The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1890-12-12

II was IA much talked of marriage
| There was 10 be dancing, and heI
kind hostess had presented heI
with an enchanting Costume. and
| Madge could carceIy wait for The
event.
However, ii came at last, and as
i'll luck would have il, one Of Mrs.
Maitland's nervous headaches set
in about sundown. The good lady
was much distressed, and resolved
that her pretty protege should not
he disappointed. So, making an
heroic endeavor she dressed her
self and they went
Madge was as usual much ad-
mired, and was dancing and enjoy.
ing herself to the utmost, when
she was summoned by her chape-
rome.
MY dear,n said that lady,
II am 80 frightfully i'll that | can
not remain any longer. However,
your pleasure shall not be spoiled.
Mrs. Denning will look after you,
and her son will call a cab and see
you safely started for home, and |
am sure YOU will have no trouble" ="
The delightful evening wore
away and the hour came for Madge
| to leave.
Young Mr.. Dunning saw her
safely IN the cab, gave the driver
her address, babe her good night
and away they went uptown.
Madge was lost in pleasant
thoughts of the evening and took
no notice Of her route. Suddenly
the cab pulled up with a Jerk, and,
looking out, she saw she was in
front of Mrs. Maitland's house.
She sprang out, paid the man and
he was gone. She ran lightly up
The steps and inserted her key in
the door There was some diff
Guilty al first, but in an instant ur
two II yielded, and she stepped in
out Of the cold, frosty winiry night
into the grateful warmth of the
hall. The gas was not lighted at
which she wondered somewhat,
but cautiously ard quietly felt her
way up the stairs and into her
room at the front of The house.
Here the gas was turned lew as
possible, and, before reaching to
turn it up, she flung her fur trlm
med wrap across the foot of the
he'd. Then she turned up the gas.
Her first thought was "Why,they
have moved the dressing table"
Next her eyes fell upon a Venus
rising from the sea, from which
she knew Mrs. Maitland would re.
coil in horror.
Terrified she turned and looked
al the bed, and there fast asleep,
with one arm thrown up over his
head, lay a handsome, fair haired
man of about thirty.
Madge could moi stir for a mo-
ment. being literally frozen with
fright. Then in desperation she
rushed from the room, her tnlle
skirts making no sound. Her first
impulse was flight from the house
she had entered by mistake. She
reached The head OF The stairs and
paused 10 look at her small
slippered feet, her bare arms and
neck. LIN her haste she had left
her wrap IN thai room, nor did she
dare return for it, or 10 turn down
the gas, which was left burning
brightly. What should she do
Trembling in every limb, she sank |
down OH the stairs to try and re-
fleet.
She was a stranger in New York. |
Supposlng she should rush forth in
The slreet-she might be near Mrs. |
She might not be able
to find her house. Appeal 10 a
policeman2 He might credit her
story, and, then again, horror he
might arrest her. There was stir
in that room--she heard a voice
who in the deuce turned up
that gas 7"
She staggered to her feet and
the banluster rail. Again
the voice "What the devils this
thing Q"
"Thi> thing was her wrap.
The poor girl tired to move but
could not. She felt herself sway
ing to and fro-she heard him
jump out of bed-she gave htIle
moan, them. in another instant,
wrapped in a gorgeous japanese
dressing gown, his big blue eyes
wide Open in Arrangement, there he
stood staring at her.
She put her lovely, bare, white
arms across her lace.
"Don't shoot me-" she whisper
ed, "I'm not a burglar-I made a
mistake-wrOng house,
She heard him cry: Mother
"Thank God" she thought, "there
is a woman then" and Tell, a lille
Imp heap OF the stairs. When /
she opeued her eyes, she looked /
into kind, mOtherly face, crown
ed by a wonderful night cap. A
july looking, red faced old gentle
man was also bending over her
with n glass of wine.
"Dnnk This, my DEAR he said, |
aand you'll he all right
She obeyed and presently ionnd /
strength to tell them who and why |
she was pruwling around their /
house al dead of night. Thew were |
Kindness itself. Old Mr.. yelling |
i0n knew Of the Maitlands. They |
lived IN the next street. Either 4
Mr.. Denninr OF the eahman had /