The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-02-20

gentleman who had given me such
an affectionate welcome only mum
bled something to Mr.. Raynor, and
followed him quickly to the omni-
bus.
That night, after shutting and
boiling the door of my room, look
ing around upon its bare and cheer
less walls and trying to think the
place homelike and pleasant, 1
threw myself, in a fit of historical
so5bing, upon the narrow bed, and
between smiling and weeping, man
aged to spend an hour. What fool
ish creatures girls are
"Why did 1 cry?" Because, to be
sure, 1 was homesick, and-and-
because strange man had kissed
me, and-and-perhaps a few tears
were shed because he were a strang-
er. wished in my heart of hearts
that he had not been that he was
some dear brother, cousin or friend,
who had come to greet me SO warm
ly.
What was his name2 Who was
the "little Christine?" And would
1 ever meet him again ?"
These were the thoughts that oc-
cupied the hour, but at last l fell
asleep. "My eyes always did make
pictures when they were shut !"
great pity I never could put them
on canvas. My dreams that night
would have been fortune either
painted or written. Oh, such glor-
ious sights and scenes-and always
that stranger somewhere near.
Well a week passed and l am
ashamed to say how frequently
thought of him of course, as told
myself then, it was due to the loneli-
ness, to my entire isolation, and to
the fact that it was my first prolong-
ed absence from home.
One afternoon, a chilly, drizzling
autumn day, a servant came to my
room with a card. ga gentleman
to see you, Miss Stretton."
l took the card wonderingly,
thinking, "Perhaps it is the minis
ter" Then 1 gave hasty look in
to the mirror, smoothed back Tho
curling bangs, gave touch of pow
der to my forehead and pinch tC
my cheeks-I was beginning tC
look a little pale-and went imme
diately to the parlor.
The light was rather dim, and
walked the length of the room be
fore discovering my guest. He wa
looking from the window, and evi
IDENTIFY did not hear my steps, bu
turned suddenly.
Honestly, 1 will be ashamed a
long as I live of what 1 almost did
1t reminds me Of the little boy VIII
said, "Pins have saved lots of live
by not being swallowed" l think
kiss saved mine by not being given
1 was SO astonished, and, to tell tn
truth, so glad, that very nearly re
turned his first enthusiastic saluta
ton and if 1 had-well, there i
no telling what would have done
jumped into the river, 1 suppose
always was thoughtless, impulsiv
creature.
We shook hands, though, an
then laughed, both of us, before h
asked pardon for calling, saying b
had purposed doing so each da
since our first meeting, but feared
would consider it presumptuou
At last he had decided that he mul
offer an apology and explanatio
for conduct which doubtless appea
ed scarcely that of a sane man.
II was expecting my sister," /
said; my sister whom l have nj
seen for ten years."
Would you believe it, promi
ed to tell you all the truth, or yo
should not hear this-my heart a
most flew out from my lips when l
said that ? So "Christine" was h
sister, only his sister. had n,
told myself before what manner
bird, beast, or fowl she was now
felt an unacknowledged satisfactic
| in discovering.
= "The mistake was due entirely
the duster," he continued; "she di
tinctly wrote that her costun
: would consist of a gray duster ar
blue veil, but since 1 have thougl
of it, it seems to me all the ladit
wore busters. What masking stu
t is here 1 will tell her to be mo
explicit next time might NAL
: another blunder, and it might be
worse one"
scarcely knew what this NEAR
= but it sounded pleasantly in N
g ears anyway"
He left, after awhile, asking to
: allowed to call "now and then," al
= 1 flew back upstairs, and went up