The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-05-01
Haen that lady appears Berstie states u e

her case. -
Il am John Smiths sister: he e. er.
pecting me, ! should think, for he has
invited me to the,city to stay awhile and
DO some shopping. He promised 10 Sc.
cure me room here for few DAYS. so
might be near him. =
the stout, elderly lady feelb sur
prise, she does not betray any, but
hastily arranges this matter Of business,
and shows the young lady up to John
smiths rooms to await his coming.
Gan you tell me when he is likely to
pc IN ~ shesaslsss tifnidiy \ / seems 50
strange that John is not here at this
hour -
Cant say ma'am; he wasn't in at all
last night-off ON business trip-but
as he's expecting you, OF course he'll be
here SOON" And with this she is gone.
Somewhat surprised, for she had
thought Johns habits were more regu-
lar, BERTHE lights the gas, sits down in
the neat little parlor and waits with
what patience she may.
How strange every thing in the room
looks to her; she doesn't see one thing
that she could recognize as Johns; but
then, bachelors belongings never do
look familiar to feminine eyes. There
Is a lovely pair Of embroidered slippers,
just kicked under the sofa. She didn't
know before that John had}any taste in
that line, and the light Of each gas-iet
is softened by pretty fancy shade of
colored satin and lace over the porce-
lain globe, evidently the work of some
fair hands. There are several other
dainty touches about the room, of which
she, his own sister, Is quite guiltless;
and concluding at last that John has
some lady friend she knows not OF, per-
haps even a sweetheart, and inly re-
solving to find out and tease the dear
old fellow, If possible, she turns the gas
quite low, and=sits luxuriantly in the
dim, tinted glow of light.
r It seems "a long time she has to wait;
1t is long past ten, and poor BERTHE feels
almost like crying with sheer suspense
and nervousness, when at last mans
step comes hastily. to the door, it is
swung wide and somebody enters.
BERTHE runs forward with little ex-
citing laugh, and taking in the outline
OF a tall form and manly face, which in
that light might easily be her brothers.,
goes on tip toe to pull his face down,
and kisses him with empressment, cry
ing pettishly:
sssOh, John dear, how late you are!''
The kiss is returned, and voice, not
her brothers. says coolly:
Late! Now / call this early, but If
I'd known you wanted to see me, Nab,
could have come sooner; the landlady
just told me-"
But he is interrupted by the singular
conduct of his visitor. With sort of
gasping cry she~springs away-from him,
and turning on the gas full, stares at
him IN dismay and alarm.
Horror of herrefsii 1t is not her-broth-
er, at all, quite another man, and, worse
still, the very same handsome fellow
she travelled with to-day! And she has
kissed him, oh, shame-and he kissed
her, too, how horrid! She is heard to
say, long afterward, that the first suspi-
cion of a mistaken identity came to her
with that kiss he gave her-it didn't feel
bit like Johns kisses.
just now, however, she is conscious of
one wish that she could faint, and so
tide over this crisis as heroines are sup
posed to do; but unfortunately she has
never tainted in her life, and she doesn't
feel bit as II she could now She sim
ply says, half scared, half angry:
ssYeu- are not John Snii TIL and In
spite of the many dreadful thoughts in
her mind she is first to speak.
II beg your pardon, but I am,
though he affirms, also a. good deal
taken aback, but thinking, doubtless,
that he has right to his name, poor
and common though it may be.
Il mean-you are not my John
Smith, I" she says, almost in tears, and
taking the most unreasonable attitude
of his being to blame for her discom-
future.
81 admit ] have not that honor" he
returns, smiling down upon her ami
ably, plying her distress and trying his
best to relieve it. "Neither are you my
sister, Mabel, but don't suppose it is
your fault, is it? nor mine, either? see
there is some mistake, and II you will
just go down stairs with me now, we
will see the landlady and talk the mat
ter over, and see what can. be done to
to do all can to help you, if you will
allow me"
Could she do less than be thankful
for such consideration and gratefully
accept the assistance so fairly offered2
Wasn't it kind of him to think SO quick
ly how to remove her from her most
awkward position, and place her under
the protection of a lady, where she can
speak to him without embarrassment?
Itis.a most trying incident, she feels,
but iiot, perhaps, without remedy.
II thought there was some mistake,
too says the landlady, with a pleasant
look at Bertie's innocent face, for ]
knew you were not Miss Mabel Smith,
and have very good opinion of my
John Smith, he never has=other lady
callers"
Which little speech brings the blood
to Bertie's cheeks, while she tells her
trouble and asks If she can get to her
brother tonight.
'sJohn Smith, Of Bond & Brokers"
says the young gentleman, in his plea
SAINT way. II know him little Have
Fsbeen to his rooms once or twice; may |
take you there myself. now - Miss
Smith?.
sMy name is Hart-1'm only Johns
half sister," she said to him, while her
eyes seek Mrs. Colman with an asking
glance. what shall do? Would |
better let him take me2nn that look says
plainly
Eyes, child; that will be the best, you
will then be sure to reach your brother
without any further mishap,p is that
lady's comfortable counsel. So in a very
few minutes she is being whirled along
the streets, her acquaintance costly be-
side her, in search Of her 'long-lost
brother. . -.--------------,-- -.----44
Once found. that very convenient rela-