The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-03-19

| WAS utterly QumDlOunQeu, Du
before l could stammer out any at
tempt at an explanation she added
"You dear, stupid, overgrowr
boy, why did you not come direct
to the hotel and take US out tt
battle? Here are my friends, Ma
bel and Annie Gray. We would
have gone with you?'-and adding
in whisper, II want you to admire
Mabel; isn't she loveiy?" And
then followed an introduction, while
still l stood feeling utterly Devil
dered.
What could l do? I felt myself
the creature of dream from which
it would be a cruelty to myself TO
wake, besides it would be useless
then to try to say a word, for, es il
che were carrying out an already
studied plan that I, her supposed
brother, should fall in love with
Mabel, she whom L must call the
blonde had moved on with the
younger sister Annie.
For few seconds 1 walked along
by the side of my companion, ut
terry perplexed as to what l should
say or do. 1t was evident that /
had been mistaken for some one
else, the brother Of the one who had
so singularly saluted me, and in all
probability the clothes that l was
wearing had been the cause Of the
mistake.
But what could 1 do? 1t seemed
to me to be absurd to say to Mabel,
who appeared 80 be unconscious of
my embarrassment, or if she were
conscious attributed my silence to
the inexperience of youth, "lady, l
am not he who you think l am
the brother Of the most beautiful
being who has such lovely embrace.
1t is true l wear his clothes, orna-
mented with fancy buttons, and a
scarf whose pin of hearts transixed
witk arrows has led to this mistake.
But it was by an error of him to
whom they belong that 1 am wear
ing them 1t would have been
awkward, TO say the least, to have
this explanation in a
crowded, fashionable thoroughfare
to one TO whom 1 ought TO have
been an utter stranger, and further,
L could not tell how she might act;
it might occasion a scene of which
l had the fear arising from inexpe-
rience.
l therefore determined to main
tain a prudent silence and wait de
The sister was already
out of sight, probably in further
ance of the desire so hurriedly ex-
pressed that the brother might
have the opportunity to win the
love of her fayorite school friend,
Mabel.
But was I SO disposed, had 1
been the brother that l was suppos-
cd to be?
Such might have been the ease,
for Mabel was beautiful beyond a
doubt, with eyes that seemed to
command rather than WOO ones adj
miration and with figure perfect in
as in grace and form.
But l had seen the sister of the
unknown whose clothes | wore. I
had felt her arm about my neck, I
had seen her eyes look into mine,
and had felt the pressure of her
lips, and 1 was conquered. felt
a new life born within me, new
hopes, new aspirations and a quick
ened impulse rising into love that
made me blind to Mabers beauty
had she been a thousand times
lovelier than she was.
The silence, however, was at last
broken by my companion, who
said, Your sister has been uneasy
about you; she was afraid that you
would not be here in time for the
hop this evening"
Indeed" I said, scarcely ven
turing TO add more.
Yes" said my fair companion;
"she told me that you had over
worked yourself, and seemed afraid
that your health was yielding to the
strain, but I think her fears were
10 this L scarcely Ventured any
reply for fear of bungling. 1 had
my clew was this: Thsre was go
ing to be chop" at the -- no.
tel that evening, and my fair friond
evidently intended to attend in
company with the unknown"
Fortunately 1 had brought with me
an evening suit for change; deter
mined therefore to be there, and
hoped after an explanation with the
unknown, who, l had no doubt,
would be there, to obtain a proper
introduction to the sister, for whom
l had obtained a most ardent feel
ing.
As soon, therefore, as I could do
so with discretion, and cautiously
weighing every word 1 should say
for fear of precipiLating a prema-
ture disclosure, l escorted my com
panien to her hotel, and pleading
an earlier engagement left her,
no doubt wondering at my reserve,
which, however, she may have at
tributed to my excess of applics-
ton to my atudies.
In the evening after a careful
toilet, and with feverish and impa-
tient pulse, 1 made my appearance
at the chop" and looked anxiously
around the room to see if they were
there. l soon saw them and could
perceive thst they had recognized
me even in my change of clothes,
for, with cheeks of richest crimson,
the sister of the unknown was
speaking to a gentleman whose
snow of beard and venerable appear
ance suggested the relationship of
father, and evidently l was the sub
ject of their conversation, for soon,
with q somewhat hesitating step,
but calm demeanor, he came to-
wards me and said, rendering me
his card:
"Sir, have not the pleasure of
knowing you, but 1 have treason to
believe that my son, who l am sorry
to say is slightly indisposed, the re
suit of excessive study, mistook