Evening journal., 1891-05-27

fhhN W+@P AhAHAAS al OA1i Va A1Dh hCdhh anu
hand.
"Therel you are silent again." said she.
"Oh, Johnl ! believe you have fallen in
love with somebody-that you arc engaged
to some English girl Tell me at once if it
is so, that may not build my poor little
air castles only to have them knocked
over"
Il have never deeamed Of engaging my
self" said l. Il haven't been in love, and
don't think myself In circumstances tc
marry"
81 begin to breathe again" said Miss
Smith. GAS to circumstances, can make
dollar go as far as FIVE. I'll show you
how toflive on next to nothing. and live
we'll Kiss me again. Jack; am 80 happy
When shall we go houseSeepingw
Her view of the matter evidently was
that she had proposed and been accepted.
However, kissed her. She was so evi.
IDENTIFY respectable that could but believe
these proceedings customary in America.
| felt that my friends should have informed
me how far these Yankee girls could go.
1t must be that no one thought it wrong in
tins part of the world; for / knew that
Miss Smith was respectable, and her father
man of good position. Moreover, she had
an innocent air, with all her boldness, and
could have fallen in love with her on the
spot but for her curious conduct This,
however, revolted me. She sat there, after
this astounding behavior, without a trelnoI
in her voice or a blush upon her face. and
again remarked;
''Im so happy, Jackr'
Oh! what were these American girls
made ofg
We came to pause at last before a house
which was not quite up to my idea of the
wealthy Mr.. Smiths residence. but was
very respectable, and Miss Smith ushered
me into parlor which seemed to me to be
full of girls. In the back one tea table
was spread
"pve asked everybody to meet you," she
said "All the dear girls who were in the
last class at boarding school with me-
Then, having caused me to deposit my
hat upon the rack, and having somehow
disposed of my travelling bag, she took me
by the arm and whirled me about, intro
ducing me TO Kate and Ann, Tilly and
Nelly, Jane and Eliza, with last name.
which did not catch, or forgot on the in
stant; and each one made some remark tc
the effect that dear Tiny had spoken SC
much Of me-that she thought of no one
else-that they supposed she was happy
now, etc.
My bewilderment grew greater, but wa:
determined to see the affair out. 1t was te
me as curious as any strange ceremonies
among the Cannibal islanders would hay,
been.
This was apparently a betrothal party
However, they could not marry me against
my will in any land. When it came to thai
should assert myself.
At last we were all summoned to the
table.
"Your place is at the foot, Johnny" sale
Miss Smith; and stood behind my chair
waiting for the ladies to be seated, when q
servant whispered something in Mis-
Smiths ear, at which she turned pale
looked at me for moment with an unut
terable expression in her eyes and fed from
the room.
The girls looked after her; one FOLLOWED
her, came back and whispered to the others
who, one after the other, left the room.
It occurred to me that the clergyman haC
arrived, and that the matrimonial cere
monies were about to be celebrated, and
decided to get nearer the door 1t nigh
be- that my only hope lay in fight. As
entered the front parlor l saw that the hal
was deserted. On an upper floor voice
were lifted, and some one seemed to be il
Mysteries Shortly a masculine voice sah
fiercely, 'I'll settle himT' and youth in
travelling costume came rushing dow
stairs three steps at time.
He entered the room in which l stoo
and advanced toward me.
what is the meaning Of all this?" sal
he
Exactly what l should like to know
sir" said l.
Il am John Smith" said he.
$50 am 1" answered.
Il arrived from England in the -,
said he
$50 did ], replied.
~ am Miss Smiths brother" said he.
The truth began to dawn upon me.
81 am not" said l. and then as gravel
as possible | related the facts that l hav
already told you, at the same time produ
ing from my pocket letters which gay
/ witness to my veracity.
''This is a dreadful thing for Tiny" sal
the young man. 1--WE have been separate
since our childhood. She is very excitab
and is terribly mortified. She believ'
that you purposely played trick upo
her, aud really don't know what to say
Don't say anything" replied. III
may have my hat and portmanteau I'll &
No doubt | can find my friend very easil
I'll get cab have the address,"
1T is awfully absurd" said the 9TH
John Smith.
"Awfullyr said I.
With these words we parted, and abol
an hour afterward / had shaken han'
with another Miss Smith, jolly, midd
aged lady, who enjoyed the story that
told her hugely.
As for the other Miss Smith, had n
known the street to which she took me
the number Of the house. | discover
that there were several pages Of Jol
Smiths in the directory, and she has pass
out Of my life AS completely as though S
were one Of those mysterious females WI
accost the young princes Of 'The Arabii
Nights Tales entertain them splendid
IN marble halls, where fountains play al
slaves serve curious daintiss. and who
dawn have vanished with their servan
and palaces as though they were but v
ions of a dream.
Had it not heen so | fancy this sto
! might have bad a more romantic termir
tion, for / still remember her as the loN
! liest and sweetest creature whom ! ev
met, and have often followed some pret
figure for long blocks, only to discov'
when at last | got a glimpse OF her faI
that it was not my Miss Smith. Howev'
, am not old yet. The world is not Il We
g LARGO nlana yyhan xnff Gonna IN think Of