The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-07-07
A MANS CONFESSION.
81. n. RopINsoN

| =
! suddenly found myself with lady had
never seen before on my arnh aud whose
name even was unknown 10 me---on nv.
hands might better have said, for nav &C.
centric and somewhat absent-ininded friend
Graysonl Disappeared among the crowd In
pursuit OF parcel lleit In the carriage he
had lately occupied. rnU Ar4ND.i
| The third bell rang; the merciful second
4 clapplng After ''all ashore,Y vanished, and,
10 The midst OF our exclamatiOus and won
derinRa, the Eclipse moved from her moor
ings, and was out In the stream. Grayson
received his parcel, but lost his passage. |
was the sole legatee OF his carpet bag, two
| trunks, and a strange young lady. ~
L had noticed hor on the pier before
saw she was under Grayson's charge for,
having no female acquaintances of my own,
not even sister, was much giteni III those
days to an admiration of pretty faces or A
neat figure. | fancied | had an eve for
both, and when ] sat gis q ris at n table q
1,D note 70 a party OF ladies, or encountered
them groupcd or singly In the street. I q
elected my preferences instinctiyely,i and
tion,
thad noticed. then. tan, father Slight
figure, In agreyisli travelling dress She
was neatly gloyed, and had n clean white
collar setting of her throat, fastened only
by brooch. | could not have studied
these Outlines so cooly now, for I was In
lduty bound to be most respectful and
Iconsolatory escort. Hffri f4ll G
~ am very sorry," said the pleasant
voice of the unknown, fairly realizing that
mo flying leap, however valorously nt-
tempted could restore her original pro-
tector. .a q d... .4lit.i. fI. .P.I. - ,
the V greatest aos %Se5i9n IT. replied; is
"For Mr. Graysons sm INTERRUPTED NV
cornpanion. Il know he has an important
engagement and besides had lust given
nm my purse TO get my ticket, and am
without any money.
l felt so sorry for her her face, flushing
just II little ms she spoke, showed how eN2
tremely embarrassing she felt her position
TO be; and yet admired her for the frank.
raightforwardness Of her declaration.
Many women would have fretted over n m
secret half the day. revolving the most inns
possible methods of procedure, and at last
resorted to tangle Of little apologies and
distresses, making me Uncomfortable as
well as themselves. p.4i it l'I-VIlT III
"Donot give ita thonght.r lsaid instant. f
ly. us this your baggage--these trunks ~
one bowed IN assent. ] was In homes tho
trunks would assist me TO her name. But
no there were onlyfnitials. | asobliged
10 ASK II before procurng her ticket with
my own. There was a great whizziup of
steam just as she replied which confused
me. did not catch her name. But how
awkward to ask IL over again IL sounded
something like Green. | would try
Sif Miss Green will wait in the ladies
saloon.r said l. ~ ~
A little smile lifted over her face. bur
she did not disclaim the name and COM
graduated myself on my clever "guess', as
walked forward for the tickets.
when returned Ia her she was reading
quietly, as IL tacitly 10 release me from any
personal attendance, if felt 50 disposed.
Bnt, at the risk of appearing intrusive. |
asked u she would go on deck, and said
something about the sunset as an excuse
u We resumed our promenade after sumner
The evening was very warm; the cabin
was close, and vocal with noisy children:
besides, the summons 10 table had inter,
rupted a most interesting conversation.
The irankness which | SO admired rave
an ease To her manner and conversation
which had never before seen In Young
lady. ! had usually found the sex stlE
conscious, countcrfeiting timidity, strain
ing after reserve, or hoydcns, n character
that dlsliked still more. We glided from
one topic To another, avoiding trivialities.
and were personal only so far as the ex-
preston of opinions. Hers were neither
iiippant nor crude. Evidently, she had
thought as well as read much An intro-
dnction OF commonplace topics would, |
felt, have silenced her. We did not always
agree In our views. liked her all the bet
ter for defending her own position Instead
of agreeing for the appearance OF aminbil-
ity. Aud thus we talked on going over
more topics than would have been toncbed
upon ~ an ordinary formal series of visits
extending over year. p" fi
When | retired for tho night felt under
great obligation To Grayson for being LEFT
with this lady. Usually have slept quite
ns well on Il steamboat as at home: but
came to the conclusion that the coffee must
have been very strong as ] turned about In q
Lhe comfortable berth for the fortieth time
since retiring and still seemed to feel the
light pressure Of that gloyed hand upon
my arm. iI,4lfo 'Ht aEl-Ii ii1f II iI
We were old friends when we met tho
next morning andhcr morning salutation
given with smile, made me feel extreme
y human, One must have lived on the
public many years fully TO appreciate the
iaily slight amenities of the home cirnlp
was glad of the dampncss Of the morning
when we landed, for IL gave me the omar
unity of folding the railway ruo around
her, which ] dare say L dId awknrilS
enough, having had no practice; and car
rled her rtraveling-hasket 10 the train. anJS
'stahllshed myself opposite her quite as a D.
! hoped that the course Of conversation i''
SAild develop her fathers hamc and rest
ience, or alluded To brother might possj-
by nave met, was sure OF having encoun-
cred at least two young men OF the same
lanle but was Obliged, after all, 10 intro
ince them myself TIL inHIft tI1 UIi IN, 81
May ask ifyoung Appleton Groen of .
he guards, Is one of your family ~ | said. ID
She had right to smile archly Mt mv
IL was so self-eyident. Rut b.
Mr.. Appleton was not a connection I"
There Was Tom Green then, a barrister
N the temple" ] said, resolved 10 hazard
my favor might have found In her sigLt
BY apparent undue curiosity, rather ti1an
ose all trace of her when we parted. 3 D 'lIi
She smiled again, So she was not offended;
lut was in fault there, too. She had never
% % nlneh as heard of my acquaintance nor
lid she assist me Ia the least IN my pursuit
4 useful knowledge, aud | began 10 fear
nat our acquaintance must end rs abruptly
Is II began, for knew that she expected
ONE one To take charge OF her on herarrl-
ial at the next station,
IL was middle-agcd benevolent looking
lerson, and might have been her father:
)nt lie was not, Tor she introduced him "a
dr. Gordon; and when had the inexpress-
BILE delight OF receiving the coveted inyi-
alton 10 call nc Highland Cottage, nc did
lot second the invitation. He called her
dary, noticed, and was In too much Of 4