Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-04-21


With such bald, disjointed chat we be-
guiled the time till we reached London
Bridge. Finding my fellow travellers were
going westward, instead of taking my con-
templated hanson, hailed one Of our dis
reputable four-wheelers, saying was pro-
ceeding in the same direction, and would
be happy to set them down anywhere on
my road. After much prm objection on
the part Ofthe elder lady, and little laugh
ing and palaver from me. they were IN
duced to accept my offer of a cast in the di-
rectiOn they intimated as their destination.
must explain why was tempted to offer
this somewhat unusual civility to two
strangers. The fact is, that whilst waiting
for the collection of the tickets, | was, by
the steady light from the platform lamps,
enabled to make much more minute in
spection of my companions than had pre-
viously done, and | was suddenly struck
nay, almost staggered-by the resemblance
of the younger lady to my little friend OF
Friday evening. / looked from her face 10
her bonnet from bonnet to brooch and dress,
and discerned that the resemblance did not
end in the features Both these sisters
were dressed so precisely like the girl
whom / was going to meet that i looked
from one to the other in puzzled and be-
wildered manner, without being able to
collect my ideas. Could be deceived, and
was my chatty companion the very child
herself on whose care had been bestOw-
ing such profound attentions? Had she re-
gained without my help her proper guar
dian, in the person of the stad, vigilant-
looking elder sister? But no! this was
impossible; she was too old, too self-pos-
sessed; in fact, less charmingly simple.
No, it could not be she! Determined to
come to the bottom of the mystery-for
mystery there appeared to be in this
strange resemblance-I urged that as was
going down Fleet street, it would not be
taking me out of my way to forward them
some distance east. Convinced by my ar
guments, they at last took their seats as |
before said, | opposite, determined to avail
myself of the close proximity to convince
me whether the likeness was imaginary or
actual.
The rattlipg of the cab rendering, as It
always does, conversation somewhat diff
cult, we relapsed into comparative ST.
lence; but every now aud then some pecu-
liar turn OF expression, or slight provincial
ism in the elder sister, caught my ear, and
recalled something said by the little girl.
during our Friday nights walk; so, feeling
thoroughly convinced that was right, with
that legal inquisitOral manner which ma
ture has implanted in me, and art was per-
teCting, | said
pray don't think me rude; ask serious
ly, and in all honesty of purpose, were you
ever at Ringwood, in Hampshire?"
"Oh, certainly; it is our native place.
But why do you ask ~
Never mind just now; being right in
one point, will you allow me to put another
ques tiOn?-yOu have siSterY
"Yes; DO you know herr"
IL think So"
"Then you also know RngwoOd ?r
"NO; | have never even seen the place."
"Then you cannot know my sister" re-
plies the grave elder woman, "because she
has never travelled more than few miles
from there in her life"
II must beg leave to question this"
"YOu must beg leave TO do nothing of the
sort" say both, eagerly, together. 81"
continued the elderly lady, "Only left there
on Tuesday, and | am morally certain she
is there still, as received a letter from her
on Friday morning, giving me no reason to
suspect she had any idea OF leaving home"
The gravity and decision with which this
was said Tor moment made me hesitate. l
recovered myself, however, and with an
earnestness that | could see at once i'm
pressed them, resumed:
"At the risk of being thought very in
quisitive, may | ask ifyoG have not recent
ly lost your mothers"
Yes, that's 100 true y said the elder. II
now have charge of my young sister in our
old home and left her but for few days
whilst | came up to see the Exhibition, and
arrange some matters of business with our
sister"-turning towards her companion
"who has lived in London some years"
This at once decided me.
MAY | ask whereabouts you live in
town? ?"
Il really do not see, sir, what right you
have to ask such question"
mo, | have no right, but an excellent
motive, as you will see directly"
"Well, then, if it is for the satisfaction of
any good purpose, l do not mind telling
you that am in situation in a house OF
business in the West End" which she mem
toned.
Thanks for your candid answer, which
has confirmed what | suspected when put
so many questions. Now, Notwithstanding
your conviction that your sister is still at
home, what will you say if, in the course OF
another ten minutes"-for the whole thing
now dawned clearly upon mel put her
into this cab?"
A look OF painful anxiety replaced the
former one of surprised incredulity. l
proceeded:
Il have not asked where you are gOing!"
"Only to a friends house at Kensngton,
where we are staying for few days" eX-
claimed both eager y, evidently much agi-
tated by what had said.
well, then, may | ask You to come as
far as Cnaring Cross; wait in the cab for
few minutes; 1 will SO contrve it as to
bring the young lady l conceive to be your
sister into such position that you may rec
ognize her, without any chance of her see
ing you, until you wish it. Will you do
SOP"
A troubled "Yes, if you really are in
earnest in what you say " assured me
might follow out my plan. put my head
out of the window, aud told the cabman to
drive to the Adelaide Gallery Arcade, and
pull up against the passage beside the
church. r.
Short as was the interval ere we arrived,
had still plenty of time TO indulge in some
very anxious thoughts as TO whether the
advent of my quondam friends of the FRI
day night would enable me to perform all
had promised. Were they to fail me,
felt how very impertinent my Iestions
and behavior would appear to my new
friends; in short, they would be quite JUS
titled in pronOuncing me a lunatic, or in
believing [ had some sinister design, ia-
stead of being, as was, actuated by the
most philanthropic of motives. 1t would,
indeed, be miraculous stroke of good for
tune if the chance that had so curiously
brought me in contact with the elder sisters
should still befriend me. aa
so soon as we stopped at the spot l had
named. | sprung ont OF the cab, and, again