T"" Krowd " consisted of ten of us,—ten as jolly and good
natured fellows as often get together, always in for having
a good time and a good laugh, but standing true to each
other in case of trouble. None of. us were married although four
were engaged. Our leader was Gibbs, a practical joker on whom
none of us could turn the tables, but who htd made each of us the
butt of one of his good jokes.
I was the youngest of them, and was known as " Sis " on ac
count of my girlish appearance. The name, however, had been
given me when I was younger, because I delighted in dressing up
in my twin sister's clothes, and passing myself off for her. And
although I had long since ceased to play such tricks, yet the name
and the likeness to my sister Emma still clung to me.
Gibbs had for some months been paying a good deal of atten
tion to Emma, and in fact had proposed; but for reasons of her
own she would give him no answer, except that she would tell
him when she had made up her mind. Knowing this, and having
overheard a lecture one morning, which father was giving her
about Gibbs' staying so late the night before, I deN:rised a plan to play
a trick on our " joker." Mordeau, my best friend, and I had often
tried this before and had always failed, but when I laid my plans
before him, he was willing to help again, for we felt sure we
would succeed this time. So we decided to try. . •
At noon that day, when Gibbs went to the post-office, he re
ceived a small envelope addressed in a girl's handwriting which he
recognized at once. With eager haste he tore it open and read
the following words:
Dear Fred
lam angry. I had some words with rather this morning
about your staying so late last night, and am determined to marry
you now. We will elope. Whistle three times before the house
tonight at ten, and I will join you. Then we will live in peace
and love, and may sit up as long as we please.
DID WE SUCCEED ?