Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-08-04
A LAME CONCLUSION.


} was on my way home from a "Mon-
day pop" or a Sunday afternoon con-
cert, when my heart was dissolved, and
my footsteps were arrested by the sight
| of a female in distress. She was young,
she was attractive in face and figure, and
she stood irresolute in Portland-place,
crying.
If I had had time for reflection, [
should certainly have passed on without
taking notice, for to speak to a young
lady without an introduction is a very
rash act. To be convicted of doing such
thing, before London magistrate,
would stain ones character very consid-
erably, and there is no knowing what
course hysteria might dictate, and an
active policeman adopt; it is impossible
to be too cautious. But [ did not take
time to refect-I acted on the impulse
of the moment, and inquired, raising
my hat if | could be of any assistance.
"Oh |" cried the young lady, [ have
lost my aunt"
"Tut, tut p | murmured sympathetic
cally.
"She was to have met me at Regent
Circus, and the omnibus man was told to
put me down on the right hand side,
where she said that she would be-" con-
tinued the young lady. Il 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 a place called Clap
ham, not in London. She was coming
up expressly to meet me, and said in
her letter that she had so often met my
cousin i'll the same place, by the half
past three O o'clock omnibus, and we could
not possibly miss
May l ask where you have come
from ?'' l inquired.
"Calcutta,' replied she.
"Good gracious I" said [, for [ had
been on the point of recommending
her return. 1t was long omnibus
ride, not to mention geographical diff
culties.
"Oh, how stupid p she added present
ly. "Of course you mean to-day. L
have come from Acton to-day. | went
there from Southampton, and have staid
a week"
"Had you not better go back to Ac-
toni"
II should have done so already, if
nv friends had been there still, but
they were to go away an hour after l
started"
Now, for fear you should deem this
damsel over-confiding, [ must be egotls-
tical, 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 nv hair longer than is the fashion
nowadays, and keep is well brushed for
nv interesting brow; spectacles lend an
air of spectacle sedateness to my face. |
dress soberly, and generally carry roll
of music in my hand, because doing so
once caused me to be once pointed out
as famous composer.
And then the young lady was so very
Young, almost child, and so very in
genuous and inexperienced. She trusted
me bv instinct, which is not a bad guide
sometimes.
"And have YOU no idea where your
aunt intended to take you when you
met ?" [ asked, presently.
way station"
| " w nlcn
"Are there more than one?"
"Several. Do you know where the
train was to 60 to?"
eyes; to Dublin and from Dublin we
were going on to Wicklow, where papa's
regiment is"
Here was sudden clearing up OF
| difficulties. | 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
thrrugh her troubles, the damsel cheesed
up, and told me that her luggage had
been sent on to the railway station by a
carrier. Could I tell her how she was to
get it?
She looked at me as she spoke, with
such big, round, innocent, trustful eyes
that [ quite forgot all about the proprle
ties, called cab, told the man to drive
to Euston Square, put the girl In ano
followed. You may blame me as much
as you please; | am certain that l was
right; the position was a very excep
tional one. It is quite beside the mark
to ask me whether l should have taker
so much trouble if the child had beer
plain and uninteresting, for under those