The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-10-26

He leaped from his seat as a bright
thought struck him. He could hunt up
the cabman. That was the thing to
do! But, although he hung around the
depot for two whole hours and ques-
toned every jehu within reach, he
could not find the man he sought. 1t
was evidently that particular claimants
busy day.
Tired and disguised, Ross Stafford
took plunge ut the athletic club, got
himself home, shrugged himself into
his evening clothes, for he was going
out after dinner, and went down to the
parlor to find himself face to face with
the divinity of the red gold ringlets
and the violet eyes!
Ross, my dear" cooed Mrs. Stat
ford, let me introduce you to Miss
Chester, whom somehow you managed
to miss this morning. Why. YOU
For they We're smiling at each other
-merrily, spontaneously.
Indeed, no, motherr Perhaps he
held the pretty hand she gave him
little longer than was necessary. Il
met Miss Chester this morning. Did
she not tell YOU put her in a cab?"
Miss Chester laughed. Ross Stafford
laughed. And the bcwildermcnt of the
head of the house of Stafford, of the
golting son, and the studious son, as
they in turn were presented, set them
laughing again.
Lord bless mer' cried Stafford SEN
ior, ruftling his hair, your father said
you We're little girl
"Oh, l shall never be grown up to
papa" cried Miss Chester.
He said" stammered the young
gentleman who was getting up an ar
ticle on the architecture of the tenth
century, ''that-that you were a nice
child"
Don't you think" queried Adele
Chester mschievously, that I'm
nicaY
Whereat Ralph grew guilty red.
Helen Stafford reached home before
dinner was over Her brothers rap
furious reception amazed her. Never
had she know how they missed her!
Nor could she dream that each of three
young hypocrites was saying to him
self
she won't go east in such hurry if
she and Helen take to each other"
They did take to each other. Ross
found it was not necessary to keep his
engagement that evening and permit
ted his friend to cool his heels alone at
their appointed rendezvous. Ralph
learned his tenor went wonderfully
well with the pure soprano of their
guest And Dick was so anxious to
initiate Miss Chester into the mysteries
of tiashlight pictures that he made HIM
self no end of a bore. The country
cousin of the Staffords did not 90 east
that week nor the next. When she
did go, all the mirth and laughter of
the Stafford dOmicile seemed to 90 with
her. One morning a week after her de-
parture Ralph and Dick said some bit
ter things when they discovered that
Ross had found out he must attend to
business in New York and had left for
the city on the midnight train. And
when Ross returned, silent, but smil-
ing and eXultant, they were not at all
backward about telling him with true
fraternal frankness their opinion of his
conduct.
"You were awfully good to go to meet
that little country lassie," commented
Ralph witheringly Il believe you
knew all the time she was the prettiest
kind of girl"
"Kindness-sheer kindness on my
part, dear boy. But, as l have striven
to impress on you, virtue is ever its
own reward"
ooh, come off, entreatediDick. "You
just got the inside track, and you kept
it."
Ross pulled his mustache.
Il assure you in taking my late hasty
trip had only the best interests of my
brothers at heart. My sole ambition
was to secure you the most charming
sister-in-law in the world"
Helen jumped up.
"Oh, Ross! Did you-did she"-
He laughed quizzically. adele gave
me a message for you, my dear. She
said to tell you that you are to be-
"What, ROssY
"Bridesmaid."- Buffalo Commercial.