Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-09

ton would undertake to tell Daisy Of her mis-
take, 1t would relieve him Of a very distasteful
task.
yalse No. 10 arrived at last. and Capt. Carr
claimed his promised partner.
asked with smile.
Yes, Miss Douglass. I don't think shall
make any more mistakes Do you know You
are very like Mrs. Douglas once knew.
What is your fathers name? r
"Charles-and my eldest Srother is called
after him. Number two is Jack, after my
uncie,who is mothers only brother. But
though he Is always called Jack. and my brother
mad the same name given him. funnily enough,
beiieve my uncle's real name is Adolphus.
But that is TOO dreadful-how would you like
to have such namep" and Daisy looked up at
him snilingly.
Not pretty name, certainly" he answered;
and added: You have never seen your uncle
before, suppose?"
mo; only arrived from America yesterday.
and really I'm quite ashamed to tell You how
came and took Uncle Jack by storm. II was
rather awkward, you see, because he did not
know where to take me-" And then she pro-
ceeded to give him an account of her advcn-
lures from the beginning; adding: Il can't say
how KIND dear Mrs. Allarton is. She has made
me feel quite at home. and as if ! had known
her all my life. And Uncle Jack has been so
good and generous! He gave me this lovely
ian, my gloves, my bouquet and oh, such a
lovely neckletr'
Captain Carr smiled rather grimly He could
not but feel that these presents of Jacks would
by and by add terribly to poor Daisy's discom-
fcrt. From what she had told him he could not
retain the vestige of doubt that she was his
niece instead of Jacks. and the question arose
what was he to do with her ON the morrow
when all was disclosed
There's nothing for it but Aunt Adelaide"
he thousht-this venerable lady being the only
| available female relation to whom he could
take Daisy till her friends at Feltham were
ready to receive her. Il fear the poor little
girl won't have very merry time with her,
but 1t would be very embarrassing for her
here when she learns her mistake" he re-
fected.
Meanwhile Daisy, quite unconscious Of the
bombshell that was to explode upon her small
head on the morrow, danced gayly, thoroughly
enjoying what was really a very good ball.
Jacks niece" was very much admired, and
he felt more and more uncomfortable as several
of his brother officers Congratulated him on
his relationship to SO charming young lady.
At the beginning of the evening they had
danced together once or twice. but after his
talk with Capt. Carr, poor Jack had not VEN
tured near Daisy. Il suppose l must call her
Miss Douglas now" he thought. well, she's
dear little soul, and Carr is to be envied"
Each time Daisy passed him she had bright
little nod and word for Uncle Jack" till at
last poor Jack. feeling sadly, as if he were an
| imposter, could stand it no longer, but after a
few words to Mrs. Allarton, saying he would
like to see her alone in the morning, he slipped
away to his own rooms.
''Whst can Capt. Kerr have to say to me? I
hope he does not really want to take Daisy
off to Feitham," said Mrs. Allarton to her hus-
band.
Il don't suppose it's anything very dreadful -
he answered. what a pretty girl she is, and
dances like fairy
babe Goodnight" or rather .'Good-morn-
ing" to Mrs. Allarton. she added: Il never
never enjoyed myself SO much; but what be-
came of Uncle Jack? 1 could not find him lat
terly, and did not see him dancing. and
wanted so much to say goodnight, and to thank
him for such lovely day. And oh! he does
dance well. Iwould rather dance with him than
| with any one"
Next morning Mrs. Allarton was surprised to
see Jack and Capt. Carr appearing together
the more SO as the former had asked to see her
alone. and the latter she only knew slightly, as
he had been good deal away from his regi-
ment on staff employment. But she liked
what she did know of him. and greeted them
both kindly, waiting to hear what they had to
say.
Mrs. Allarton," began Jack, II asked to see
You this morning, as something rather awkward
has TRANSFERRED. / had better tell you the story
from the beginning. You know / have one
sister Mary
Jack colored and continued: my sister is
much older than / am, and married, when
was quite a boy, Archie Gaskell. They went to
Australia, and for some time heard occasion
ally from Mary, but gradually our correspon-
dence ceased, and, having no other near rela-
tions, I have quite lost sight Of her for years.
I knew Mary had children, but was immensely
surprised, as you know, when my-Daisy-
| appeared the other night, and told me
she was my niece. the daughter of my sister
Mary. 1t never occurred to me that it could be
q mistake"
"Now it is my turn to speak," said Capt.
Carr. 81, too, have a sister Mary, and she
married a mining engineer, Charles Douglas.
| and went first to Australia, then to America.
hear from her now and then, and, in one Of
her last letters, she said something about the
possibility Of her little girl coming to England
to visit friends. When saw your young guest
at the ball last Light her likeness to some one
knew struck me at once. l asked Kerr who
she was, and he told me his niece, Miss Gaskell.
Afterward. when introduced to her, l addressed
her by that name. She looked surprised, said
there was some mistake. for her name was
Douglas And the long and short of it is we
find she is my niece, not Jacks, and the simil-
arity of names has led to the mistake"
swell, this is too amusing !" exclaimed Mrs
Allarton, when she had heard all they both had
to say. "But, after all, there is nothing very
terrible in the mistake, only I fear it'may make
Daisy feel rather awkward at first. You had
both better stay away till tell her about it.
lour niece ls quite Sa1e Win me, capt. Carr
and like her SO much for her own sake that
this makes no difference about her visit here
1 shall be glad to have her as long as she can
stay"
Some time later, Daisy having breakfasted
and talked the ball over well with her hostess,
the latter said:
''Now. my dear, prepare for a great sur
prise;' and then proceeded to inform her of
the mistake she had made.
Poor Daisy! As the truth dawned upon her,
the color first rushed in perfect flood to her
cheeks, and then faded away as suddenly, and
she exclaimed in voice of misery:
ooh, dear, Mrs. Allarton, what haze done?
How could make such dreadful mistake?
Not my Uncle Observation-Disclosures
him-oh,-and taken his presents-and-O,
dear! shall die of shame What must he
think of me?" And, bursting into food of
tears. she buried her burning cheeks in the
sofa cushions, while a perfect storm of sobs
shook her slight frame.
Mrs. Allarton tried in vain to soothe the poor
girl.
II can never, never see him again." she
sobbed. ''oh! let me go away at once, please,
dear Mrs. Allarton. I don't want to see
either of them again. Oh! what would mamma
| say?"
Finally, Mrs. Allarton sent note to Capt
Carr, asking him to call. When he came, she
told him how terribly upset Daisy was.
Il have written to my aunt, Mrs. Barton"
he said, "asking her to receive Daisy, her
greeat-niece. for q few days, and begged her
to telegraph reply. As soon as hear from
hor, if her answer Is in the affirmative, which
Thave no doubt it will be, will take Daisy to