Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-09-26
EOW IT ALL HAPPENED

Rat -tat-that's the postman-two let
ters for Mrs. Olinthus Lobb, Cedar
Villa, Putney, and Charlotte says, ''If
you please, ma'am, two letters for you"
Nonsense, | must be dreaming, and
shall awake to find myself still Miss
Britannia Plummidge.
| have been married six weeks last
Wednesday, and yet now, when any
body suddenly calls me Ms. Lobb, l
have to pinch myself to make sure am
still flesh and blood. All! young peo-
pie get accustomed to things quickly !;
bat when you have been called by one
name for forty seven years, it seems
impossible ever to change it. How
ever, I've changed mine by miracle
Now | am going to tell how it all
happened. Panels and | axe the daugh-
ters of a colonel in the army lie had
retired as long ago as can remember;
and when he died he left Us our little
cottage and ego year He denied
himself many a comfort to do this, and
the memory Of cur father is very dear
to us. We tried to do as lie would
have wished US, aud some years ago
when Mr.. Thompson, most respecta-
bic man, bat miller, offered me his
hand and heart, Pamela said, ono, we
have our fathers position to maintain !"
So | had to decline, very reluctantly
must own, for he was a widower, and
my heart seemed to long to take care of
those two dear lit lie girls After that
one offer | never got another, and | be-
gan to resign myself to what seemed
my ordained portion
Binfeld, where We lived, is about
twenty miles from London. 1t was our
rule to go to town twice a year to re
eeive our dividends, to buy any special
article Of dress we needed, and to feast
our eyes on the tempting beauties dis
played in the shop windows. This had
been plan of cur dear fathers, and
during the London day we often spoke
of him-how surprised he would have
been at this alteration, CT that improve
ment, or how pleased to see something
which drew forth our wonder or admi-
ration On this particular occasion Pam
had been staying with friend of ours
at Pentonville, and we agreed that we
should meet to do our business, spend
the day, and return home together in
the evening. Five minutes to nine the
train was to start; but L was so afraid
of not being in time, that | was ready
at half past seven. 1t being ridiculous
to leave home at that hour, | took up a
book-not that l could read either, be,
cause of the unpleasant feeling that l
might forget something which Pam
would be certain to ask for. Eight
o clock struck. 1t would only take
twenty minutes to walk slowly to the
station, and | had then half an hour to
spare. No matter, l would start at the
quarter past, in case of accidents And
a very fortunate ting it was did start ;
fer had passed Bulls Cross when |
discovered | had no pocket handker-
chief. However, l had time to hurry
back and put one in my pocket All
how little thought that trifing incl
dent would be the means of bringing
about the great event of my life
When | reached the platform look
ed about but saw nobody knew. The
guard put me into an empty carriage,
and though several of our gentlemen
passed they only nodded "good morn
ing" SO alone l started, but not to
remain alone long, for at every station
people got in and got out until we
reached Chingford Here | thought |
was to be left by myself again, but just
as the train was moving off middle
aged gentleman rushed up. The guard
opened the door of my carriage, and he
was obliged to jump in, making use, as
| thought, of such an improper express
sion that if Pamela had been there she
would certainly have given. him in
charge. But our cars often deceive us
have 81 ce found out that he merely
remarked on finding a lady alone,
"ddme seule." Still at the time | felt
rather indignant, and looked at the Of