it"
Cali about it !" squealed Julia, unable to
comprehend her masters meaning. "All
about it, sir ?"
eyes, to be sure-about your billing and
cooling. Why, how you look He told me
so himself"
.sHew cried Julia, hanging down her
head, after affecting to blush.
'sWhat fool the old woman is !" said
Barby. eff you were young girl, there
might be some excuse for this shyness and
tomfoolery. There, get along with you,
and be good wife, and so saying, the old
gentleman went his way, chuckling to him
self at having discovered the little love
affair between Martin and Julia.
On the following morning Mr.. Barby
violently rang the bell in the breakfast
room.
The servant who attended the summons
he desired would inform Julia that he had
been waiting full half an hour for her mis-
tress. A quarter of an hour again elapsed,
and the old gentleman again rang.
ssSend Julia to me" I38I
Julia slowly appeared.
"Julia, where is your mistress ?"
ssMistress has gone out, sir"
"Gone out, sir !" echoed Barby. "Gone
out so early 2"
eyes, sir. they've been gone this hour
and more"
sThey Who's they 2"
mistress and Martini" answered Julia,
meekly.
ssMistress and Martin |" roared the old
man. ''Fires and furies What Your
intended husband?"
"My intended husband? La, sir, how
could you imagine anything SO absurdf"
stWhy did Won confess"