The Press., 1897-11-04
AN AWKWARD FIX.

"Do you think two girls ought to be born so exactly alike?'' said Charlie Dacre ruefully twisting up cigarette
 The other man laughed.
 ''Are you talking of those two Den- nison girls? They're not exactly alike.
 ''It's all very well for you, but l haven't your long sight. and declare to you if I see either of them at little distance or in bad light I can't tell which is which l am going to party tonight given by the respected parents of my Dennison, and positively dread it.
 Perhaps they play tricks on you, said Ballantyne. "One of them is rather skittish. g
 Charlie got himself up that night with extraordinary care, and as he was a good looking fellow he presented & rather striking appearance as he entered Mrs. Dennison's drawing rooms. He had been detained, so that most of the guests had arrived when he came, and his inamorata was nowhere to be seen. But shortly after he had paid his re-
  ter of the house, prettily dressed in white and blue, came up. Dacre begged for dance-two dances.
 s'I'm so sorry,' said she, 'but I've nothing vacant till the lancers, You re little late, MT. Dacre. you see, ;" with slight accent of reproach as she gave him her card Charlie apologized in the humblest terms, and the girl be- slowed smile on him as she was led away.
 Dacre went to seek her in good time for his lancers. She sat on an ottoman in distant part of the room, where the dropping folds of curtain formed a shade from the glare of the lights The blue and white of her filmy gown stood out against the dark background. Daore hastened across the room to her.
 "Miss Dennison-my dance," he said eagerly. May IF" -..........
 She turned her pretty face and arched her eyebrows in surprise.
 "Yes,' said Charlie, the laucers- you promised-oh, beg your pardon. You're your cousin-I mean, the other Miss Dennison-and,o of course, I haven t seen you before. ''
 Then, recovering from his confusion before the young lady could speak, he added:
 II hope I'm not too late to get a dance, Miss Dennison?''
 Having secured this, he sought the other Isabel
 "Why in the tiend's name do they dress alike?' he muttered in nervous fear of another mistake. He might be didn't want, like a recurring decimal. Several times he bore down on fair girl ill blue and white, but turned away, deciding that he had only come on an Isabel i'll another place. The lancers bad begun. It was in full swing before he came suddenly on a sofa where sat the Isabel. ......=,
 Miss Dennison,' he stammered, 'tI'm so sorry"-
 Pray don't apologize, said she coldly. II assure you the delay is not of the slightest moment. 7
 "Indeed, it was quite unintentional, " said the unfortunate Charlie in despair. II have been looking for you''- II have been sitting here the last ten minutes, and you passed me just now '
 II saw a blue and white dress, &C., knowIeGeed Charlie, ''but some people came between it and me Won't you | forgive me and dance this? It isn't toc late. " ... .-..
 II think my mother wants me, said Isabel, rising with dignity.
 May take you to her?''
 "No, thank you.
 Charlie only got pardoned when every body was going He was mad with himself, but could not bring himself tc acknowledge the real reason of his ap- parent neglect. He was sensitive about these constant mistakes. They went or happening, of course, the one IsabeI laughing at him, which he dreaded, the other turning naughty and offended. He offered some flowers to Dennisor girl one day and she said demurely, Are yon sure they were meant fol me?'
 Whom else could they be meant for?'' said Charlie sentimentally
 My cousin, perhaps-she's over there, 7 said the girl merrily. Dacre flushed in unutterable confusion and took back the flowers. scarcely know ing what he did And when he turned