Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-04-21

| said, " for the distress have 80 unwiiugly
caused yon Heaven knows that if accepted
the charge of so much innocence and beauty
too lightly. atoned since, in having occasion
ed this suffering to you, and my own punish
ment is greater than can bear"
The coach stopped as | spoke she turned
towards Inc eagerly her face bearing traces Of
tears and said, in low voice, DO not mis-
understand me, if was so silent"
The coachman threw open the door, and
stood waiting. | was obliged to descend and
to assist her out | hardly dared to touch that
little hand, though it was for the last time but
watched her graceful figure with sad distress.
She was already recognized, for the door of
the handsome house before which she stopped
was thrown open, and pretty woman follow
ed by fine looking black whskered gentleman.
whom | supposed to be my namesake, rushed
down the steps There were loud eXclama-
tIonS Of astoniShment and pleasure, n cordial
welcome, and some rapid questions to which
Florence returned very low and quiet answers,
and quickly eXtricating herself from the con
fusion, presented me us lie Roy, your hush
aUds namesake, and the gentleman who kindly
took charge Of me-" glanced at her face to
see if she was mocking me but it was pale
and grave. Mrs. lie Roy opened her pretty
eyes wildly, but was to well bred to express
surprise, and after introducing Inc 10 her hus.
band in the same terms invited Inc into the
house. Hardly conscious Of what | did, or
anything except that | was still in the pre-
Sence of Florence, from whom | could not bear
70 Danish myself, | followed them into a hand
some paror, where sat an old lady, who my
conscience told me was the rheumatic aunt l
bad SO cruelty belied. Florence herself pre-
sented me to this lady, who was a fixture, and
unable to rise from her chair, and before /
could stammer an apology and retire, related
in her own way chow different from mine) the
mistake 10y which she had been placed in my
care, and the history Of our journey. in which
it appeared our host, Mr.. lie Roy had been
fellow passenger.
When she had ended, they all crowded about
me, warmly expressing their thanks for my
" kindness and consideration" to my utter
bewilderment and surprise, and cordially nyit
ed me to remain with them, and make the ac-
quaintance OF my namesake and family. |
detached myself from all the unexpected kind
ness as soon as could, for | faucied | read
aversion in the flushing and paling face, and
dropping eyes of Florence, and with one last
look at her, | left the room A moment after,
felt the touch Of light hand on my arm,
and turning, saw, with mute surprise, that she
had followed me into the vestibule.
Mr. lie Roy" she said, hurriedly, q can
not let you 60 away misunderstanding me, as
| see YOU do If l was silent while you hum
| bly, apoogzed for the noble, generous, and
honorable delicacy of your conduct, it was not
from anger, believe me, but because | was at
first too much astonished, afterwards too much
moved and grateful to speak owe you more
than ! can say and should be miserable indeed,
if false shame, which YOU see has not pre-
vented my telling you this, should prevent you
from continuing all acquaintance 50 strangely
begun. Trust me, sir, | speak the truth"
don't know what answer | made for the
revulSion of my feelings was almost too great
! for words, aud the rapture of knowing, as |
| looked down upon that lovely face that it was
not for the last time, quite took away the little
! sense | had remaining. If YOU want to know
how felt, ask a man whois going TO be hung,
| how ne would feel to be reprieved.
Well, how time flies? II certainly does not
seem five years since all this happened, yet cou-
sin Jenny, (@y consin Jenny now so bitterly
reproaches US in her last letter for not visiting
/
taken the journey, but under different auspices,
since Florence is Florence Dundard no more,
and sleeps on my arm in the cars no more blush
ingly, but with the confidence of a wife of near
ly five years standing, and | register our names
in the hotel book, as Mr.. and Mrs Leroy,
and bless my lucky stars as read it over
Even, while | write Florence lovelier than ev-
er, as | thiuk, makes grand pretence of ar
ranging our baggage at the hotel where we
stop (and which has reminded me- by past
transactions, to write down this story or
comes leaning over me to call me " dear CheS,
ter" instead Of my dear cousin Frank, as
five years before, and to scold me for being 50
stupid as to sit and write, instead Of talking
with her. Stupid, indeed, to prefer black
pen TO those rosy lips.
Was ever man so happy in Slight
Mistake"