The Van Buren press., 1870-03-01


raj, which skip, irreverently it may be
but firmly "Well, as ! was saying
two or three pages back, l was sitting
quietly in the parlor when all at once the
door, bell rang and jumped. It's an idi
osyncrasy Of nfige that l always jump
when the door bell rings--just for the
sentiment of the thing, ! heard man
voice inqurng for Miss Winslow; a
nervous mans voice, was sure, for he
dropped his cane, and then in trying te
pick that up, away rolled his hat, and
then l caught a mutter about his eye
glass. Nervous and near sighted, thought
I-Mr. West, of course. In he came
and though am qrite as near sighted as
he, ! advanced politely TO meet him, and
We were shaking hands most cordially
when, to my horror, l discovered that
didn't know him at all! However, hs
evidently knew me, and l made up my
mind we had been Introduced at some
party, and had forgotten him. So
plunged bravely into an animated diseu:
sion of the weather, that being the flrst
duty of man, socially considered In al
absent minded fit, whilo / was wondering
where had met him, said something
about the delicious GOODNESS of the day
The thermometer had been 95 degrees
in the shade He politely asscnted,
whereupon the wildness of my remark
struck me at once. and ! said only
meant comparatively speaking which
was still more absurd. However, we fl
nally got off the weather, and relapsed
into conversation on dancing, and
kindred topics. Finding that my visitor
had an immense stock Of cenceit, could
not resist the temptation of drawing him
out; admired his taste, agreed with his
opinions, begged for his advice, and in
short, INDUCED in little most admirable
fooling. l know you will shake your
wise head at me, but who could help dirt
ing under the circumstances
We were getting on finely. In an easy
conversational canter, when, judge Of my
establishment and dismay, to see him sud.
denly draw his chair close to mine, as he
whispered, in what supposed he meant
to be tones of bewildering sweetness !"
"And new it is all settled, is it not,
and our engagement may come out at
once!"
That l was anything but settled"
was all of which was at srst quite Ger
tain. Was this TO BE- the consequence Of
a mild Irritation with an unknown youth !?
A horrible idea that he might be an ss.
capped lunatic darted through my brain,
and | had just enough courage left to
gasp out, "What on earth do you mean ?"
Mean" he repeated, locking as as
tonished as ] felt; "you know perfectly
well what mean! You don't intend to
deny your identity, Miss Winslow, sure
lvio
ing Miss winsIow Win rnr yres.v.v -..-
rity in fact, it is my very anxiety to re-
main Miss Winslow, which leads me to
think there is some mistake here, and
that YOU as.M
Mistake? What mistake can there
be?" shouted my impstuous young
friend; "your name is Winslow; you
live in Brooke street. meet you again
after six months absence, and recog.
nivc the sweet face that captivated me
me on that sleigh ride last winter! ! Lam
very near sighted, admit, but do you
suppose could forget you: After that
glorious four hours ride by moonlight,
during which delicious moments every
thing you said and did was impressed for
ever on my heart? Do you mean to say
you have forgotten this to deny that
begged leave to write to you, that you
granted it, that we have corresponded
ever since, and that you gave me permis-
sion to visit You this evening, you must
have guessed for what purposeS Do
you mean to deny all this p
"All this was poured forth in rapid
stream that it was impossible to inter
rupt; but as soon as l could keep my
countonance and open my mouth. said
again, and very cmphatically, There is
some mistake here, as sure as my names
Grace Winslow ;"
"Graco Winslow!'' said my friend,
with face Of horror! "Yeu don't mean
to say your name is Grace Winslow"
"Of course l do" replied, glad to
see daylight through the clouds at last,
Pray what did you think it wasf OF
course you have mistaken mo for some
other Miss Winslow am exceedingly
sorry that such an accident should have
hsppcnod, but / suppose that my own
near sghtedness alone prevented my rec.
ognizing yen"
"Do you mean to say that this 10 not
No. 1887" asked my discomftted visitor,
in a tone that seemed TO say, "Dcny it II
you dare!" and taking no notice OF my
polite apologies.
Not in the least intmidated answer
cd. half choked with suppressed laughter,
OF course l do, this is No. 1876"
"What'" shouted my dcluded friend,
"do you roally-have THAT is, aren't
you'll mean-why the deuce don't you
have your street lamps lighted p
at is impossible for me to tell, sir"
| answered, feeling that it was high time
to be digni0cd; al have not the honor
Of being street commissioner. And al
low me to suggest the proprety Of ftermi.
mating this conversation, which is grow
ing rather excited on your part. have
not the pleasure Of knowing the family
at 1853, but / daresay they may be named
Winslow also"
~ beg your pardon, really" muttcred
my visitor, rather ungracisusly.' "The
numbers arc 80 much alike in tho dark
that | mistook them. But how the dick