The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-09-24

and manner would pfoduce upon me:
but vas equal 10 the emergency. md
nIalutasned an unrpflod composure.
i did NOT heer tae first of that. Miss
Wright. ] said. .as / cast a careless glance
over the wondering group. and anoth-
or Of pretended astonishment II Mister
Wright. who felt no little annoyance.
Perhaps il ia Just as well, was the re.
ply, as she glanced at her brother
Ralph really il unmorcifal when he be-
gina am glad yon did not hear the
whole; but that nov thar il Is out /
may as velI givu you correct version
of tie attain Like an attentive broth
or he'pennItted the crowd to separate
us at theelose u the opera ON Tuesday,
and wTa So unEortunate as TO mistake
a strangeAfar hia, who accompanied
me home without aeuuainting me Of ms
error. Tbinking that il was Ralph, and
that his headache persepted him from
talking, | did permit my tongue to per-
form rather more than fair share.
Then ali the blame must be laid on
Mr.. Wright He should be the last TO
mention il. His want Of proper feeling
is very much TO 10 deprecated: let us
hope he will change for the better, said
our hostess think even now he ex-
hibits signs Of repentance
Does she know the truth? Have /
betrayed myseiff' asked myself. /
might have known that her woman's
instinct would detect me.
While these and similar thoughts
occupied my mind, became engaged
in an interesting conversation with Miss
Wright, in the coiirse OF which allusion
was made to the last opera night.
Did attend itf'
Really, was it the last, or the one
preceding it, or the second 7 Certain
ly / attended one Of them, but which
one My memory was so treacherous
Perhaps it was the last; at least there
was a suffoeating crush.
And tho conversation went on as be-
fore. The depression removed all doubt
from her mind. l, at least, had known
nothing of her adventure prior to that
evening, when her misunderstanding
brother made it all public.
] do not think that | was romantic
at the time, yet / confess that, from the
beginning OF our acquaintance, / enter
tanned tho hope that Miss Wright
would become my wife. / was not dis
appointed.
1t was, perhaps, six months after we
were married, that / carried home a.
newspaper containing tlattering no
tice of Lucy Walters. AS Mrs. Clark
employed herself with her work, drew
forth the paper and read to her the no.
tice. Lucy was pursuing her studies and
had carried off the prize medal. As she
listened to Che tiatsering comments paid
81 bar vorras, fss-stsy,, 80 ss,-ifs,,s fssed III
up with as glow ofMIeashre
Ralph a. ed Il sgh at me when J.
told him Lucy wdtld one day make 4
name for herself she said musingly.--
i have SO often wondered, she contin-
uod as she resumed her work, who ii
was that sent her that money
You mean the person who aceompa-
MED you to your Uncle Glaham's from
the concert, said J.
yes, she replied; it was very sin
gular bis giving the money in the way
he did.
Doubtless he did it to secure your
good opinion, said |.
Then he has never had the satisfac-
ton Of knowing how it was received
said my wife.
OF course he has, though said /.
How do you know?' inquired Mrs.
Clark looking up from her work. He
may be dead.
But he is living, Caroline, said l.
Who is living? she asked.
The person you SO often think about
who sent Lucy Waters the money, and
whom you kissed
Mr.. Clark 7 exclaimed my wife, as the
work fell from her hands into her lap.
Mrs. Clark 7 i retorted.
You don't think? how can you say
such a thing 2 And a puzzled express
sion rested upon my wife's face, which
in spite Of all my powers of resistance
forced me TO laugh
oh, / remember now,' she said;
Ralph said something like that when
when you were present
Then Mrs. Clark you deny having
kissed him p
She threw her work aside suddenly
and arose.
Harry is it possible that it was you 2
Very probable, certainly
And you have concealed it all this
timel you most deceptive Of men 7 she
exclaimed.
Don't blame me for doing what nei-
thor you nor any other woman con do I
said |, and that is keep secret-un-
less it be her age
1 will not believe it, said Mrs. Clark.
Because you tried TO surprise me in
to a confession and failed, replied. =
Then let this be tie proof
was prepared for this scene, and
drew from my pocket the handkerchief
and pointed out her initials, whereupon
we mutually agreed that she had made
a FORTUNATE MISTAKE
--4------------------
A New England politician, speaking
OF contemporary, says, all he wants is
fair chance, and he will make the
meanest man in Connecticut.
An afflicted individual who is troub-