Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-08-30
Kissed by Mistake.

klSSed Dy MISTAKE,
A quiet, uneventful life was mine
until I left the shelter of my fathers
roof in Graham, and accepted the
desk of book-keeper in the wholesale
clothing establishment Of Shear and
Prescott in the busy little city Of
Weston.
Out there, one fine afternoon in
October, just in the midst of Indian
summer, l invited Lille Prescott,
with whom was very nearly in love.
to walk in the park with me.
Her little hand in its delicate prim.
rose-colored gloves rested on my arm
her black eyes lifted to my face. |
felt particularly tender and confden.
tial, and at peace with all the world
We were speaking of the gorgeous.
ness Of the distant hills, clothed, as
they were, in their mantle of crimson
foliage, when I was brought to a stop
by hearing my name pronounced in a
tone neither sweet nor agreeable:
"Mr. Smith, I'll just trouble you foI
a minitW
looked up. A woman Of fifty OF
thereabouts efectuahy blocked the
sidewalk before US; indeed her pro
portions were colossal. If ever
have seen the personifcation of indig
nation, | saw it in her countenance.
Madam" | exclaimed, retreating
a little from the battery of flashing
grey eyes which she had brought t.
bear upon me.
"You needn't madame mer' sht
cried, waxing redder. "Ill jest trouble
you to settle this billr And she
thrust an ominou8 piece Of paper be
fore my eyes,which read substantially
R. Smith to Julianna Diggins, DR.
To six months board $500.
Washing 1900
$1,000.
returned the bill to her.
II owe you nothing, Madame | new
er saw you before in my life !"
"You needn't lie to mew she cried
setting her arms akimbo. a hahn
kept genteel boarding house fifteen
years for nothing, sir. You'll either
fork over on the spot, or I'll take the
Iaww
Take it," remarked I, You're
welcome to it."
You think to 8arse me, young
man; remember what you promised
I'll have you took up as sure as my
name is Diggins. III learn you bet
ter than to deceive a trusting widder
woman in that way. You desatefuI
hypocrite"
MADAM, you insult me "
"Oh, it looks we'll for such as you
to stand on their dignity! Mighty
lofty all at once! You've forgot the
cream dapjacks l used to make you
and the kisses you used to give me
after all the rest Of 'em had gone tC
bed! You've forgot the half dozer
shirts I made you, and never charged
you a cent! You've forgot that you
solemnly promised TO marry me last
Tuesday morning! You have forgof
that, have you"
"Yes-ye5-th-that isl never !
nor stammered l: dropping Mis-:
Lilies arm in CONSERVATION.
'Do you dare deny it?" cried she
in a rage. Eyes, forever, and day
afterward r l roared out. "Do you
think l would marry an old terma
CANT like you! I'd rather marry my
grandmother"
l saw the fire flash up in her eyes
The widow was waxing dangerous
| lodged the reticule she aimed at ny
head, and fell over backwards as she
charged over me with her half mourn
ing parasol. Miss Lille turned anC
fled. | thought discretion the better
part Of valor, so l leaped over a gar
den-fence near at hand, and was i'm
mediately attacked bv large watcl
dog, that sprung out Of kennel neal
by. I seized dahIia pole, and hurl
ing it at the belligerent, made my es
cape by fording a duck pond ant
reaching the next street, from whicl
l hurried home at the best time
could command.
| was resolved that | would no
stay in Weston a day longer. Evi
IDENTIFY there was in this city som
other Richard Smith for whose note
rious self | was mistaken. | penne'
hasty note to my employers, givini
my reasons for leaving them, packeC
my trunk, paid my board, and mark
ing my baggage, "R'd Smith, Ne1
Hampton" l took the cars for the lc
cality specified.
In selecting New Hampton as m
destination l had no very definite pun
pose in view; but in place of it
size l had no doubt of being able t
secure some lucrative situation; an
blacking boots was better, if l coul
be left unmolested, than the station {
President, if l must lose my identity
and be attacked by viragoes in tn
streets.
1t was near noon of the next dal
when the train whirled up to the d.
pot at New Hampton. | alighte
and was fastening down the platforI
to look after my baggage, when | sa'
young lady, in brown silk walkin
t dress, earnestly regarding me. A
we caught eyes, she threw up her va
, and sprang toward me. AS the va
, swept back, it revealed the lovelie;
face that l ever looked upon. ha
, never dreamed Of anything half S
beautiful. In Involuntary admiratio
, | stood still. She threw herself int
my arms-her arms fell around ID
neck-and such a kiss as she plante
full on my lips! My face was in
, blaze. | felt as if | had been steepe
in honey, with lavender for favorin!
t She repeated the kiss-the munil
cent little angel-exclaiming-
:. "Dear Richard How delighted
. am that you have come at last"
= was dumb. My mouth was sea
ed up with the sweetness of her XII
ses. i dared not speak, lest shoul
dissolve the spell.
~