The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-01-16


prise" she thought. So, tiptoeing from
her room, she peeped into the library,
where her eyes fell upon masculine
back. Jennie is teaching him how to
dress. He looks ten years younger in
that bright, natty business suit" she
said to herself, with an approving nod.
Then she crept softly behind the object
of her contemplation and quickly press
ing her hands over his eyes, imprinted
two soft warm lips on the embrowned
cheek and cried: Tell who it is and
get another
There was struggle on the part OF
the blind-folded prisoner, but his cap
tor held on all the tighter, till, glanc-
ing up at mirror that reflected the
whole scene, she was Mortified to learn
that the man whom she had seized and
kissed was not her brother. With
little scream she removed her hands,
transferred them to her own rosy face
and stood transfxed. Mr.. George
Redmond looked round flushed and
astonished, to find himself confronted
by his late travelling companion.
ooh, what have done" cried the
girl from behind the screen OF her fin
gers.
mo great harm, I'm sure" answered
Mr.. Redmond with a distinct feeling
of citation at the thought of those
warm, red lips. "Of course you're
Miss Brown. Tn Mr.. Redmond. l
suppose you took me for your brother.
We expected you, but Celia was out
when came in, as | had not heard of
your arrival. Do take that easy chair.
Your brother will be in soon.
"Oh no, no, no;n 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 q moment before. "Ill
90 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 it"
Certainly, certainly, Miss Brown. /
didn't for an instant suspect you of any
thing so-Gattering, answered Red
mond, tailoring for the right word and
hitting upon the wrong one. 1t WAS
scarce out of his mouth when Miss
Brown had fled to her room.
Once there she looked into the glass
to sec how red her face was, reelected
with renewed bushes upon the awful
thing she 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 latch
key. She dismissed as preposterous
the momentary thought of u ledger,
and blushed at the recollection of Jen-
MES matchmaking propensity which
aroused the suspicion taat Mr.. Red
mond might be visitor craftily invit-
cd 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. 1t sounded
| like Mods. 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-brcd of Mr..
| Redmond TO conduct himself thus
within her hearing. Almost imme-
diatcly there were quick steps from
the library followed by a gentle tap at
her door, and she opened it, ready to
rush into her brothers arms. Mr..
Redmond, in the library, heard a fem
mime shrek, followed by an apologetic,
masculine beg pardon" and the in
truder upon Miss Browns privacy Pc
turned, wearing an expression of in
tense establishment.
Great Jupiter, Redmond, that ism t
my sister"
Nonsense, it 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?"
II think l know my sister when |
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.
It's most extraordinary" he pursued.
Here's Ncll's dispatch, saying that she'd
be here to-day, and now a young woman
turns up on time. takes possession OF
the house, blindfolds Redmond, kisses
him because she mistakes him for me,
and altogether conducts herself as il
she believed me to be her brother
when. on looking aD her, don't know
the girl from Adamn'
From 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, sir? the brazen-'