Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-07-03

these proceedings customary IN America.
I 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
this part of the world; for 7 knew that
Miss Smith was respectable, and her father
man of good position. Moreover, she had
an innocent air, with all her boldness, and
I 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 tremor
in her voice or blush upon her face. and
again remarked:
"I'm SO happy, Jackl''
Oh! what were these American girls
made of?
Wecame to pause at last before 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 a tea table
was spread.
give 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, lilly and
Nelly. Jane and Eliza, with last names
which did not catch, or forgot on the in
slant; and each one made some remark to
the effect that dear Tiny had spoken SO
much of me-that she thought of no one
else-that they supposed she was happy
now, etc.
My bewilderment grew greater, but was
determined to see the affair out. 1t was to
me as curious as any strange ceremonies
among the Cannibal islanders would have
been.
This was apparently a betrothal party.
However, they could not marry me against
my will in any land. When it came to that
should assert myself.
At last we were all summoned to the
table,
'Your place is at the foot, Johnny" said
waiting for the ladies to be seated, when a
servant whispered something in Miss
Smiths ear, at which she turned pale,
looked at me for a moment with an unut-
terable expression in her eyes and fled 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.
1t occurred to me that the clergyman had
arrived, and that the matrimonial cere-
monies were about to be celebrated, and !
decided to get nearer the door. It might
be that my only hope lay in flight. AS
entered the front parlor saw that the hall
was deserted. On an upper floor voices
were lifted, and some one seemed to be in
Mysteries. Shortly a masculine voice said
fercely, cpl settle himl' and a youth in
travelling costume came rushing down
stairs three steps at a time.
He entered the room in which I stood
and advanced toward me.
"What is the meaning of all this?" said
he.
'"Exactly what I should like to know,
sir" said |.
81 am John Smith" said he.
$50 am l." answered.
81 arrived from England in the -"
said he.
$50 did T." replied.
II am Miss Smiths BROTHER" said he.
The truth began to dawn upon me-
II am not" said ], and then as gravely
as possible related the facts that l have
already told you, at the same time produc-
ing from my pocket letters which gave
witness to my veracity.
''This is dreadful thing for Tiny" said
the young man. 1--WE have been separated
since our childhood. She is very excitable
and is terribly mortified. She believes
that you purposely played trick upon
her, and really I don't know what to say!"
Don't say anything" 1 replied. "If l
may have my hat and portmanteau I'll go.
No doubt can find my friend very easily
rll get cab. have the address,"
at is awfully absurd" said the other
John Smith.
"Awfully!" said I.
With these words we parted, and about
an hour afterward I had shaken hands
with another Miss Smith, jolly, middle
aged lady, who enjoyed the story that I
told her hugely.
AS for the other Miss Smith, had not
known the street to which she took me or
the number Of the house. I discovered
that there were several pages of John
Smiths in the directory, and she has passed
out of my life as completely. as though she
were one of those mysterious females who
accost the young princes of '"The Arabian
Nights Tales" entertain them splendidly
in marble halls, where fountains play and
slaves serve curious dainties, and who at
dawn have vanished with their servants
and palaces as though they were but vis-
ions of dream.
Had it not been so I fancy this story
might have had a more romantic termina-
ton, for still remember her as the love-
lest and sweetest creature whom I ever
met, and have often followed some pretty
figure for long blocks, only to discover,
when at last l got glimpse of her face,
that it was not my Miss Smith. However,
am not old yet. The world is not a very
large place, when you come to think of it,
may meet her yet.-Mary Kyle Dallas in
Fireside Companion.