River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-01-17

Z
warm. red lips. ''Of course you're
Miss Brown I'm Mr. Redmond.
suppose you took me for your brother.
We expected you, but Celia was out
when l came in, as I had not heard of
your arrival. DO take that easy chair.
Your brother viii be in soon.
oh no, no, no." she answered, still
unable to look him in the face, and
aghast at the idea Of tete-a-tete with
a total stranger whom she had kissed
by stealth only moment before. ''I'll
go back to my room and wait for Ned.
You'll tell him I'm here. please. And
-and-of course you know didn't
mean tO-tO-dO il. "
Certainly. certainly, Miss Brown.
didn't for an instant suspect you of any
thing So fattering." answered Red
mOnd. faltering for the right word and
hitting upon the wrong one. II was
scarce out of his mouth when Miss
Brown had fed 10 her room.
Once there she looked into the glass
10 see how red her face was. reflected
thing sIIe had done, and at last fell to
wondering who Mr.. Redmond could be.
She had never heard Of him, yet he
| seemed perfectly at home in her broth
er's house, and apparently held a latch
| key. She dismissed as prepOsterOus
the mOmentary thought Of a ledger.
and blushed at the recollection of Jen-
MES matchmaking propensity which
aroused the suspicion that Mr.. Red
mOnd might be a visitor craftily invit-
ed at this particular time for reasons
best known to her sister-in-law. She
waited impatiently until there was an-
other step on the stairs II sounded
like Ned's. Then she heard the stran-
ger in the library say something to the
newcomer, and blushed again to think
what the communication might be.
She was sure they were laughing and
she felt that it was ill-bred of Mr.
Redmond 10 conduct himself thus
within her hearing. Almost imme-
diately there were quick steps from
the library followed by gentle tap at
her door, and she opened il, ready to
rush into her brothers arms Mr.
Redmond. in the library. heard fem
mime shrek, followed by an apologetic,
masculine beg pardon" and the in
truder upon Miss Browns privacy re-
turned, wearing an expression of in
tense astOnishmenk
Great Jupiter, Redmond, that isn't
my sister.
Nonsense, il must be-" said Red
mOnd, with unmistakable disappOint-
ment.
Not your sister," echoed a third
man who had just come in, "then, in
Heavens name. whose sister is it?'
Il think l know my sister when l
see her" answered Mr. Brown.
Perhaps not; Redmond has just had
most delightful proof that this young
woman isn't certain of her brother
when she sees him"
Don't talk nonsense, Benton" an
swered Mr.. Brown, who had not fully
caught the comedy of the situation
This poor girl has made most en-
barrassing blunder, and we must
treat her with the greatest delicacy.
Its most extraordinary" he pursued.
Here's Nell's dispatch, saying that she'd
be here to-day, and now young woman
turAs up on time, takes possession of
the house, blindfOlds Redmond, kisses
him because she mistakes him for me,
and altogether conducts herself as if
she believed me to be her brother.
when, on looking at her. don't know
the girl from Adam
Prom Eve" suggested Redmond.
.'Oh. Mr.. Brown" said Celia, who
entered at this moment. ''if you please,
sir, your sister came this afternoon.
mo. she didn't, Celia" said Mr..
Brown. sternly.
BEG pardon, sir. but she's in the
spare room.
Celia. the young lady in the spare
room is not my sister"
Not your sister. sir9 the brazen-"
"Shh--" chorused all three men.
"But she came in as bold as posi-
BILE, sir. and said she was Miss Brown"
persisted the unappeased Celia.
Yes. yes, Celia" said M. Brown,
sadly, ..but there's some mistake, and
the poor young lady's scared out OF
her wits. You'll have 10 go in and
ten her very gently that If she wishes
TO go we'll call cab and send her"
$50 where?" asked Mr.. Benton.
Yes; send her whither?" echoed
Mr.. Redmond, in more elegant English
and with deeper tragedy in his voice.
Mr.. Brown, who was five years older
than his companions. and had do
nestle mans scandalized feeling at
the idea OF harboring a strange
woman. however young and charming,
only frowned in answer and watched
the departing Celia
The Modified maid knocked gently
at the door of the guest. and having
said, Its me, Miss" was admitted.
The parley among the men had occu-
pied only a few minutes, but this was
long enough tor Miss Brown to resume
her hat and jacket preparatory to de-
parture.
Laws. Miss. you can't go out in
this storm; it's fairly raining eats and
dogs" said the now sympathetic
Celia.
Il can not stay here" said Miss
Brown. bravely. but with culver of
the lips that betokened not not very
remote Mysteries.
but do sit down here. Miss, while
the gentlemen look for your friends.
I'll stay with you. and no harm shan't
come to you. They're all very re-
spectacle gents, miss. Mr.. Brown,
him that amt your brother. is a law
yer; and Mr.. Redmond. the tall one
with the brown mustache and blue
eyes. hes something in a steamship
Office down town, and Mr.. Benton's-"
oh. are there three of them?'
moaned Miss Brown. What shall l
do
Yes. miss. there's three" said
Celia. with conscientious. though pitt
less accuracy. resuming her interrupt
ed narrative. And Mr.. Benton's an
officer at League Island. They'r very
respectable gents, as said, and they
don't never carry on
After Celia had Travelled back and
forth several times batwaau Mi RroUn