The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-12-18
Emerson gnteQigenetr. /.
A FORTUNATE. MISTAKE


,.sYou good for-nothing! | thought l
had lost You! What frightful crush. |
do believe-mY aranis broken and my dress
ruined .
agreed with her; but restrained myself,
laughing inwardly at the novel position
in which I. was placed, and wondering
who my fair companion could be. Evi-
IDENTIFY she mistook me for her brother, or
possibly her husband, Judging from the
<famiiiarity,of her manner, for she added,
II. a sympathizing tone:
sRorgive me, Ralph-your poor head
/ am sorry I made you come
.sPardon me, madam said but
ssoh, nonsense, Ralph" she Interrupted
me. ss You have become halt-baroarian
since YOU went to the war, TO permit me
to seat myself, while:you stand there as if
I were your wife, and you ten years mar
ried. instead of .vour, sister, whose ready
assiistan tin. place of a better-you should
ha Ralph; I shall catch my death of
cold sitting here; and such long ride,
-toop
Here the lady gave a perceptible shiver.
esDo jump in and sit down, or wiiP'-
What she would have done I did not
wait to hear; but taking my place beside
herin the. carriage, we were driven Oft,
whittier I knew not.
s.Iwon't ask you to talk with me with
that headache, but want you to listen to
me,ss' began my companion, the. moment
we started. 'sI wanted to talk to you
coming in, but that little chatter er-boX,
Maggie. prevented me from saying u word
to You. You remember poor little Lucy
Walters, Ralph. Her mother died about
two months ago, and the poor girl has
gone to live with the Deans. Mr.. and
Mrs. Dean have been very kind to her,
but it is impossible for them to do more
than shelter her. How any one can have
the heart to wound Lucy's feelings is q
mystery to me-, and yet every occasion
that presents itself is seized upon by the
Wares and Kings to insult her, even to
commenting upon the poor girls fathers S
actions; as if she could have prevented
chat which occurred twenty years ago !;
and have. seen Sarah Ware initiating
her walk. regardless of poor Lucy's tears
The doctor says that now nothing can be
done for her, If she had good teacher,
she might in time be independent; but
that would require money, and you know
Ishayn't tsmuch, Ralph; but / have deter
mined to do something for our old play
mate. & can save out of my allowance
one hundred and fifty dollars, and now II
YOU will double it, what will that not do
for Lucy? If I am correct it will enable
her to attend the School of Design and
take private lessons in art for year; and
at the end of that time, if Lucy is alive,
she will show the world what q woman
can do. l know you will give your share
towards the sum, like good brother as
you are
Here my companion became quiet, and
the question presented itself to my mind:
ssHow am to escape from this awk-
ward position honorably 2" Here have
been guilty of listening to a communica-
tion. intended for the ear of another
have been guilty of an inexcusable decep-
tion, practiced upon stranger and a lady
knowingly. Perhaps the honest plan
would be. to aequaint her at once with the
mistake, and solicit her pardon.
Il was about to commence my well
studied speech, when my companion gave
q little laugh as she said:
1Really, Ralph, yon are very entertain
ing, in your own peculiar way; but if
YOU are as dumb when in the presence Of
Miss Vernon as you have been tonight,
she is to be pitied rather than envied
But here we are at uncle's, and you know
/ promised to stop with Carrie tonight !;
so you will have no one to bother you the
remainder of the road. How singular
you do act tonight, Ralph! Well, | will
not tease you any more"
Suddenly the driver drew up before an
elegant residence, and imagining l per-
ceived loop-hole whereby l might escape
fFomsmy awkward predcament, sprang
out of the brougham and assisted the la
dy to alight.
"Is your head still aching, Ralph? Good
night Why, you did not kiss me-"
AS the fair face was upturned to mine,
with. its tempting lips awaiting the kiss, |
pressed my shawl down from my mouth
Suddenly, and as suddenly felt my head
drawn down to receive the most delicious
Kiss that ever was bestowed by maiden
aYou need not wait; the door is open.
and there stands Carrie, bless her n' said
my companion, as she tripped up the
steps, while stood irresolute.
Seating myself once more, | was again
driven off, but whittier | knew not /
only knew that | had lost IL charming
companion, whose lips moment since
were pressed against my own, and whom
in all probability l might never meet
My specuiations were, however, cut
short by the abrupt stoppage of the car
riage, whereupon | stepped out leisurcly.
picking up from the bottom as | did so an
exquisitely embroidered handkerchief
iii tho initinls &c WN In ono of the