The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-08-01

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Amomentary silence ensued, broken
by the rustling of muslin.
"Don't meet round the waist by a
good six inches, but can hold it up.
/ wonder what makes the thing drag
on the floor and cling round ones
legs SO Oh, / know-the crinoline
ought to 60 under !"
"1'm not certain but that / should
make quite nice looking woman"
mused Kenneth, strutting backward
and forward before tho mirror. "On
the whole-Tomb of the Prophet is
that the girls?'
Mr.. Ross gave blindly desperate
jerk at his "sacque, and pull at the
crinoline: but all in vain. The gay
voices, intermingled here and there
with ringing laugh, or a snatch OF
song, drew nearer and nearer. For
an instant Mr.. Ross wildly contem-
plated rush through the hall to his
own door, but moments reflection
convinced him that such retreat
would be impossible.
"I must stay and face il outl" he
thought, "but hold on there's the
closet. It's just possible they will
only stay here a minute or two.
Aud totally cblivious of the "maj-
esty of man." he fled precipitately
into the closet.
"Why the deuce didn't 1 think to
secure the key?" he thought, as the
| girls streamed into the room. Chow
ever, can hold on to the door handle
if any one attempts to get in. BY
Jove, if the girls should see me in this
rig. Ishould never hear the last of il"
He leaned against the shelves, and
breathlessly awaited the progress of
events.
"Whyl" calculated soft voice
Rcsa's own-"where's my hat? Was /
careless enough to leave it down
stairs? Flora, you have hidden it. "
81 wonder what you'll accuse me of
next - said Flora, IN an injured voice.
"You told Mr.. Ross that Cousin
Simon's letter was toto"
Your sweetheart Well, he ought
to be, I'm sure. He is the handsom-
est young man / know"
"Oh, Flora he don't compare with
Mr.. Ross"
"Rosa, be honest" said Flora,
(which do you like best Cousin Ken,
OF. Simon. -Montrose?"
"Floral"
rf'Tell mo now, honestly"
The answer came in a low, half in
audible voice.
"Kenneth !"
The heart under Alce's sacque gave
a great jump Mr.. Ross's head came
in contact with something on the up
per shelf, and down came rain of
band boxes on his occiput
There was an instants terrified
silence, and then all the girls began to
scream in chorus.
"How silly we all are!" said Rosa
sremulously; "it's only the cat"
"As if a cat could make such
noise rs that" said Flora. "Call
Uncle John? Alice, do look and see
what it is ~
"No--you look !" falterel Alice.
"I'll look myself" said Rosa Fern
all, bravely advancing to the rescue.
But when the door-handle refused to
turn, even she blanched.
"Some one is holding the door in
side. Call the menl'
"rhere is no necessity" quoth n
voice from behind the panels, aud the
next moment the door tiew open, dis.
closing tall form in blue, aud a
| countenance whose utter sheepishness
can never be described
cousin Ken ~ shrieked Flora.
"Mr. Ross ~ faltered Miss Fernall.
"Why, it can't be possible!" ejacu-
lated Alice.
And then the three girls clung to
each other in paroxysms of laughter.
"rhe fact is, ladies'" commenced
Kenneth confu sedly, "I- Won't some
one help me of with this mouse-trap?
Miss Alise, I'm very sorry I've split
your sacque, but Well, if you won't
stop laughing | can't explain, that's
the long and the short of it,
But Rosa Fernall had stopped
laughing already, and the pink OF her
cheeks was deepening into scarlet.
She had just remembered the words
carelessly spoken not five minutes
ago.
In an inexplicably short space of
time Mr.. Ross had torn OF his femi-
nine adornments, and fed ignomini-
ously, followed by peals OF laughter
OF his cousin and Alice Aymer. Rosa
strange piece of contradiction had
began to cry!
"Poor little thing she's hysterical, "
said Aunt Meg, who had just appeared
on the scene.
But Rosa was not hysterical.
The full, delicious moon of summer
was in the mid-heaven that night, as
Kenneth Ross strolled into the garden
moodily putting at cigar, and con-
templating the feasibility of leaving
Warburgh to avoid the girls sarcasm.
81 was fool" said he aloud; "bui
- Who's there?"
1t was Rosa, coming from the lower
part OF the garden. BY the full brill
,ant n,oonEuht ha aaw tha traaae M