The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-01-02
A FORTUNATE MISTAKE.

| had lost you! What a frightful
crash do believe my arm is bro,
kcr and my dress ruined"
~ was on the point of replying
that | agreed with her, but re,
strained myself, laughing inwardly
at the novel position in which |
was placed, and wondering who
my fair companion could be. Ev-
identity she mistook mo for her
brother, or possibly her husband,
Judging from the familiarity Of her
manner, for she added, in SYM
pathizing tone:
Forgive me, Ralph-your poor
head |! | am sorry | made you
come"
Pardon me, madam said I !;
"but-
"Ob, nonsense, Ralph" she in
tcrrupted me. You have become
half-barbarian since you went to
the war, to permit me to seat my,
self, while you stand there as il |
were your wife, and you ten years
married, instead OF your sister,
whose ready assistant-in place Of
a better-you should be. Ralph,
| shall catch my death of cold sit
TING here: aud such q loup ride
too!
Here the lady gave perceptiblc
shiver.
DO jump in and sit down, or |
wiIl"-
What she would have done | did
not wait to hear; but taking my
! place beside herin the carriage, We
were driven of, whittier l. knew
not. '
Il won't ask you to talk with me
with that headache, but | want you
to listen TO me-" began my com
panion, the moment we started
II wanted to talk to you coming
! in, but that little chatter box, Mag
gic, prevented me from saying a
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 dc
more than shelter her. How any
one can have tho heart to wound
Lucy's feelings is a mystery to me
and yet every occasion that pre-
sents itself is seized upon by the
Wares and Kings to insult her
even to commenting upon the poor
| girls fathers actions; as if she
could have prevented that which
occurred twenty years ago; and
have seen Sarah Ware initiating
her walk, regardless of poor Lucy''
tears. The doctor says that now
nothing can be done for her. l
she had good teacher, she nigh
in time bo Independent; but tha
would require money, and you
know | haven't much, Ralph bu
| have determined to do something
for our old playmate. l can save
out of my allowance one hundred
and fifty dollars, and now If yo'
will double it, what will that no
do for Lucy? III am correct i
will enable her.to atterd the Schoo
of Design and take private lessons
in art for a year; and at the end o
that time, if Lucy is alive, she viii
shoE the world what II woman cal
do. | know you will give you
share towards the sum, like a gooC
brother us you are,
Hero my companion became qul
ct, and tho question presented 1t
self to my mind;
"How am | to escape from th'
awkward position honorably p
Here | have been guilty of listen
ing to q communication intended
for the ear of anothcr-have bceI
guilty of an inexcusablc deception
, pracliced upon a stranger and
; lady knowingly. Perhaps the hon
!, est plan would be to acquaint he
t at once with the mistake, and SC
a licit her pardon"
. | was about to commence m.
! well studied speech when my com
: .panion gave II little laugh as Sh
said:
"Really, Ralph, You are very en-
tcrtaining, in your own peculia
way but if you arc as dumb whc
in ihe presence of Miss Vernon a
you have been tonight, she is t
, be piticd rather than onvied. Bu
! here VIC are at unclcs, and 70
E know promised to stop with Can
;, rio tonight; so you will have n
ono to bother you the remainder
the road. How singular you d
ac! TO. night, Ralph Well, wi
not tease you any more
Suddenly the driver drew up b'
I. fore an elegant residence, and in
@ agining | perceived a loop-hoI
D whereby might escape from m
awkward predicament, | spran
. out of the brouqham and assiste
'S the lady to alight.
as your head still aching, RaIpl
Good night. Why, you did NJ
kiss me-"
AS tho fair face was upturned
tyy mine, with its tempting lips awa'
ss ing tho kiss, l pressed my SHAY
an down from my mouth suddenl,
e. and as suddenly felt my he'
drawn down to receive the mo
delicious kiss that ever was b
L slowed by maiden.
"You need not wait; tho door
ny open, and there stands Carrie, bic
her p said my companion, as s.
tripped up tho steps, while | sto,