Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-05-13
SeIeet Stnru.
Altogether A Mistake.

4 bright sea-eoal fire, burning low anu
clear in an open CRATE, room furnished
in blue velvet and gold, a black walnut
table, covered with dunning Episties and
unpaid bill, and myself, Mr.. Egerton De
Burgh, just breaking open letter which
had arrived by the night post-that is our
situation"
BE sure to come down to Knelford on
Friday at the latest, EgertoD," wrote my
sister in that struggling Italian hand Of
hers that was SO hard to decipher; for
Miss Mountjoy is to be here, and l want
you to have the first chance at that hun
dred thousand dollars, and Uncle Simeon
meddling 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 retrieve your lost for
tune +? Remember this is strictly between
yourself and devoted sister,
LEONE WHARTON.
All right I unused to myself, refold-
ing the scented billet of lavender satin
paper, but without inward qualification,
on my sisters thoughtfulness.
1 will be on hand as punctual as Con-
necticut clock. Grant Morrall and l have
always managed to be rivals through life
let us see if I can't for once, contrive to
get ahead of him"
With these thoughts passing through
my mind l packed my trunk and took the
nearest train for the nearest station to Mrs.
Wharton's country place Knelford.
Not that I liked the country in winter ;
on the contrary, it was my aversion. Big
wood fires in wide throated chimneys, and
brisk walks over snow mantled terraces,
all very nice to read about in romances'
but there were always draughts to its
doors and windows and acute twinges OF
rheumatism in the .wirambles. But what
would I not have risked to make myself
agreeable to Ida Moun5oy?
The stage which passed near knelford
was waiting at the depot. as the train al
ter depositing its dozen or SO passengers
rushed upon its way, but my sisters car
rage had not been sent down to meet
me.
VERY strange I muttered to myself,
looking around, and stamping On the hard
frozen ground to restore my dulled clrcu-
lation. Halo, Dickson said / to the
landlord of the unpretending little hotel
who had come out to see the train 60 by,
.havn't the Knelford people been down
here to day?'
No, sir, Mr.. De Burgh, they havn't'
said the man, volubly-he had seen me
before: but there is young lady come
by the western train, waiting tor the
stage to 60 to Knelford.'
"A young lady Dickson? Who can she
be-?
We'll, sir, I don't rightly know the
name, but can inquire, IT,
Not for the world = I Interrupted.
And bark you, Dickson, don't let her
know 1 am in any way related to the
Knelford people.
No, sir; certainly not, sir, said Dick
son, staring with all his eyes. He did
not understand me, but understood my
self completely The momentary enigma
had solved itself into the plainest thing IN
the world Fortune ever kind to the bold
hero who trusts implicitly in its good OIL
ces had afforded me, the most magnificent
opening in my suit to the heiress! 1t was
all simple enough from beginning to end
There had been some misunderstanding
about the train, and Ida Mountjoy instead
of being trundled over the roads IN my
brother in Jaws close carriage was left te
the tender mercies of the stage coach--an
opportunity for me to steer clear OF the
stigma Of fortune hunting, and strike VI
pleasant little understanding with Ida
Mountjoy, quite in advance Of Mr.. 0ran
Morrall's little plans
Meditating profoundly on all these
things. L paced up and down the plazz'
floor with folded arms whispering softly t.
myself until such time as the numbering
stage ratified up to the door, and then es
conccd myself snugly in the best corner
10 await the development Of events.