The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-10-11

Nv hat luck! shouted Jack.
But" said Nan, dolcfully, we've
| got to call them something. ! dou't
see that matters are mcnded much"
"Oh! their name will be on their bag
gage, and Cousin Elizabeth will have
TO introduce her colonel That's all
right Now l must be off, With a
kiss jack was gone.
The day passed pleasantly in prepare
ton, and when, in the evening, the
guests arrived, Cousin Elizabeth
/ thought she never saw prettier home
or a more winsome mistress.
Nan, on her part, was proud of her
husband when he heartily greeted
Cousin Elizabeth's portly husband
with: Il am glad to see you, colonel"
not betraying, by any hesitation, the
| dreadful blank that existed in his mind
after that military title. For the bag
| gage had revealed 10 name!
/ The lady, with sweet grnciousness,
had said: You must call me Cousin
| Elizabeth dear" and the husband
had been introduced simply as The
Colonel"
Never mind" said Jack. Wen
/ uhu OuG SDIItHON. IL ILitiltlSCi
though, having visitors and not know
| ing their name. But I've thought OF
way"
so have l." said Nan. Wen see
| who will find out first"
| Soothed BY the certainty, she set to
work 10 enjoy her guests; not a hard
| task. for she already loved Cousin
/ Elizabeth, and no one could help lill-
! ing the colonel, with his simple, hearty
! ways and utter devotion to his wife.
/ The next morning. when Nan saw
| the postnan coming down the street,
! she remembered that Cousin Eliza beth
/ had said she was expecting letter to
! be forwarded, and so she rushed to
meet him, eager to read the address.
Just as she reached the door she was
! met by Cousin Elizabeth, who held up
a letter.
only one, dear, and that for me"
/ and away went the envelope into the
| little morning fire blazing on the
/ hearth, before Nan had a glimpse of
/ the superscription. Jack grinncd.
Fooled again" he whispered in her
I ear as he gave his good-by kiss.
Off went Jack into the city, and from
there he sent the following telegram
to his sister:
Wire 1T once Cousin Elizabcths married
name. At once. JACK"
After Nan had given her days orders,
arranged her flowers and settled Cousin
| Eliza beth on the lounge with new
book she dressed for the street.
I've a little shopping l must do,
Consin Elizabeth. know you will ex-
cuse me for awhile"
Dear child" murmurcd Cousin
/ Elizabeth, as she watched the slender,
/ graceful figure down the street.
~ little later Nan came back, radiant,
clasping square package. She hur-
ricd up to her room, undid Il pretty
blank book bound in soft white kid,
tied it mp with long yellow ribbons
and laid it on the little desk in tho
guest room. Then she went back to
her company.
Dear colonel and Cousin Eliza beth"
she said, I'VE are 50 happy to have you
as our first guests. knew something
was lacking in your room and it just
occurred to me it was Il guest book. So
| went out and got one, and now l
want you to write your names on the
very first page"
Bless you, dear" said Cousin Eliza
beth: what Il privilege to be the first
of what l hope will be 4 long and hap
Ply list"
In the middle of the afternoon Jack
received an answer to his telegram
DO not remember name. He was a colonel
Father and mot her in IurliurtOn. They would
/ know. SUE"
After lunch while the guests were
doing in the library, Nan stole into
the guest-room. There on the fair first
page of the new book, were the words:
Cousin Elizabeth" and beneath, in
bolder writing: The Colonel"
It's the funniest thing | ever heard
Of" said Jack, after they had confidcd
their disappointmcnts 10 each other, as
they were dressing for dinner.
Funny" exclaimed Nan. It's fear
full. 1t seems as if everything was in
conspiracy against us. What would
they say if they knew we did not even
know their name"
That evening a neighbor called.
Jack muttered over The introductions
"o A-iScitCi N4LUi1 40 Az NOulNi' anu INC
whole group drew up their chairs in u
coy circle. During a lull in the con-
versation the caller turned to Nan,
and said in distinctly audible tones:
Il beg your pardon, but did not
catch the names OF your guests"
Nan turncd pale--the room reelcd
Crash. over went little table that was
standing by jacks elbow.
''Oh, my pet rose-bowl!" cried Nan.
How could you be so clumsy" Then,
as she and Jack stopped over to pick
up the fallen stand, she whispered in
his ear: You darling! l think
should have faintedr'
In the confusion of restoring order
the question was forgotten, and the
neighbor went home none the wiser
for his inquiry.
The guests took their departure the
next morning. While they were wait
ing for the carriage Nan put her arms
around Cousin Elizabeth and said, low
ingly:
You must ]oavc Us your address,
dear. We want to write and hear from
you often. You belong to us now, you
. know"
Cousin Elizabeth kissed the rosy