Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-09-29
AN AWKWARD FIX.

"Do you think two girls ought to be
born SO exactly alil1e?" said Charlie
Daore, 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 we'll for you, but |
haven't your long sight, and I declare
to you if see either of them at little
distance or in bad light I can't tell
which is which. l am going to a party
tonight given by the respected parents
of my Dennison, and positively dread
it,
"Perhaps they play tricks on you, !"
said Ballantyne. Zone of them is rather
slzittish."
Charlie got himself up that night
with extraordinary care, and as he was
a good looking fellow he presented a
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-
spects to the host and hostess the daugh-
ter of the house, prettily dressed in
white and blue, came up. Dacre begged
for dance-two dances.
"I'm so sorry" said she, "but I've
nothing vacant till the lancers. You're
little late, Mr.. Dacre, you see," with
a slight accent Of reproach as she gave
him her card. Charlie apologized in
the humblest terms, and the girl be-
slowed a smile on him as she was led
away.
Daore 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
shade from the glare of the lights. The
blue and white of her filmy gown stood
out against the dark background. Dacre
hastened across the room to her.
"Miss Dennison--my Dance" he said
eagerly. "May I?''
She turned her pretty face and arohed
her eyebrows in surprise.
eyes" said Charlie, "the lancers-
you promised-oh, beg your pardon.
You're your cousin-I mean, the other
Miss Dennison-and, of course, haven't
seen you before"
Then, recovering from his confusion
before the young lady could speak, he
added:
II hope TIM not too late to get
dance, Miss Dennison?''
Having secured this, he sought the
other Isabel.
"Why in the fiend's name do they
dress alike?" he muttered in nervous
fear of another mistake. He might be
continually coming across the one he
didn't want, like recurring decimal.
Several times he bore down on fair
girl in blue and white, but turned
away, deciding that he had only come
on an Isabel in another place. The
lanoers had begun. Itwas in full swing
before he came suddenly on sofa
where sat the Isabel.
"Miss Dennison," he stammered,
I'm 80 sorry
"Pray don't apologize" said she
coldly. II assure you the delay is not
Of the slightest moment"
Indeed, it was quite unintentionai,
said the unfortunate Charlie in despair.
~ have been looking for you'-
II have been sitting here the last
ten minutes, and you passed me Just
now."
IT saw blue and white Dress" ac-
knowledged Charlie, "but some people
came between it and me- Won't you
forgive me and dance this? 1t isn't too
late."
81 think my mother wants me" said
Isabel, rising with dignity.
"May take you to herr"
"No, thank you"
Charlie only got pardoned when
everybody was going. He was mad with
himself, but could not bring himself to
acknowledge the real reason Of his ap-
parent neglect. He was sensitive about
these constant mistakes They went on
happening, Of course, the one Isabel
laughing at him, which he dreaded, the
other turning naughty and offended.
He offered some flowers to a Dennison
girl one day and she said demurely,
"Are you sure they were meant for
me?"
"Whom else could they be meant
for?" said Charlie sentimentally.
my cousin, perhaps -she's over
there" said the girl merrily. Dacre
flushed in unutterable confusion and
took back the flowers, scarcely know
ing what he did. And when he turned
away he met the scornful eyes Of girl
who must be the Isabel he wanted be-
cause the girl he had left wasn't she.
II was quite impossible to present the
flowers, and be made crestfallen es-
cape as soon as he could.
Hang IL, I'll end all thisl' he said
angrily one day. "But ! shall have to
BE- careful, II ! am happily successful,