Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-08-14

song, drew nearer and nearer. for
m instant Mr.. Ross wildly contem-
plated rush through the hall to his
own door, but o moments reflection
convinced him that such q retreat
would be impossible.
"I must stay and face it out" he
thought, "but hold on there's the
closet. It's just possible they will
only stay here minute or two.
And totally cblivious Of the "mai-
esty of man." he fled precipitately
into the closet.
"Why the deuce didn't I think to
secure the key?" he thought, as the
girls streamed into the room. elbow
ever, can hold on to the door-handle
if any one attempts to get in. By
Jove, if the girls should soc me in this
rig. Ishould never hear the last Of it. !"
He leaned against the shelves, and
breathlessly awaited the progress OF
events.
"Whyy' calculated soft voice
Rcsa's own-"where's my hat? Was l
careless enough to leave it down
stairs? Flora, you have hidden ii. "
81 wonder what you'll accuse me of
next!" said Flora, III an injured voice.
.'You told Mr.. Ross that Cousin
Simou's letter was TOTO"
"Your sweetheart! Well, he ought
to be, I'm sure. He is the handsom-
est young man I know"
"Oh, Flora he don't coIhpare with
Mr.. Ross"
"Rosa, be honest" said Flora,
(Which do you like best t-Cousin Ken,
or Simon Montrose?
"Flora!"
"Tell me now, honestly.
The answer came in low, half in
audible voice.
"Kenneth!"
The heart under AIice's sacque gave
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.
GLOW silly we all are!" said Rosa
srenulously; "it's only the cat"
Gas if a cat could make such
noise as that!" said Flora. "Call
Uncle John? Alice, do look and see
what it is !"
"No--you look!" faltered Alice.
"I'll look myself" said Rosa Fern
all, bravely advancing to the rescue.
But when the door-handle refused to
turn, even she blauched.
"Some one is holding the door in
side. Call the men!"
ssThere is no necessity" quoth n
voice from behind the panels, and the
next moment the door flew open, dis
closing tall form in blue, and
countenance whose utter sheepishness
eau 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 cluns to
each other in paroxysms of laughter.
"The fact is, ladies'" commenced
Kenneth confusedly, 81 Won't some
one help me OF with this mou5e-trap?
Miss Alice, Pm very sorry I've split
your sacque, but Well, if you won't
stop angling I can't explain, that's
the long and the short of it!''
But Rosa Ferna!l 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 inezplicably short space of
time Mr.. Ross had torn off his femi-
nine adornments, and fled ignomiui-
ously, followed by peals OF laughter
of his cousin and Alice Aymer. Rosa
strange piece of contradictions had
began to cry!
"Poorlittle 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 strollel into the garden
moodily putting at u cigar, anl con.
templaiing the feasibility of leaving
Warburgh to avoid the girls sarcasm.
I was fool" said he aloud; "but
- Who's there?"
1t was Rosn, coming from the lower
part OF the garden. BY the full brill
liant moonlight he saw the traces Of
tears on her check.
"Rosa, you have been cryingl"
"No, I hayen't!" And to prove the
truth of her assertion, Rosa began to
cry afresh.
"Look here, Rosa," said the young
man gravely, 81 have been thinking OF
leaving Warburgh tomorrow.
Rosa cried on.
"But," pursued Mr.. Ross, ''I'll stay
if--if--you'll only tell me to my face
what you told my cousin when | was
hidden away like a foolish rat in O
trap, Rosa. Speak, little oue!"
"What shall I tell you?" faltered
Rosa. .
"That you love me! that you will
be my wife!"
And she told him so--in the Ian
cuage lovers best like to hear. And
Mr.. Ross stayed in Warburs, and
braved the ridlcule of Alice and Flora,
with little Rosa marshalled on his
side New York News.