The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-02-20
to look little pale-and went trrrrr.ve.

ately to the parlor.
The light was rather dim, and
walked the length of the room before
discovering my guest. He was looking
from the window and evidently did moi
hear my steps, but turned suddenly.
Honestly, l will be ashamed as long
as I live of what l almost did. 1t re.
minds me of the little boy who said,
'Pints have saved lots of lives by not
being swallowed think kiss saved
mine that time by not being given. ]
was so astonished and to tell the truth
SO glad that very nearly returned his
first enthusiastic salutation; and if !
had-well, there is no telling what !
would have done; jumped into the river,
| suppose; | always was thoughtless,
impulsive creature.
We shook hands, though, and then
laughed, both of us, before he asked
pardon for calling, saying he had pur-
posed doing so each day since our first
mpHssting bgt feared ~. would consider it
that he must offer an apology and ex-
planation for conduct which doubtless
appeared scarcely that of a sane man.
Il was expecting my sister, he said !;
my sister whom have not seen for ten
years.
Would you believe it promised to
tell you all the truth, or you should not
hear this-my heart almost flew out from
my lips when he said that? So Chris
tine was his sister, only his sister. l
had not told myself before what manner
of bird, beast, or fowl she was; now l
felt an unacknowledged satisfaction in
discovering.
The mistake was due entirely to the
duster,' he continued; She distinctly
wrote that her costume would consist
of gray duster and blue veil, but since
I have thought of it, it seems to me all
the ladies wore busters. What masking
stuff is here I will tell her to be more
explicit next time; might make an
other blunder and it might be worse
one.
scarcely knew what this meant, but
it sounded pleasantly in my ears any
way.
He left after awhile, asking to be al
lowed to call now and then,' and l flew
back upstairs, and went to the looking
glass, thinking, Il wish 1 had worn my
blue cashmere today, instead of this
sombre brown What giddy creatures
girls are, to be sure
Well, he did call now and then, and
1 must admit he was always welcome.
One day, just about the beginning of
the Christmas holidays, we had an en-
gagement for walk, and after return
ing (the evening was dark and cooD he
came in, only for moment, he said.
The room was warm, with a red fire
slumbering under a great bank of black
coal. l opened it little and leaned
forward, holding my fingers to the blaze.
Directly something influenced me to
look up. He had remained standing,
and was very near me gazing down up
on my face with such an intense, search
ing look, that involuntarily I clasped
my hands before my face. T cannot say
why, exactly. l fear it was to conceal
what he might see there, but 1 shrank
from his glance intuitively.
DON'T he said, very gently, and
STOPPING over me he drew my hands
and held them in his own.
l have always contended there was
an unfair advantage, for I never could
conceal my feelings. He held my hands
in tight clasp, and turned away, but
directly he drew me nearer and lifted
up my face until he could look straight
down into my eyes.
Then quick indignation, a sudden
anger took possession of me, and ]
wrenched myself away, and asked proud
ly, 'How dare you! by what right!'
Because l dare to love you!' he in
terrupted; dare to love you with all
the intensity of my whole being!'
Then those foolish tears of mine
came again, and he threw his arms
about me, and gazed down into my eyes,
exclaiming: 'Now you look as in the
first moment I loved your
Then he kissed my lips for the second
time, and we were hetrothed.
1t was queer courtship altogether
one in which the climax, the acme, was
reached in the very first moment, for
believe I loved him then as truly as
have ever loved him since. I'm the dark
hour fortunes meet us; that home-leav.
ing would have been quite different if
had guessed toward what I was journey
ing.
And you see, the duster was really re
sponsible for the whole thing. Upon
what threads our destinies do hang!
So it will make no difference how en-
tirely busters may be tabooed by aristo'
Gratis, will be a democrat to the ex
tent of feeling a great weakness fol
mine, at least. I almost feel like wear
ing it to the altar next week, instead O.
the regulation white satin and lace. Ar
odd-looking bride l would make, to be
sure; but Pm happy-oh, SO happy
He's just the dearest fellow in the world
Now, I've kept my promise and tolo
you the whole story.
Don't UndervaIue the Boy.