, 1888-08-01

wen, IL was lue OrlSlnal OF tlAb Mega
tive that I've been raving over all day."
and, having announced this piece of
news with telling force, Cleo folds her
arms and looks across at Janet.
as that so? Well, well! After that
the Deluge! By the way, you were in
one at the time. I am amazed. 1t was
fate, my dear-it was written. Well,
amigo on-what did he do, and what
did you say" jamie questions in a most
tluttering state of interest.
.'Say2 If you'll believe me, l never
said anything. I Couldn't and l shall
be ashamed of myself forever and a day,
and you'll blushfor me, / know, when |
tell you that l actually stood there and
began to whimper. Yes, positively, l
did, and / couldn't help it, either. And
what did he do? Well, the first thing was
that he stepped a little nearer, and held
his nice big umbrella over me, then he
lifted his hat in the most graceful man
ner imaginable, and he said: My dear
young lady, i beg ten thousand pardons;
and am more than sorry to AVE been so
awkward as to cause this accident. What
was in the iask?' he asked, glancing down.
l told him, and then he fairly insisted
ON going and getting another n filed
lOl mt DuI o COuTbe i COulu IOI
permit that, SO when he saw how much
in earnest l was he did not urge me
further, but said: We'll, at least you'll
let me relieve you of some of your pack
ages, and allow me the pleasure of seeing
you safely home, or some one else may
go even further than / did and knock
all your packages u of your arms
''Well, he was so very polite and
charming about it all, and did look so
handsome and distinguished all the time,
and his beautiful eyes were SO eloquent
that naturally l gave my consent. And
now who do you suppose he is, after all?"
Cleo demands, pausing to take breath.
Here is his card" with a very elaborate
flourish: MIR. Julian Van Ness, at your
ladyship's service"
"Why, why, Cleo, you don't really
mean that he is the Julian Van Ness that
used to live at u%ncle's, and that we
romped and played together with" quite
breathless.
1.-The same, madam, " with overwhelm-
ing dignity.
"Why, Cleo" And after this ejacu-
lation the young lady seems to subside
into blank and profound amazement, and
Cleo, quite elated with the effect she has
PRODUCED, continues:
Eyes, it is the very same youth.
Didn't / keep telling you how familiar
his eyes seemed? Well, he still makes
uncle's house his home, and he has gone
into business for himself, and he has just
returned from Europe-been there six
months-and is immensely wealthy. How
he ever kept from laughing in my face
when l was 30 utterly crushed about that
wine, I'm SUI 1 can't think. That's
somebody at the door"
She flies to open it, and comes face to
face with a huge colored gentleman.
Eyes, l am Miss Cleo Heath, " she in
forms him; then he puts a great bunch
of freshly cut, dewy flowers in her hand,
sets a good sized demijohn inside ths
door, bows to the bewildered young
ladies and vanishes as mysteriously as he
came.
''well, did you everG" Janet cries, ex-
citedly.
'Wait until 1 read this note," Cleo
makes answer, land we will probably be
enlightened"
ITO Miss Cleo and her sister, with my
compliments, and a heartfelt wish that
both the flowers and the wine may cheer
your hearts and make you happy. Very
sincerely, you old friend,
JULIAN VAN NESS.
There nowl Was ever anything more
charmingly done2 Didn't I tell you he
was the incest man l ever met?' looking
with worshipful eyes at the flowers.
Two days later there comes another
exquisite bouquet and a note in which
tickets are inclosed for q lecture.
"What are the tickets for, Cleo"
''They are for a lecture that is to be
given this evening at Temple hall, and
he hopes to see US there. How is it with
you, Janie2 Do you think you are able
to walk SO far2''
''Far9 Why, it's only a very little dis
lance. l went much further han that
this morning. Come, let's get ready"
Twenty minutes later they find them
selves very nicely seated in a brilliantly
lighted hall. There is a splendid audi
ence, and when the grave, dignified lee
turer appears, he is greeted with a burst
Of applause. His subject is Spiritual
ism and Thought Reading"
A committee has been selected to see
that there is no black art practiced, and
to assist the lecturer. Cleo gives a little
start of surprise, and the pink in her
cheeks grows into a deeper, l~ovelier hue,
when he makes the discovery that Mr..
Julian Van Ness is on the stage. And
not only that, but the clever lecturer has
hidden him select some one whom he
knows in the audience, and fix his mind
upon him, and he (the thought reader)
will conduct the young man to that per-
son. Julian meekly obeys this master
mind.
He leads poor Julian a merry dance
for a time, but suddenly he starts off
with fell purpose in his eyes,, and in two
seconds the young man is standing be-
hind Cleo's chair and Cleo's face is like a
rose. There are u great many wise and
knowing smiles exchanged when it is
discovered where that very distinguished
looking gentleman's thoughts had wan
dered.
That distinguished looking gentleman
pays not the slightest heed, however.
In fact, he is happily unconscious that
there has been quite a connection caused
among his party when he is seen leaning
over a charming young lady's chair.
He bends down and greets them both,
and then tells them in a low tone of
voice that he had simply been obliged to
come there with some friends, but that
he would not be forced to leave with
them, SO, if agreeable to the sisters. he