Middletown transcript., 1894-03-10

evidently it had seen better days, and
. as she raised her hand he saw that heI
nicely-ftting gloves were darned in
several places. 1t did not strike him
, as strange that he noticed her SO
closely, for she seemed one that the
more you looked at her, the more you
saw to admire.
. There was slight trace of embar-
rassment in her soft, cultivated voice
as she said, 81 called in answer to your
advertisement in The Times.'"
He started in surprise at her words.
"How did you find your way here?"
81 made Inquiries" she said (she
now looked surprised), ''and after some
little trouble l reached this place.
Have you found someone to suit you
yet?"
NO." said he, even more embar.
rassed than she had been.
Strange to say, she seemed now quite
at her ease, there was no more hesita-
tion, no maiden bushes, and Mr.. Daw-
son felt a keen sense of disappointment
steal over him at this, as she went
smoothly on: 81 think l may suit you,
1 will try to do my best.''
"Yes," he said, with increasing dis
comfort, 81 think you are much more
suitable than any who have yet applied
butt would like to know something
more about you.'
She thought how odd it was that his
manner should be so unbusinesslike,
but she replied, readily: 'Of course"
and drew forth her references. These
stated that Miss Louisa Villiers was
most reliable and respectable young
lady. He glanced over them, and as
she seemed to expect him to speak, he
said, at length: "These are very good.
Perhaps, in time, we may come to a
satisfactory arrangement.
Her face fell little; 81 had hoped"
she said, ''to enter at once on my
new duties. that is, if you were willing
to try me-"
Twas decidedly embarrassing for
him. would she insist or marrying him
at once? she seemed modest and retir-
ing in her manner, and as his admira-
tion for her charms increased so his
feeling of disapproval at her apparent |
anxiety to secure a husband grew
greater.
Eyes, he said, timidly, ''for some
reasons it would seem desirable that the
one l choose should enter at once on
her duties, but for others it is most
proper that we should be a little better
acquainted beforehand"
She looked at him in amazement, but
he, glancing the other way, made a
desperate effort, and continued: sit is
not that | do not admire you; not that
| do not see in you one suitable to
become my wife,"
Strip she cried, and she sprang up,
her eyes blazing, and her face flushed
from the dainty little curls on her fore
head to her rounded chin, "Explain
what you mean by such words.''
1t was his turn now to be thunder
struck. Hastily she drew from her
handbag a copy of The Times.
''Are you not Mr.. Dawson, and isn't
this your advertisement"
He read the paragraph she pointed
out:
"Wanted-A stenographer, by
literary man. Apply in person to
Thomas w. Dawson. 127 Deer, Place.
''This is all mistake" cried he, II .
am Charles Dawson. Thomas w.
Dawson, distant cousin of nine,
lives in the next street. This is my !,
he continued, pointing
to a few lines further down in the
column, and as his fair visitor read it,
she grew, if possible, more rosy.
Il beg your pardon for my intru-
'lon," she said, as she turned at once
20 leave the room.
"And beg your pardon for my ap-
parent, but entirely unintentional
And if you will permit me,
rs sign of your forgiveness, to show
you the way to Mr.. Thomas Dawson's
'esidence, 1 will esteem it favor"
Perhaps she was not ill-disposed
oward him, perhaps she was fearful of
making another blunder in the unfami-
lar streets of the city; whatever was
Ter reason, she allowed him to conduct
Ter to the door of the house in ques-
ion, and then she bade him dignified
goodbye.
When Harry Sinclair called that E
vening he discovered his friend in a I
tate of high excitement. h
"rve found her at last, Harry, my /
'oy,' he cried, as he grasped his
rienn's hand, "Come in, and I'll tell :
ou all about it,"
Sinclair glanced at a pile of unopened
etters on the table.
"Ah," he said gaily, 'hers is not 4
here; is it next your hearth" I
"She's not one of that. sort at all.u
reclaimed Dawson, quickly; '.she
think of answering an adver-
isement like that. But, bless you,
larry, for your kindness, it was F
through the advertisement that met
er."
"Oh, then you met her? Tell me at "
nee. Pm all curiosity"
Sinclair laughed gaily at his friends
tory. How do you know" lie said,
but she is already engaged?"
mo, she told me she wasn't.n
Harry whistled. "Then you asked =
er?'' i