The Opelousas courier., 1889-06-22
THE JUDGES DOUBLE.
It Causes Lots of Trouble as Well
as Amusement,

s.Dear papa" said Judge Laurance's
pretty daughter, dropping a letter up
on the breakfast-table, ''good news!
Cousin Nelly is coming from New York
to spend the winter with us."d
''Glad to hear it, my dear" the judge
answered, as he broke his egg into a
tumbler. "We must do what we can
to make her visit a pleasant one.".
.'That settles it. We must go to the
carnival" said Lefty, promptly. e
Her father burst out laughing. E or
since the papers had announced The
great event Lefty had given him no
peace. go to the Montreal carnival
we must and SHALL" she had asserted
at least a hundred times, for her
powers of persistence were strong, and
her father was very indulgent; and,
though he demurred at present, she
felt confident of victory. But this sud-
den visit of Cousin Nelly, his favorite
brothers. child, was a trump card in
her hand. Lefty played it and o
s.Now, dear Aunt Bonar," cried the
two Misses Laurance together, ''do tell
us how Charlie is going to dress at the
: rink. We're just dying to know, be-
cause every body says it's a dead
secret"
Zone at d time, please, girls" en-
treated their aunt, evasively. "Nelly,
you're looking splendid. l haven't
seen you since you were ten years old"
when every body said I was the
ugly ~duckling," retorted that young
lady.
But all's well that ends well,'"
said Mrs. Bonar, with an approving
glance at the pretty speaker. NOW,
girls, you must stay to tea. Run up
stairs and take your things Off"
'.How can we, Aunt Bonar, when we
are going to the ball at the Windsor
to-nightPn
81 sha'n't Jet you off on that plea.
Why, / haven't seen Nelly For ten
years. You can leave here early, in
time to dress, and Charlie shall take
you home.m
So it was settled@ The two girls
tripped upstairs. Lefty, used to the
home, led the way. 1t was getting
dark, and inside their aunt's chamber
both sat down on a lounge, and as is
the way with girls ON the eve of a ball,
gossiped for fully half a.! hour.
"How dreadfully dargA it isl" cried
Lefty, at last. Light Che gas, NellyP"
A bright glare illumined every Or
ner as Nelly complied. She had her
back to her cousin, and was standing
before a tall pier-glass, when she sud-
denly saw Letty's face in the mirror.
The terror in 1t Mortified Nelly. She
turned quickly round. Lefty uttered
piercing shrek; then Nelly, looking
past her, saw the reason.
A man was standing by the ward
robe, tall and perfectly ~motionless; his
hat came down almost to his neck; his
face she could not see. He must have
been in the room all the time-indeed,
even before they entered it. Of course
he was a burglar! Lefty still screamed
and fed wildly; but Nelly bravely
stood her ground. The absolute still
ness of the fellow filed her with a
Of dread. Obeying sudden inn
pulse, she ran up and shook his arm
violently. A strange rustling ensued.
On fell the hat, and the brazen bust Of
Milton was revealed beneath. Quick
witted Nelly comprehended the situa-
tion at a glance, and her aunt and
causin, rushing in together a moment
later, found her in fits of laughter.
Its q straw-man, Lefty" she
gasped, that Charles put here to
brighten u.s.
sOh, no, indeed protested Char
lies mother; ..he's not so bad as that.
/ forgot it was here. It is Charles
skating get-up for the masquerade at
the Victoria Rink
And now that the cat UGs out of the
bag, their aunt took great pride in
showing them this evidence of her be-
loved sons ingenuity. The youth OF
Montreal endeavor to out-Herod Herod
at these fancy-dress skating entertain
ments. The ladies blaze In radiant at
tire and quaint disguise, and many a
gallant follows in their train; but
proudly high swells the heart of that
youth who ian sport the supremely
g esque.
Young Bonar had won this distinc-
ton. On the back of his straw-man he
sailed round the rink, light-of heart
and light of heel, the cynosure OF every
eye. Many an on-looker mistook the
straw-man tor q real one, as he APP
peared 70 toll weafily by; and many
comments from the crowd, plying his
fatigue, were heard By the Misses