The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-06-20
MOROUS.
A Funny Adventure


81 never attended but one temperance lee
ture," said our friend B., with peculiar
SMILE land don't think l shall ever attend
another"
'.You probably found it dry2"
well, yes-but that isn't it. The lecture
was well enough, but got into such an awful
scrape after it was over, that never think of
temperance meetings without sudden shud-
DIR. I'll tell you all about it. 1t was in N,
where was something Of stranger, and the
night was one of the worst of the season.
Boreas! how it blew! 1t was enough to take
ones breath away. Well, the lecture was
over, and making my way through the crowd,
L fingered in the doorway, contemplating the
awful scene, when somebody suddenly thrust
an arm within my own, and clingiDg to me
with bear like hug.
"Where haze you been 2? said the sweetest
voice in the world. I've been looking for you
everywhere"
Very much surprised, turned my head
aud saw-bnt can't describe her. 1t makes
me mad to think how prodigiously pretty she
was. With her left hand she leaned upon my
arm, while with her right she was arranging
her veil, and did not notice my surprise.
..You have been looking for mep'
Yes and now let's be going" was her re-
ply pressing my arm.
A thrill went to my heart. What to make
OF my lady's address, l did not know; but to
accompany her. We started off in the tenn
pest, the noise of which prevented any con-
versation. At length she said, with a scream,
Put your arm around me, or 1 shall blow
away"
need not describe to you my sensation, as
pressed her to my side aud hurried on. 1t
was very dark nobody saw us, and allowing
her to guide my steps, followed her motions
through two or three short streets, until she
stopped before an elegant mansion.
Have you your key?" she asked.
MY keyW stammered, there must be
some mistake"
AS she opened the door, I stood ready to
bid her good night, or to have some explana-
tion, when turning quickly she said: How
queer you act to-night,-ain't you coming
ZIP"
There was something very tempting in the
suggestion. Was going in? A warm house
and pretty woman were certainly objects of
consideration, and it was dreary 10 think of
facing the driving storm and seeing her no
more 1t took me three-quarters OF a second
TO make up my mind, and.I went. There was
u dim light in the hall, and as my guide ran
rapidly up stairs, why, | could do nothing
better than run up, too. followed her into
a very dark room.
Lock the door, john" she said.
Now,-if were the only John in the world,
Il thought she knew me. / felt for the key,
turned il In the lock, without hesitation, won
dering the same time what was coming next.
: Then an awful suspicion OF some horrid trick
flashed upon my mind, for have often heard
Of Infatuated men being lured to their des-
truction by pretty women, and was on the
point OF opening the door, when my lady
struck light. Then TO my dismay discov-
cred that was in a bedroom alone with the
strange woman. | said something, / don't
know what il was; but the lady lighted her
lamp, looked, stared at me an instant, turned
US white as a pillow case, and screamed:
who are you?-How came you here? Go
quick,-leave the room-I thought you was
my husband p and covering her face with her
hands she sobbed Historically.
was nearly petrihed. or course / was
as anxious to leave as she was TO have me-
But, in my confusion, instead of going
out at the door came In at, / walked into q
closet. And before could rectify my error,
there came a terrible laundering at the hall
door.-The lady's real husband had come, and
she flew to let him in. Well aware that it
would be OF no use attempting to get out of
the house by any other way than that In
which had entered 1t, and convinced OF the
danger OF meeting man who might fall into
the vulgar weakness of being jealous, / was
trying 10 collect my scattered senses, in dark
ness, when the wrathful husband burst into
the room followed by madame. Thelight was
friction match, the gruf voice raved and
stormed, jealous and revengeful: IL know he
Is here; | saw him come into the house with
youi You locked the d-o-o-rl I'll have his
heart out Where is he ?,
Hear me, hear me; will explain urged
the lady.
As was listening very attentively for the
explanation, the husband walked plump a.
gainst me, at that moment the light appeared
Well, b. we cried, deeply Interested, for
we knew that every word Of his story was
true, 'how.did you get out Of the scrape?'
i used violent remedy for SO violent COM
Plalnt. Driven in corner-my life in danger
--perceiyine at glance that Othello was not
as strong as was, threw myself upon him,
fell with him, and held him there until had
given a full explanation OF the error, made him
hear reason, and tanned him TO be as gentle as
lamb. Then left rather uneeremoniousIy,
and have never seen Othello or Desdemona
SINCE