Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-17

L ~ we IL eau u CAP and SEM ner.
\ go where?" asked Mr.. Benton.
| "Yes; send her whither?' echoed Mr.. Red.
mond. in more elegant English and with deeper
tragedy in his voice.
| MIR. Brown who was five years older than his
companions and had domestic mans scandal
lied feeling at the idea of harboring strange
woman, however young and charming, only
frowned in answer and watched the departing
Celia.
The notified maid knocked gently at the
door of the guest, and having said. Its me,
Miss" was admitted. The parley among the
men had occupied only few minutes, but this
was long enough for Miss Brown to resume her
hat and jacket preparatory to departure.
Laws. Miss. you can't go out in this storm;
it's fairly raining cats and dogs" said the now
II cannot stay here" said Miss Brown
bravely, but with culver of the lips that be-
tokened not very remote Mysteries.
But do sit down here, Miss, while the gen.
tlemen looks for your friends. I'll stay with
you, and no harm sha mt come to you. They're
all very respectable gents, Miss. Mr.. Brown,
him that amt your brother, is lawyer; and
Mr.. Redmond, the tall one with the brown
mustache and blue eyes, he's something in a
steamship Office down town, and Mr.. Ben
tons ~
''Oh, are there three of them?" moaned Miss
Brown. what shall dor
Yes. Miss, there's three" said Celia with
| conscientious though pitiless accuracy resum-
| ing her interrupted narrative. "And Mr. Ben
| tons officer over at the navy-yard They're
very respectable gents, as l said, and they
| don't never carry on"
] After Celia had travelled back and forth sew
eral times between Miss Brown and the library.
the three men were permitted to see the false
memorandum to which they were indebted for
the young woman's company, and their guest
received an invitation to dinner. She was told
that the meal would be served to her alone in
the spare room if she so preferred. but after a
| struggle between embarrassment at meeting
the three strangers face to face and an hysteri-
| cal horror of giving them more trouble than
was actually necessary. she decided to dine at
the table with her hosts. The young men de-
bated whether Redmond, as a special cause
of embarrassment should be banished during
the meal, but his eloquent and plausible plea
that his absence would only accentuate Miss
Browns blunder with regard to herself and
impress her with the sense of having unneces-
sarily Inconvenience one of the party, de-
cided the question in his favor. By the time
negotiations were ended the dinner hour had
arrived. Mr.. Brown thereupon escorted the
trembling girl to the dining room where Mr.
Redmond and Mr.. Benton stood behind their
chairs in ceremonious expectation. Miss
Brown" said the escort gravely. permit me
to present my friends Mr.. Redmond and Mr..
Benton"
Miss Brown received the formal bows and
murmured salutation with what she intended
should be O lf-possessed smile. but what was
really half-hysterical, vain attempt Once
seated and fortified with a cup of tea she was
more at ease, and the dimples that had SO
New Haven showed disposition to recover
from their fright and take their accustomed
places in cheek and chin. Of course the mis-
take was discussed
You would probably have suspected some
thing wrong" said Mr. Brown, but for the
fact that my friends, who have just joined me
here, have neglected to place their names on
the card in the vestibule."
Miss Brown devoutly wished that they had
not been negligent. but she realized the
awkwardness of expressing the wish that she
might have been spared the hospitality which
she was at that moment accepting if not enjoy
ing. so she answered with a nOn-committal
smile. Then followed the explanation from
the guest that her brother and his wife had
just removed to new quarters that week. Her
had been sent to her brothers place of bust
ness, but a dispatch notifying him that she
would arrive one day earlier than she had at
first intended had been sent the night before
to his house, as she supposed.
''Oh, then this is your dispatch" said Mr.
Brown, producing one received the day before
Il wondered what my sister was doing at New
Haven. 1t is signed E. Brown. Ny sisters
Christian name is Ellen"
And mine is Esther" said Miss Brown. Il
signed the dispatch thus, in hopes that the
people at the telegraph Office would not know
that the message came from q woman. Think
people are apt to neglect women's business"
she added.
suspicion OF any such ungallant conduct on the
part Of their sex, and Mr.. Redmond showed
disposition to ascribe to all men q chivalrous
regard for punctuality in all things involving
the interests OF women.
Celia remained in the room throughout the
dinner. save when she went to answer the hall
door bell. The first ring was that of a messen-
ger boy, who reported that there was no Thomas
Brown at the corresponding number in East
Eighty-seventh street. This was not commu-
nicated to Miss Brown. Celia's second exit was
followed by noises that Enthusiastically pro-
claimed the arrival of trunk Miss Brown
looked distressed at the sound. but Redmond
coughed, while Brown and Benton talked to
their guest with unwonted animation This
diversion gave Celia, with whom Miss Brown
had left her check, time to quiet the porter
sign his book and hustle him out Of the house
Immediately after dinner the gentlemen ex-
cused themselves and started out to prosecute
the search for the missing brother.
Il haven't any heart in this pursuit." said
Redmond. I'D much rather she shouldn't nd
her friends for week"
You'll know her a good many weeks before
she gives you another such kiss as surprised
you this afternoon" said Benton.
viii You fellows forget the romance of the
situation for moment?' said the practical
Brown, land give counsel as to how we're to
ind my confounded namesake. There's a whole
nation of Browns in the directory SO that's a
vain thought. really think we II have to put
personal in a morning paper for the fellows
not expecting his sister tonight, and of course
hes not looking for what he doesn't know he
has lost"
Il have it" cried Benton. excitedly. "Didn't
she say the letter giving the address was from
her sster-in-law?'
Yes" in chorus
"And she copied the address directly from
the letter."
yes" said Brown, "that's why she was so
dead sure of it."
Haven't you noticed" continued Benton,
that all women write their ones and .sevens
alike?'
Il believe they do, :" said Brown, land think
see your drift; you suspect my doubles adj
dress to be No. - west Slst street?'
Exactly"
I'm afraid you're right said Redmond, $50
let's go down there and test the theory"
While this colloquy went on in the lower ves-
ubule Miss Brown sat miserable above stairs
Celia had assured her that the gentlemen would
not return that night unless they found her
brother. There's nobody here but me and
the cook. Miss" she continued, by way of fur
Their comfort, and III sleep right next you"
And I've driven those poor men from their
honest"
''Oh, Miss; never mind that MANY q time
they stays out half the night ANYHOW, particu-
Larry Mr.. Redmond. whose Just a little CAV"
Il can't believe any harm of gentlemen who
are so kind and thoughtful, Celia" said Miss
Brown, with new pang at the trouble her
blunder was costing these strangers.
on no Miss; no more would l. but gents