Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1902-02-28
AN
EXASPERATING
BLUNDER
stVGTHY, Oliver, what possessed
wv you to think that Cousin

looked over at Cousin Berta, who sat
at some distance reading book, ana
quite too far away to hear her cous-
in's merry laugh, or form any guess
as to the cause of it.
ats too ridiculous" continued
Edith. "But do tell me, Oliver, what
put it into your head to think that
Berta was engaged?"
"WeIl, | don't know that / thought
it all of my own unaided fancy re
turned Oliver Blount, as he leaned
against the trunk of one of the great
cherry trees to which Miss Ranken
hammock was tied.
somebody told me she was en-
gagged, Edith. / forget now who 1t
was. But since I've answered your
question, now answer mine. What is
there so very amusing in the thought
of Berta's engagement"
"Well, it's ridiculous" laughed
Edith again. "You see, she's so
brown-so very, very brown"
"Yes," replied young Blount, turn
ing his gaze for moment toward
the object of their remarks, she
certainly is brown"
"And then, bringing his gaze back
again. he allowed it to rest some
what critically and very admiringly
on the fair maidehT lying in the ham,
mock, and his thought was:
And you, fairest Edith, are so
blonde-so very blonde"
He continued aloud:
But that is no good reason why
BETA should not be engaged. There
is no objection to pretty girl being
brown. Some people have been
known to prefer them So"
Goodness! Do you think Beta
pretty?" exclaimed Edith. in her sud
den interest raising herself on her
elbow, and Immediately being nearly
capsized.
"Mr. Blount caught her, and as
she really was half-thrown into his
arms, he had no choice but to hold
her there an instant while he stead
led the hammock, and then to lay
her head back on the silllen cushion
And in that moments contact
Edith felt that they had more nearly
returned to the relation of two years
ago than at any time during their
renewed acquaintanceship, about a
week before this date.
Somehow their thoughts drifted
back to those bygone days, and, in.
stead of talking any more of Cousin
Beta, Edith began to remind Oliver
of many long-forgotten incident OF
their previous acquaintance.
hn ,tag -, thae
"reminiscences of old times, until the
gong sounded for dinner. and every,
body about the grounds rose from
their various places and sauntered
toward the hotel.
Edith Ranken had been as much in
love with Oliver Blount as such girls
ever are with any one except them
selves.
In other words, she had known
chat he was the catch of the season
She would have been quite willing tc
marry him, and she quite intended
that he should be desperately il
love with her before many weeks haC
passed.
"rhere, Carmena, that will dot
concluded Miss Rankin, aloud, as sh,
slipped away from the fingers of hel
maid, and, catching up great buncl
of roses, pinned them in her belt n!
she floated downstairs, and present
ly entered the dining-room redolen
of beauty and perfume.
But Oliver Blount did not so mucl
as raise his eyes at her entrance
and Edith saw that his gaze was riv
eted on the shy, sensitive face of he
cousin, seated opposite.
And, to her intense chagrin, sh,
was conscious of a peculiar expires
sion on Berta's countenance-a some
derstand, but which, she felt vague
Iy, indicated that they were no
strangers, as she supposed.
Can it be possible thoy hav
known each other? Where could sh
have met him? But it's impossible
She never could have known him
She must have spoken of it to me
some time, as often as she has hear
me speak of him; and if she ha
known him all this time, and no
spoken of it, there's some mystery
some secret between them. Oh! tn
sly creature! Commend me to thes
quiet, reticent girls for deceit"
Whatever else Miss Ranken wa.
she certainly was not reticent, an
sshe lost no time in asking her cousi
plainly in regard to her acquaintanc
with Oliver Blount.
"Berta, you never mentioned tina
you had met Oliver" she said, tn
first moment she found herself alon
with her cousin.
81 don't know that I have. Edith!
returned Berta.
And bright pink, that Edith sa'
was very becoming, flushed up to til
girls clear brown cheek.
"Of course you don't-as often q
you've heard me speak of him! Ho
anyone can be so deceitful!"
Edith" said Berta, with evider
pain. II never thought of deceivin
you or anyone. How could I thin
I