The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-12-21

How far ia it ?" asked.
about four miles and half; it may be
more
"Thank you. That is all want" l replied,
"a passed into the house, where addressed my
note to "Miss Lucy Walters, care Of Miss G.
Wright" then sauntering out slowly, called
By the way, George, said I, az have a letter
to deliver out there. Do you think you could
do it for me?"
"Wsll, I can manage it for you, Mr.. Clark, re-
piled the lad. "My uncle Dean lives out there. "
els Mr.. Dean your uncle 2" I inquired hastily.
Eyes, sir, he replied"
"There is a lame girl living with them? ?"
continued.
Eyes; Miss Walters" he replied.
Scan trust you, George" inquired.
You may, sir If you want to help Miss Wal
ters without her knowing who is doing it," said
he.
"Well," said I, "this letter is intended for
Miss Walters, as you will perceive. It is a
money letter; and if you convey it to her that is
to yourselfs"
:" only wish could do twice as much for
Miss Walters" exclaimed the fine fellow; IL
shall put the letter where she will get it, and she
will never know where it came from. lam going
there tonight" slJ,
Every well, George" replied, as left him,
feeling satisfied the note was in safe hands.
"That lady in blue ?" said my cousin.
"No," said ], the lady beside her."
Have you not made her acquaintance That
is Miss Wright"
"Any relative to Miss Emma Wright"
"No; they are quite intimate, however Let
me present you"
fancied Miss Wright bestowed look of
more than ordinary curiosity upon me as my
cousin presented me, but II had the effrontery
to meet her enquiring look as if unconscious Of
the fact that had met those eyes before, and
had received from those ipsa sisterly kiss As
l seated myself l overheard the words:
"Taking everything into consideration, think
very little blame can be attached to the gentle
man, uttered in q merry tone by person at my
elbow. but whose face was turned from. me-
Pray have done, Ralph said Miss Wright,
as she tapped his shoulder lightly with her fan,
a faint blush suffusing her cheeks
"But the GOODNESS Of the whole proceeding"
continued the party addressed as Ralph, heed
less of her remOnstrance. 1.-THE fellow gave her
brotherly kiss"
Ralph r. exclaimed Miss Wright, as the
blood mounted to her forehead.
Come, Wright, don't ask US to believe that"
exclaimed one.
"Well she cannot deny having complained to
me the next day that he was exceedingly stupid
thinking l was offended al the while, and
scarcely uttered word; that she had to do all
the talking"
1--WE will take that with considerable allow.
ance, too" replied one of the listeners.
II met the fellow on the road," resumed the
gentleman, "and must say that I never en-.
countered man % like myself in ell my life"
"In truth, you are barbarian, Mr.. Wright,
to tell such things about your sister," said our
hostess, with Q laugh.
"As If did not owe her ten times as much"
said the young man. Ever since that evening
she has been teasing me in every conceivable
manner" he added, turning round towards her;
and, In doing 90, encountered my steady gaze,
he calculated witha preceptible start, ''there he
isl"
Miss Wright Aashed q meaning glance upon
him, then suddenly towards me, as If to observe
tho effect his examination and manner would pro-
duce upon me; but was equal to the smergen.
cy, and maintained an unrufaed composure.
II did not hear the first of that, Miss Wright"
said, rs I cast . careless glance over the won.
dering group, and another Of pretended aston.
ishment upon Mr.. Wright, who felt no little an
noyanoe.
she glanced at her brother. "Ralph, really, ia
unmerciful when he begins. am glad you did
may ~ we'll give correct version of tho affair.
Like an attentive brother, he permitted the crowd
to eepernte as at the close Of the opera on Tues
day, and was no unfortunate as to mistake Q
stranger for him, who accompanied me without
acquainting me of the error. Thinking it was
Ralph, and that his headache prevented him
from talking, I permitted my tongue to perform
rather more than fair share"
"Then all the blame must be laid upon Mr..
- l.
hope thathe will change for the better" said on
hostess. II think even now he exhibits signs
repentance"
"Until lately" she replied, placing an enphs.
sis upon the word, +" did not have the slightest
clue to the gentleman
"Does she know the truth 2" asked myself.
"Have I betrayed myself +? I might have
known that her woman's instinct would detect
me-"
While these aud similar thoughts occupied my
mind, became engaged in al interesting CONVEX
sation with Miss Wright, in the course Of which
allusion was made to the opera last night.
odd attend it9"
"Reslly, was it the last or the one preceding
IL, or the second ? Certainly I attended one Of
them Ny memory was 20 treaohsrous Per.
haps It was the last: It least there was sui.
locating crash"
And the conversation went ON az before. The
DEPRESSION removed all doubt from her mind. I,
at least, had known nothing Of her adventure
prior to that evening, when her misunderstanding
brother made it public.
do not think was romantic at the time, aud
yet must confess that from the beginning Of
our acquaintance entertained the hope that
Aiss Wright would one day become my wife. I
was not disappointed. k
II was, perhaps six months aftcr we were
married that l carried home in my pocket .
newspaper containing hattering notice of Lucy