The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-02-10

| would she do, sir, Tor the others were
ail out this afternoon.
The small maid who let him in, went
away with the reluctant assurance from
Jack that Miss Verena would do. And
then Jack reflected that Verena was the
second letter in the magic mirror. The
first might stand for Amy. But, then,
just us we'll it might stand for Annie,
and Abigail. Jack had heard that one
might find Abby in abundance, among
these Yankee girls. Well, Plattsburgh
was not quite in Vermont, SO, perhaps,
it was not Abby.
1t certainly was not Abby When
this dainty little creature, in some
pale gray fleecy drapery, like soft
evening cloud, came lightly in, Jack
stood up with his lowest bow.
Miss Amy Elliot, believe p
"Yes."
"And am John Smith"
"Oh = Her hand went out to him in
eager greeting. johnny 1t isn't
possible y And then more slowly, No
lit is not possible.
Jack was bowling over her hand.
II don't think I'm Johnny. mig hit
DE, of course; only never was; but
pardon me, but letter 1 had no right
to las fallen into my hands-and I
don't know what to do with it'll
thought 1 ought to find you and return
it."
Without q word, she took the un-
sealed enve ope he put into her
| hand.
The room was dim in the declining
afternoon; she went away to the window
with the letter.
Standing there, where the sunset
streamed in upon her, she was revealed
more fully to him. How wonderfully
pretty she was And was it only the
sunset that made her cheeks glow and
her eyes shine so, as she turned to
him ?
You have read this letter, Mr..
Smith %
He bent his head. He was beginning
to think this quest of his mere i'm
pertinence
Il could not know it was not meant
for me until I had read it," he said
meekly. But, perhaps. Miss Elliot,
as your name is Verena-"
He was holding out his hand for the
letter, as if it could not be hers.
MY name is Amy Verena," she said,
with an embarrassed little laugh.
Mamma was hoping that might turn
out an Heir of Radcliffe sort of girl !;
but haven't" she said defantly ''and
Johnny knows I haven't and 1 am
only sorry the letter failed to reach him
in time to prevent"
AS she paused abruptly, Jack poured
out torrent of apologies. He would
have gone to the ends of the earth to
find her out before he had the greatest
desire to go to the ends of the earth, as
has been said, to punch the true false
Johnny's head for him, and, though Jack
does not exactly say as much, he some-
how betrays it all to Miss Amy Verena
She stares at him, fairly puzzled for
moment. Then she breaks into a
laugh, so merry that he has to join in
it.
"Oh so you have been sorry for the
maiden all forlorn But you needn't
have been, for Johnny wrote, and
begged--Oh, but didn't mean to tell
you that r she cried, catching herself
up quickly. Only, you know, we
we're almost children when Johnny
went away to Germany to college,
and"
"Apd his steamer was due in New
York, and he was to register at the New
York hotel But this other John Smith
arrived first--not from Europe, but
across the continent from California, on
a visit East. Aud-I beg your pardon,
but you are not going to put on that
ring-are you 2
The first part of that sentence of his
was very positive, as he observed her
turning the ring over on her open
palm. The two last words were added
hastily. upon the startled glance she
gave him.
II? No; certainly not" she an
swered, blushing.
She laid it down upon the mantel-
piece as she came forward to the fire,
and she did not observe that as he
leaned on the mantel, and talked to
ker, he slipped the bauble into his
breast pocket, whence he had taken it
with the letter while ago.
As this was not Jacks last visit, how.
ever, she had many an opportunity to
make inquiries for the missing ring, if
she would.
But there was always so much else
to talk about! California, the far east,
China, Japan, even Australia all of
which this California Jack knew, if he
were rather ignorant of Europe.
But one day-and January was barel ly
out before that day came. Everything
of California being naturally Of rapid
growth-he asked Amy to come with
him and show him Europe
That was the day he laid the ring
back on the mantelpiece, before her
eyes.
| The two were standing on the hearth
rug together. As he turned to put the
ring on the mantel, he met her eyes in
the mirror, looking over his shoulder
He held them fast with his.
Miss Elliot, that first evening-it
was Twelfth night, Amy, when We at
home cut the Twelfth night cake for
the wedding ring in it. This charmed
ring had come to me by a strange
chance and as spelled out the A. V.
e. it had cut into my mirror, 1 fancied
two soft eyes glanced in, over my
shoulder, and two rosy lips. Was it
only dream, sweetheart or true
| nrOnhetio TwaIfth NIGHT 'visiOni 9''i