Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-03-28
over some of its bon mots.

self, and receives her companions
small courtesies with such a charm
ing air of ndirette that he is moved to
| devote himself exclusively TO this lit
tie damsel while he may, to the utter
neglect of the smoking car, to which
he was just medi5ating retreat when
the blue eyes and wildrose face
dawned upon him.
1t is very pleasant journey to Ber-
tie. and she is half sorry when at last
the city is reached. But, mindful OF
her preconceived notions of propriety
and recollecting that this pleasing
gentleman is a complete stranger,
she will not have any Of his offered
politeness, now the journey is over,
but gathers up her things and hurries
out.
Then, too, unconsciously influenced
by Aunt Jen's words, she secures
hackman who is at least old enough
to be respectable she is Of course ig-
norant of the fact that he is almost
deaf, and she is too innocent 10 sus
pect that he is quite half tipsy.
To the combined effect of these two
accidents must be ascribed the fact
that, although she gives him clearly
the address, 1877 Ashley street, she is
yet set down at 156 Ash street, and
being paid the wicked old driver
promptly rattles away.
1t is almost dark and the number
looks all right to Bertie's casual
glance when she rings the bell. 1t
is, as she had expected, a private
boarding house, and in reply to her
timid inquiry she is informed that
John Smith does live there; but learn
that he is not just now at home, she
requests TO see the landlady.
When that lady appears, BERTHE
states her case.
Il AIN John Smiths sister; lie is ex-
pecting me, | should think, for he has
invited he TO the city to stay while
and do some shopping. He promised
to secure me room here for few
days so | might be near him"
If the stout. elderly lady feels sur
prise she does not betray any, but
hastily arranges this matter Of bust
ness and shows the lady up to John
Smiths rooms to await his coming.
Can you tell me when he is likely
to be in?'' she asks, timidly. 1t
seems so 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 reg
ular, Bertie lights the gas, sits down
in the neat little parlor and waits
with what patience she may.
How strange everything in the room
looks to her; she doesn't see one
thing that she could recognize as
Johns but then, bachelors belong
ings never do look familiar TO
feminine eyes. There is lovely pair
Of embroidered slippers, just kicked
under the sofa She didn't know be-
fore that John had any taste in that
line, and the light of each gas jet is
softened by q pretty fancy shade OF
colored satin and lace over the por-
celain globe, evidently the work Of
some fair hands. There are other
dainty touches about the room, OF
which she, his own sister, is quite
guiltless and concluding at last John
has some lady friend she knows not
of, perhaps even a sweetheart, and
resolving to find out and tease the
dear old fellow, if possible, she turns
the gas quite low and sits luxuriating
in the dim, tinted glow OF light.
1t seems long time she has to wait
it is long past ten, and poor BERTHE
feels almost like crying with sheer
suspense and nervousness, when at
last man step came hastily to the
door, it is swung wide and somebody
enters.
Bertie runs forward with little e1-
.,t l., tal L inc in fha ont limo
of tall form and manly face, which
in the light might easily be her
brothers, goes on tip toes to pull his
face down, and kisses him with en-
IreSsement, crying pettishly:
"Oh, John dear, how late you are !"
The kiss is returned, and a voice
not her brothers says coolly:
Late Now call this early, but
il Id known you wanted TO see lie,
Nab, could have come sooner; the
landIady just told me--."
But he IS interrupted by the singu-
lar 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 horrors 1t is not her
brother at all, but quite another man,
and, worse still, the very same hand
some 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 suspicion Of a mistaken
identity came TO her with that kiss he
gave her-it didn't feel a bit like
Johns kisses.
Just now, however, she is conscious
of but one wish, that she could faint,
and so tide over this crisis as heroines
are supposed to do; but unfortunately
she has never tainted in her life, and