Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-08-17


and grasped my hands.
| had no eloquent speech ready for
him, like the rescued heroines of the
novels. l only said, 90, Mr.. Chur-
chillp'
mot a word, Mary Gilman, till we
are out of this hole"
He opened the door by which | had
been ushered in, and while the stem
torian voice of some clerk above US
declared the court adjourned, he hur
ried me out, and putting my arm in
his, led me at breathless speed thrO'
the building and the street, in at an
other door and up stairs again, seat
ing me at last in an easy chair in the
office.
Tommy" he said, to an urchin dis
turbed from a luxurious nap by his
movement, "Go to the post-officc, and
wait until the mail is assorted"
Tommy was off at the word; and
then Mr.. Churchill, pacing up and
down the room as he spoke, relieved
his mind in his fashion.
5l -"Upon my word, Miss Gilman, this
is a charming scrape | find you in.
Don't speak word. You must be
half frightened to death by your ad-
venture. Let me tel! you how l dis
covered you, while you cool down,
and then you can tell me what | do
not already know of your story
Most accidental thing in the world
that | happened into that court room.
Haven't been inside the door before
for year. | sauntered in, casually
took up some prisoners property on
the. desk, and was amazed by the dis
covery Of your name in the pocket
book, and this most Aattcring portrait
to assure me that it was no other
Mary Gilman but yourself that owned
it. Of course my first thought was
that your pocket had been picked.
But when ! went with my inquiries to
the policeman, found that by some
incredibly stupid blunder, he had ar
rested yourself in the place of some
cunning thief. | thought it not
worth while to disturb you until
had relieved you Of all cmbarraSs
ment; and by giving my personal as
surance OF your entire superiority tC
any such suspicion, | obtained a rep
rimand for Mr.. Policeman, and youl
immediate release on his withdrawal
Of the charge against you"
At this moment there was a knocl
at the door, and officer Knox appear
ed. His naughty aspect had vanished
and he seemed like the convicted
thief in the presence OF his Judge.
"Beg pardon, sir" he began, 1"
merely brought Miss Gilman's key an(
things, that were left on the cour
room table. hope, Miss, that you vii
not bear malice against me for thi
unlucky mistake. We have to be yer.
suspicious in our line, and to doub
appearances; and that old woman
was SC sure it was you. She says nov
she remembers her pocket was on tn
other side and that it was the woman
who went before she spoke that stoo
next her on the right"
DWELL, well, sir" said Mr.. Church
i'll, almost fcrcely, "bother US 10 NOR
about it.
The forgiveness was about to 0
fer to the contrite officer was proven
cd by his abrupt departure upon tn.
admonition.
'Gf it were not for the loss Of N
train, do not think | should regrC
the whole affair very deeply" said
sit will be something to laugh abol
for a lifetime, when | have got ov,
the shock Of fright and annoyance
"What train have you lost, pra
and where are you bound ?" inquire
Mr.. Churchill
| told him as succinctly as | cou
of my destination and the plan al
purpose of my journey.
"By Jupiter, Miss Gilman, you ha'
time enough for the train yet 1t
only twenty minutes OF four, and '
can get to the station in four minute
Will you try it?"
OF course / was ready, though u
able at first to believe that even
which had seemed to me so long h;
really passed 50 quickly. We we
through the streets at pace HI
never ycnturcd upon in the COUNT
but not much faster than the city ha
it. Mr.. Churchill found and check
my trunk, while | secured a scat
the train. | noticed that he did Il
accept my words olinadequatc era
tude aud good by IS final; bat d
not suspect that he was to accompa
me till he took the scat 10y my side
the cars left the station.
"You arc too kind Mr.. Churchill
said "yOu must not undertake Il
journey on my account, especially,
as heard from your Office when l SC
to you, you are going tomorrow in
country
al have given up that trip" repli
the gentleman, very placidly; "sinc
decided to make it the rural distri
have lost their charm for me-"
am not going to set down all I
conversation of that railway ride
my children to read and perhap
may as well stop here as anywhe
Mr.. Churchill accompanied me to
journeys end and returned to Bost
by the night train. The story I p
posed to tell and the children kn
just how much and how little tn
father means when he tells them
cosely about marrying a pickpock
They are both too sensible to ALLOW
TO prejudice them against the sag;
ty Of policemen in general; for Il
both remember when Edgar tumb
into the Frog Pond last summer, a
Belle could do nothing but screG
officer Knox, now veteran, and m
efficient member of the force, popy
up most OPPORTUNITY to the resc
nn1 tho, ha,.a -bo