The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-11-08

comel--if he hadn't comet"
The head of the family looked puzzled;
then his expression changed to indignation az
he asked:
HAS any one dared to come to my house
after drinkingr'
Worse than that!" walled Lucia, shudder-
ing, and covering her eyes with her pretty
hands. Her father at once strobe to the
hallway, looking like an avenging angel, but
when he reached the door and took In at a
glance the entire cause of his daughters an
noyancs no quickly put on smile and ex-
claimed:
"Why, my dear fellow, how lucky that you
happened in town on our reception EVENING"
Come with me; Mrs. Tramlay will be delight
ed to see you again."
Phil resisted the hand laid upon his arm
and replied:
"I'll call again--some other time I didn't
know you had company this evening""
"All the better" said the host, heading Phil
along; "'twill give you chance TO meet
some of our friends. We've met many Of
yours, you know"
just then the couple stopped in front of q
sofa on which Phil, whose eyes were still cast
down, saw the skirts of two or three dresses
Then he heard his escort say:
my dear, you remember our old friend
Phil Hayn, I'm sure"
Phil looked up just in time to see Mrs
Tramlay's feeble, nervous face twitch into
surprise and something like horror. Mr.
Tramlay extended his hand, as a hint that
his wife should arise-a hint which could not
he ignored after his hand had closed upon
hers. Even when upon her feet, however,
the lady of the house seemed unable to frame
I'll III III. -
ance, no matter how uninteresting, she would
have smiled evasively and told him she was
delighted that he had been able to come, but
what could lady, ut her own reception, say
TO a man in a sack coat and a hard rubber
watch guardi
Mrs. Tramlay looked at her husband in
weak protest; her husband frowned little
and nodded his head impatiently; this panto-
mime finally stimulated Mrs. Trsmlay to
such degree that she was able to ejaculate
What a delightful surprise"
Let me make you acquainted with some
OF the company" said the host, drawing Phil
away. Don't feel uncomfortable; III ex-
plain that you just dropped in from out Of
town, so you couldn't be expected to be in
evening dress"
Phil began to recover from his embarrass-
ment, thanks to his hosts heartiness, but also
to tho fact that the strain had been too severe
to last long He slowly raised his eyes and
looked about him, assisted somewhat by curl
osity as to what "evening dress" meant He
soon saw that all the gentlemen wore black
clothes and white ties, and that the skirts of
the coats retired rapidly. He had seen such
a coat before--scon it often at Haynton, on
ex-Judge Dickman, who had served two
terms in the legislature and barely escaped
going to congress. The only difference be-
tween them was that the judges swallow
tail coat was blue and had brass buttons
not great difference, IL one considered the
distance of New York and Haynton.
Upon my word, exclaimed Tramlay, sud-
denly, IL don't believe you've met Lucia yet.
Here she is-daughter
Lucia was floating by-a vision Of tule,
ivory, peachblow and amber; she leaned OH
the arm Of young man, into whose face she
was looking intently, probably as an excuse
for not looking at the unwelcome visitor
Her fathers voice, however, she had always
instinctively obeyed; so she stopped, pouted,
and looked dcfiantly at Phil, who again
dropped his eyes, q low bow giving him pre-
text.
Daughter" said Tramlay, there's our old
friend Phil, from Haynton. Now, don't spend
the whole evening talking over old times with
him, but introduce him to a lot Of pretty girls;
you know them better than l. Phil, you can
explain to them how you struck a full dress
reception just after landing from cruise;
twill amuse them more, I'll warrant, than
any story any snowy young fellow can tell
them this evening. It isn't every young man
who can have good thing to tell against
himself tho first time he meets new SET"
During the delivery Of this long speech
Lucia eyed Phil with boldness and disfavor,
but In obedience to her father she took PILLS
arm--an act that so quickly improved the
young mans opinion Of himself that he in
stantly felt ut ease and got command of such
natural graces as he possessed; he was even
enabled to look down at the golden head by
his shoulder and make some speeches bright
enough to cheer Lucia's face.
1T mayn't be 80 entirely dreadful, after
ALL" thought the Girl; ~ can introduce him