New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-30
From Chambers Journal
A LAME CONCLUSION.

was on my way home from MONDAY
pop" or Saturday afternoon concert, wheI
my heart was dissolved, and my footsteps
were arrested by the sight of female ii
distress. She was young; she was attractive
in face and figure, and she stood irresolute
in Portland place, crying.
If had had time for reflection, should
certainly have passed on without taking
any notice, for to speak to young lady,
without an introduction, is very rash act
To be convicted of doing such thing, be-
fore a London magistrate, would stain ones
character very considerably and there is no
knowing what course hysteria might die
tate and an active policeman adopt; it is
impossible to be too cautious. But L did
not take time to reflect-I acted on the i'm
pulse of the moment, and inquired, raising
my hat, if / could be of any assistance.
'Ohp cried the young lady, II have lost
my aunt"
Tut tut p / murmured sympathetcally Y.
"She was to have met me at Regent. cir
Gus, and the omnibus man was told to put
me down ON the right hand side, where she
said that she would be-" continued the
young lady. ~ waited for nearly two
hours, and then II got frightened, and
came up here, where it is quieter."
"And do you not know where your aunt
lives ?" ..
Somewhere in place called Chaplain
not in London. She was coming up ex-
pressly to meet me. and said in her letter
that she had so often met my cousins in the
same place, by the halfpast three o'clock
omnibus. that we could not possibly miss"
"May ! ask where you have come from ~
inquired.
Calcutta" replied she.
Good gracious.' said /, for had been
on the point of recommending her return.
1t was long omnibus ride, not to mention
geographical difficulties.
"Oh, how stupid !" she added presently.
"Of course you mean to-day. | have come
from Acton to-day. / went there from
Southampton and have staid a week"
Had you not better go back to Acton ,"
II should have done so already if my
friends had been still there, but they were
to go away an hour after | started"
Now, for fear you should deem this dam
sci over-confding, / must be egotistical and
draw my portrait. Know, then, that | am
classically musical, and the fact of my
savage breast having been soothed is written
on my features. | wear my hair longer than
is the fashion nowadays and keep it well
brushed off my interesting brow; spectacles
lend an air of respectable sedateness to my
face. ] dress soberly, and generally carry
roll Of music in my hand, because doing so
once caused me to be pointed out as
famous composer.
And then the young lady was so very
young, almost child, and so very ingenu-
GUS and inexperienced. She trusted me by
instinct, which is not bad guide-some-
times.
'And have you no idea where your aunt
intended to take you when you met :" |
asked, presently.
20 yes!" she replied; 90 to the railway
station"
."Which2 2"
'Are there more than onei"
"Several. Do you know where the train
was to gol"
ayes; to Dublin and from Dublin we were
going On to Wicklow, where papa's regi-
ment is"
Here was a sudden clearing up of difficult
ties. | pointed out that she would probably
find her aunt waiting for her at Euston
square, or that, at any rate, her best plan
was to take the Irish mail at quarter past
seven. She had plenty of time, as it was not
more than six o'clock.
Directly she began to see daylight
through her troubles, the damsel cheered
up, and told me that her luggage had been
sent on to the railway station by carrier.
Could tell her how she was to get it ?
She looked up at me as she spoke, with
such big, round, innocent, trustful ewes,
that l quite forgot all about the proprieties,
called a cab, told the man to drive to
Euston square, put the girl in, and followed.
You may blame me as much as you please:
am certain that | was right; the position
was very exceptional one; it is quite be-
side the mark to ask me whether [ should
have taken so much trouble if the child
had been plain and uninteresting, for under
those circumstances she would not have
had the same need of protection. Still, |
hat | fol axtr w hot nd
comfortable, and did not dare let the con-
versation flag for moment, lest she should
be suddenly seized with panic or a sense of
awkwardness.
However, 1t never seemed to occur to her
that she did not know my name or charac-
ter, and she chatted on quite easily and
pleasantly about herself and her belon gings.
/ did not catch all she said, for the four
wheeler nearly dislocated ones limbs, and
sentences were quite disjointed but from
what gathered it seemed that her father
was major IN an infantry regiment, and her
mother was with him at Wicklow; that she
had four brothers and three sisters, all very
mucl younger than herself; that she alone
had been with her parents in India; that
these asst had gone to the regimental head
quarte's to arrange for the accommodation
OF so iSge family; and that there was to
be .geeral meeting, now all was ready.
AT this pint we reached the station.
l was hen very glad | had come, for
everythlngwasa as strange and bewildering
to her as yoI might suppose it would be to
one who had imagined that London had
out a single railway terminus. l found
her luggage, aid saw it duly labeled; l
heiped. her to harch for her aunt, and
maae inquiries alter that lady of all the
available officials, \ut without result. Then
frI Persuaded my Charge to take some re-
Ires5ments, and by Mat time the ticket
windows were opened.
~ dear )" she cried, turning dreadfullv
money" 'n"'' n"'o ii'
Now, it happened, for +, wondor that
mere was crisp, new five-1ound note in
ny pocket-book. What could I 40 bnt an
Int in the causel uo ouV eli
YOh, thank you. What should 7 bara
doie but for your great kipdnasa ~ III ~
saio when the guard had banged tho SUI snc
T1age door to. "Please, where is 49, ,T oa "
send The five pounds 2" P"P" W
gave her my card; she held out bar
hand to be shaken; there was a sbr;II |
whistle, putting, roar, and of the two
human straws which had been caught for
moment in an eddy of life's stream, one
was swept away again by the current.
while the Other-well the other founS l,s