The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-04-29
ALTOGETHER A MISTAKE.

A bright sea-coal fire, burning low and
clear in an open CRATE, room furnished In
blue velvet and gold, a black walnut table,
covered with dunning Epistles and unpaid
bills, and myself, Mr.. Egertoh De Burgh
lust breaking open letter which had arrived
by the nights post-that is our "situation."
ssBe sure to come down to Knelford Friday
at the LATEST Egerton,'' wrote my sister In that
struggling Italian hand of hers that was SO hard
to decipher s'for Miss Mountjoy is to be here
and want you to have the first chance at that
hundred thousand dollars, and Uncle Simeon med
ding old ogre, has already written for Grant
Morrall to be here, Lose no time and you will
win the prize-now is the season for you to re-
treee your lost fortune? Remember this is
strictly between yourself and devoted sister,
LEONE WHARTON"
"All right" I unused to myself, refolding
the scented billet of lavender satin paper, but
without inward qualification, on my sisters
thoughtfulness. Hai
81 will be on hand as punctual as. a Con-
nceticut clock. Grant Morrall and | have
always managed to be rivals through life ;
let us see if [ can't, for once contriye to get
ahead Of him p 6a4#a
With these thoughts passing through my
mind packed my trunk and took the nearest
train for the nearest station to Mrs. Wharton S
country place Knelford. III .i.l.p
Not that liked the country in winter; on
the contrary, it was my aversion. Big wood
fires in wide throated cEimneys, and brisk
walks over snow manted terraces, were all We
ny nice to read about in romances, but there
were always draughts to its doors and windows
and acute twinges of rheumatism in the twi
rambles. But what would not have rlsked
to make myself agreeable to Ida Mountjoy
The stage which passed near Knelford was
waiting at the depot, as the train after depos-
iting its dozen OF SO passengers, rushed upon
its way, but my sisters carriage had not beer
sent down to meet me.
every strange" muttered to myself, look
ing around, and stamping on the hard frozer
ground to restore my dullcd circulation
ssHallo, Dickson p said | to the landlord o
the unpretending little hotel, who had come
out to see the train 60 by, '.havn't the Kcl
ford people been down here to day Z"
mo, sir, Mr.. De Burgh, theyhayn p sale
the man, volubly-he had seen me before
shut there is young lady come by the ives
tern train, a waiting for the stage to so tt
Knelferd" e49 % a %
"a young lady Dickson ? Who can sh'
be 2" '5-'7 ae
swell, sir, 1 don't rightly know the name
but can inquire, if ri9.4 t3- ls e
"Not for the world ~ I interrupted. Gan,
bark you, Dickson, don't let her know I an
in any way related to the Kuelford peo pie
"No, sir; certainly not, sir" said Dickson
staring with all his eyes. He did not under
stand ME, but I understood myself complete
ly. The nlomentary enigma had solved itsel
into the plalnest thing in the world! For
tune ever kind to the bold hero who trust
implicitly in its good Offices had afforded me
the most magnificent opening in my suit
the heiress It was all simple enough fror
beginning to cad. There had been som
misunderstanding about the train, and Id
Mountjoy instead Of being trundlcd over til
roads in my brother-in-law's close carriag
was left TO the tender mercics Of the Stag