The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-25
SYDNEY'S MISTAKE.

have Won off my hands for this day" said
pretty Clara Leslie as she tripped out OF the
room
Clara?''
why don't propose to Clara? Is that
conundrum, Aunt Martha? If it is l give
it up. l never was any hand at conun-
drums"
Now, Sydney, you needn't appear so
mystifed. Pm not blind to the love-mak-
ing that is going On under my eyes every
day"
''If there is any love-making 1 assure you
it sail ON one side"
Sydney, that is conceit You imagine
all the fair sex fall in love with that hands,
some face of yours. Now, have no doubt
Clara would be willing"
"a Yes, aunt, there's where the trouble Is.
She is too willing by half; and the fruit that
will fail without picking is rather too mellow
for me-"
SYDNEY" and Aunt Maria gazcd sol
emily through her spectacles at her idolized
nephew, as she said slowly: You'll never
get better wife than Clara. The truth of
the natter is she has spoiled you. You can
not afford to lire a valet, and how you are
going to wait on yourself for the remainder
Il e---S
to your slightest wishes, and as for your
wardrobe, she has taken it out OF my hands
altogeth er; and I'm sure it ought TO be held
up as model to all the wives in the coun-
try"
II agree with everything you say, aunt.
Your protege is the most charming little
creature in existence. do not know what
| should do without her. But then, you
know, one gets tired OF being made love to
all the time, and l always did think mar
riage a deuced bore-Somethng l couldn't
think of, assure you, aunt"
sydney, here is your bouquet, and IL IS
time you were going" said Clara, entering
Claru's fingers trembed as she fastened
the flowers IN his buttonEole, but Sydney
Wis surveying himself III an opposite MIR
Tor and never noticed 1t.
g Clara YOU are an angel. By-by, and
Sydney Lehman stopped and touched the
yelvety cheek lightly with his mustached
lips. ~. I'm
door closed after her nephew, :" you should
let Sydney wait on himself. He's like all
the rest Of the men-the more you do Tor him
the less he cares about you,
Do you think SO, auntie?'
81 know it, You ought to have heard him
Il did hear him." said Clara, quietly.
"Yes, l was in the other room and over
heard the whole conversation. But never
mind. Sydney will change his mind before
long; see II he don't"
a think Clara might have left everything
ready for NE. She knew was going to the
opera this evening"" said Sydney Lehman,
with an injured air few weeks later.
- suppose she thought she would get
back before you wanted TO co." remarked
Aunt Maria.
u don't suppose she thought about it
She is so taken up with Ed Campbell Of late
that l may so to the dogs for alt she cares,
and Sydney started to his room 10 make
himself pTesenIable, and an hour atterNard
was trying to enjoy the opera.
~ III going to drop in at Mrs. Murray's.
Will you come along, Lehman" said Tom
Hammond to his friend, Sydney Lehman,
as they were leaving the opera house.
No, Sydney thought he wouldn't. He
didn't feel like himself tonight But Tom
urged and finally he went.
He had scarcely entered the reception
room when his eyes fell upon Clara, looking
lovely in a cloud of white tulle, hoped up
here and there with water lilies, dancing
the german with Mr.. Campbell.
''Confound it all! Why didn't l so home?
hate to look at that fellow lately. Con-
ceteI fop. What can sensible girl like
Clara see in hm?
Such were Sydney's thoughts as he stood
Iooking daggers at Mr.. Campbell.
After a while his attention turned to
Clara.
How lovely she looked in her dress and
misty white!
by George! I never knew Clara was so
beautiful" was his mental comment when
the day was over.
"Well, if l wouldn't stay at home forever
before | would come out looking like that"
was Gaara's first salutation as she joined
Sydney. what color to wear at night"
and she touched Sydney'S tie with her fan.
why didn't you tell me you were coming,
and | would have left everything in read-
deSs for you?'
Didn't L tell you I was going to the
"Oh, so you did, and forgot all about it.
But you know I,was out driving with Mr.,
Campbell all the afternoon. And oh.
sgd! We had such delightful time!
We"
There. that will do; I'm not interested
in the sort Of time you had. Here comes
that dandy to claim you for the next
dance. think I'll go home. Goodnight
and Sydney turned away as MIR. Campbell
"5yd, you are growing bearish. said Clara
next day.
mo wonder when a fellow can never find
ANYTHING he wants."
We'll, you can't EXPECT me to wait upon
ana ugly enough to look out for your own
things, and Clara laughed provokingly.
Look out for my own things !" said Sgd
ney, his color rising. u should say l had
thing in the room inside out, and the place
is a litter of disorder
CLARA, do run upstairs and see what
You can do for him." said Aunt Martha,
smiling
Clara left the room followed by Sydney
Oh! OIL Oh" exclaimed Clara, raising
her hands in horror as she entered Sydneys
room. Did any one ever see such roOm?"
No, don't think any one ever did it
batied description.
SXdnev iai IN MI had ham 4Ia
contents OF his bureau, and, crossing the
room, leaned his elbow on the mantel, while
Clara looked around her in bewilderment.
hardly knowing where to begin to straighten
things.
Clara" said Sydney. suddenly, 81 don't
believe you care for me any more"
Who told you that | ever did care for
you?" retorted she saucily.
81 know you did at one time; but then /
didn't know how to appreciate it. | don't
see, though, how sensible girl like you can
care for such cozcUmb as Campbell. But
there! | believe sensible girls always make
fools Of themselves in such matters
Then make an exception of me, Sydney,
Tor assure you l care nothing for Mr..
Campbell"
SIS that true, Clara9" and Sydney had to
step over tire contents of his wardrobe TO
gain Clara's side. 'I'm glad L thought you
did, i9r | never knew how much | loved you
until thought had lost you. / never can
my own little wife?"
IL thought you considered marriage an
awful bore, Syd?"
$50 | did, my love. But / made mis-
take Now know that Il heed wife, and
there is only one woman in the world that
/ would choose for that distinction. She is
my bewltching and Incompatible Clara Les
He"
To prove the sincerity of his words he
pressed her to his breast and imprinted upon
Der lips number Of kisses, that were re-
ceived without the slightest manifestations
Of disapproyaI.
Three months from that day Clara Leslie
was a bride and Sydney was the happy man.
-Ex.
JUDGE SAWYER'S SUCCESSOR,