Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-03-11

1 W
and catching the draft from her hand.
"I've made mistake! 'Taiut yours.
Gracious they may be after me with
the officers for this. How could be so
carelessp"
There was nothing to do now but let
out the whole secret, and explain the
mistake.
"And to think I've left that sour old
maid yonr pretty valentine and taken
her mGhey-after knocking her down
on the street, too. o dear! it's too fun
N.Y." and overwrought Jamie burst into
Il peal of laughter; then checked him
self to add soberly: ''But it may be
more fun than I'd like if she finds out
and sends the officers after me before l
can get backr
jamie swung so rapidly from laugh
| ter to dread that Celia was quite bewil-
dered, but when she did fully under
stand, her terror was greater than his.
"Oh, hurry, Jamie, hurry and take it
back to her!' she cried, almost push
ing him into the street. 'I'll keep your
supper warm, but do-do go at oncer'
and, grumbling at his own stupidity,
he obeyed.
Upon asking to see Miss Smith, few
minutes later, he was conducted to a
coy apartment back of the drawing
room he had seen, and before the serv-
ant could speak, after lifting the por-
there, had an instant's glimpse at that
lady, with tear-bedimmed eyes, sitting
before the tiled fireplace, the lost valen-
tine in her hand. She turned impa-
tiently. "Well, JohnP" and, Jamie
blunderingly explained matters, looked
from him to the valentine and back
again with puzzled and-could it be?
even disappointed look upon her face.
1t wasn't possible that she would
rather have that bit of perfumed, per-
! forated paper, with its lines about
''roses" and "posics' and cloves" and
"doves," than draft for 81, 800, but it
certainly looked so!
Her face did not however, regain its
sourest look as she asked: Aren't
you the boy who ran into me this morn
ing?'
"And now want to rob mer' she said,
scowling at him, bu, not so ferociously
that he failed to note a suspicious CLEAN
in her eyes. $50 your name is Smith"
she continued, not giving him time to
answer, land your sister has my in
! lIldAS. w nav 10 SlNCh anu
yours?"
Hers is Celia Herbert, ma am, and
mine is James Gay. l was named for
my faith"
WHAT She turned upon him so
suddenly that the boy retreated a step
in dismay. Celia Herbert, James
Gay-my name and his?" and dropping
into a chair she gazed at jamie with
eyes that seemed to burn in her pale
face, so piercing and bright they were.
She motioncd Jamie to a chair, and,
as the man stepped forward to place it,
turned upon him fiercely.
John. what are you waiting for?
CO." and John promptly disappeared.
Then followed rapid questions and
dazed answers, for how could this lady
know enough to ask:
Where is your father? Is he tall.
with brown eyes and mustachep Does
his hair curlP Has he tiny mole on
the left side of his nosep Are his eye
brows straight and heavyp Is his hand
large and strong-and does he" (here
her eyes seemed to look straight into
jamie souD, "does he wear a narrow,
chased ring on his left little fnger9"
"He-he did, ma'am, but
"But whatp"
"He is dead" Jamie's tone was
low and reverent, but the lady gasped
at his words.
"And your mother?" she whispered.
Eyes, ma am-she too. Celia and l
are all alone"
She rose and tremblingly took Ja-
mics hand in hers, while he was sur
prised to see how softened her face
seemed.
james, this is strange thing. My
name is Celia Herbert Smith and James
Gay Smith. your father, was my cousin,
the dearest one / had. We quarreled,
Just what became of him--and to find
his children thus! Yes. yesr' she
unused, gazing into his face with far
away eyes, lit is his very loook-so res
olute and proud-how plainly can see
it still! And he gave his little daugh-
ter niy name. James, suddenly rec
ollecting herself, where is your sisterp
How do you livep Who takes care of
youg"
81 take care of us, ma am, and we
live in two snug little rooms with the
Huffstodts. They're very nice folks
indeed, and he works in brewery and
she makes cakes for parties. We're
very comfortably fixed, ma am; and, if
you please, I'm afraid Celia will be
frightened If l stay so long. She'll
think I'm arrested, sure"
Miss G. II. Smith laughed, and the
strained, white look left her face.
II must get better acquainted with
my cousins and their friends" she
said, pleasantly. "and, to begin with,
want you and Celia to dine with me to-
night Will youp I'll send the car
riage for Celia. Don't refused" as ia
mie began to back toward the door,
looking ruefuuy down at his mud
stained garments.
John will fix all that" she said
carelessly, as she rang'the bell, which
the man answered with celebrity
which seemed to indicate that he had
not been far away. John, please
take my cousin, Master James Smith,
to the bathroom and make him pre-
sentable. He will dine with me to-
night.
Jamie followed him, in dream,
and was so washed and brushed and
whisked and perfumed that he scarcely
, knew himself when he once more de-
scended to the library. Twas not
long after this before Celia came, her
fair hair waving about her bright, sur
prised face, and her cheeks flushed
, with all these strange happenings.
Then followed more explanations.
amid which dinner was announced-a
! dinner which was like bit Of wonder
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