Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-10-11
Miscellaneous.
LOST N 4 FOG.

In was the last day IN November in tn
year one thousand eight hundred and TWEEN
ty-something, and about the hOur Of noon
when the great and glorious-we might OF
this occasion. say ram glorioae-City o
London was hidden from mortal eyes by one
o. those dense brown fo.s that uituntimc.
convert II into anything but Paradise So
suddenly had the ohscuTity come on, that
many an unlucky wight had unwittingly
strayed oat Of the right path, not morally
be it understood, but literally, being mIsled
10y the impossi1iiity OF distinguishing one
street from another in those localities where
ali the Residences are private houses.
Among those misguided wayfarers was
certain pretty widow. named Cumley, who
haG been lured from her "apartmen,s," in
Great Coram street, by faint glimmering
OF the sun, which, an hour before, had
given some hope Of at least q continuance OF
daylight for a sufficient space Of time to
enable LeT to make a few purchases, wilh
view Of the enhancement OF her personal
attractions at party that was to come of
on the following evening. 1t was in her
way back from Oxford street that the dark.
ness began 10 gather around like the shades
of night, causing her to quicken her pace
and make sundry wise reflections on the
folly OF having suffered herself 10 be temp
ted, by the promptings OF vanity, to venture
abroad on such an inauspicious morning
AFRAID OF passing over a crossing, she kept
On the footway, and took one or two turn
ings haphazard, still hoping she was going
IN the right direction, until, no longer able
to distinguish streets from squares, she be-
came as completely lost rs the Babes IN the
81.
regions where there was not a single shop in
which she might have sought aid or counsel
in this her benighted situation.
"W hat in the world am | TO do ?' said
Mrs. Cumley to herself. Il shall never lind
my way home and as to getting into a cab,
even If I should meet with one, which Is not
very likely, ! should be afraid to trust my
self. 1t must be getting thicker. shall
net bo able to SEQ an inch before me, pres
emily. What a very unfortunate thing, to
be sure 90
Nh. Cumlcy was 40 coward, nor dad she
want for presence Of mind in any OF the ordi
nary circumstances OF life; but this was dI-
lemma for which she was totally unIrepared,
and it threw her into an unwonted state OF
perplexity, especially as, during the last ten
minutes. not u human being had passed by
to whom she might have applied for inform
alton as 10 her whereabouts. At length a
brilliant idea dashed through her mind.
at can do no very great harm, she
thought, "tO knock al a door, and ask what
street This is. Any one viii be civil enough
to tell me that
And acting on the impulse Of the moment
she, with some little difficulty, found out the
door Of house, for even the doors and win.
dows had become invisible. and having dis
covered the knocker, she gave, not a loud,
authoritative rat-tat-tat, that demands in
slant admission, but a modest rap, which
seemed to say, 4 shall feel obliged IL you
will open the door at your earliest conyo-
nience.
II was, therefore, some minutes before the
appeal was answered, but at length a man
servant presented himself, and opened his
eyes to their utII oSt extent at seeing we'll
dressed lady out and on foot, in such bad
weather
IL am sorry 10 trouble you" said Mrs.
Cum,ey. "but will you have tie kindness TO
tell uc what street this is, for I have lost
ny way in consequence of the fog2'
1T is no street at all, ma am, sal1 the
man, who seemed much disposed TO laugh.
This is Torrington Square"
"TorriDgton Square Bless me, then |
have come great deal too lar. and now l
don't know which way / must turn to get
to Great COram street
SAe had stepped from the threshold Of the
door, and was enabled to observe by the aid
OF a gas lamp that shed its brilliant rays
through the ball, that the house she had SO
unceremoniously invaded was of no mean or
,,,v. q
elegance about it that denoted wealth and
luxury. The stairs were richly carpeted,
and there was good FIRE in a stove opposite
the door.way in the hall that difused glow
ing warmth and Brightness on the scene
within, which was the more striking from
its contrast with the cold and gloom with
out
The man was doing his best to put her in
the right way for the locality she had named
when a door on one side of the hall suddenly
opened, and gentleman with a newspaper
in bis hand made his appearance.
''What is it, JamCs?''
"A lady, sir, has lost her way in the fog,
and wants to be directed
dear me, that's awkward, ' he said, ad-
vaneing step or two, perhaps to ascertain
what thc lady was like, q nd as the light shonc
full upon her face, he made another move IN
advance and said, ." You had better walk
in. madam. aud wait till it is a little clear
ef.
Il am very much obliged to you, sir |
hall be really very glad if YOU will allow
me to sit down here for a littlc while |
dare say il VIII be lighter presently" As
she was goius modestly to take a seat by the
hall fire. hc waved bis hand politely toward
the apartment from which he had just en-
erged, on which she courtosiod with grace
ful ease and walked in
As the gentleman was following, she heard
the servant say something 10 him 10 low
tone, wherein the word " luncheon" wa'
distinctly audible, and her quick car caught
the reply
'Oh, yes--yes. Bring it up al the same
f1T two, ot course
is was q large. well-iurnishoJ dining
room, and the widow De sooner cast her eve,
around il, than she came TO the conclusion
that ts owner was bachelor. She did not
exactly kuog that II was So, but was s.
convinced Of such being tie fact, that she
would noi have hesitatcd 10 bet a pair O
gloves upon II.
Mr. DazIe I was in truth single inAn
scmewhat past the meridian OF lie, but gooC
looking s,ill. with courteous, geDtlemanlik,
manners, and, to judge from the appearance
OF his surroundings, in easy circumstances
Il am sure, he said, as lie placed Il chai
near the fire Tor his involuntary guest, -
ought to feel much indebted to this fog
eince it has procured me so unexpected
spasure-"