Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-08-09
LAME CONCLUSION.

4 LAME CONCLUSION.
I was on my way home from "Mon-
day pop" or a Saturday afternoon con
cert, when my heart was dissolved, and
my footsteps were arrested by the sight
OF q female In distress. She was Young,
she was attractive in face and figure,
and she stood irreSolute III Portland
place, crying.
If I had time for reflection, 7 should
certainly have passed on, without taking
any notice, tor to speak to a young lady
without an introduction is very rash
act. To be convicted of doing such a
thing, before a 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 impossi-
BILE to be too cautious. But I did not
take time to reflect; [ acted on the
impulse Of the moment, and inquired,
raising my hat, il I could be of any
assistance.
OH" cried the young lady, 81
have lost my aunt.
" Tut tut :" I murmured, sympath-
eticalIy
g 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 she would be, y
continued the young lady. ''I waited
for nearly two hours and then II got
frightened, and came mp here, where it
is quieter."
EEAnd do you not know where your
aunt lives 2"
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
cousins in the same place, by the half
past three omnibus, that we could not
possibly miss.
"May I ask where you have come
ftom?" [ inquired.
Calcutta !" replied she
3" Good gracious!' said /, for [ had
Deen on the point of recommending her
return. It was long omnibus ride,
not to mention geographical Difficult
ties.
ooh, how stupid = she added pres
emily. "Of course you mean to-day.
have come from Acton to-day. Invent
there from southampton, and have
staid week.
& Had you not better go back to Ac-
ton 2"
II should have done so already, il
my friends had been still there, but
they We're to go away an hour after ]
started ;"
Now, for fear you should deem this
damsel over-contiding, | must be ego
tistical, 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 fash
ion nowadays, and keep 1t well brushed
off my interesting brow spectacles
lend an air Of respectable sedateness
to my face. | dress SOberiy, and gen
orally carry a roll of music in my hand
! because doing 50 once caused me- 30 be
4 pointed out as a famous composer.
/ And then the young lady was so very
/ young-almost child-and so very in
! genious and inexperienced. She trust
ed me by instinct, which is not baC
| gUide-sOmetimes
'EAnd have you no idea where YOU
aunt intended to take you to when yoI
met [ asked, presently.
go yes !" abe replied; {" to the rail
way-station.
(Which -
Are there more than one?"
& Several. Do you know where tht
train was to go to ~
Yes, to Dublin; and from Dublin
we We're going on to Wicklow. whert
papa's regiment is.
Here was a sudden tearing up of diff
ticulties. [ pointed out that she woult
probably find her aunt waiting for he
at EustOD square, or that, at any rate
I here best plan was to take the Irisl
mail at quarter past seven. She haC
/ plenty Of time, as it was not more THAI
six O'Clock.
Directly she began to see dayligh
through her troubles the damse
cheered up and told me that her lug
gage had been sent on to the railway
station by carrier. Could I tell he
how she was to get it?
She looked up at me as she spok
with such big, round, innocent, trust
ful ewes, that [ quite forgot all abou
the proprieties, called cab, told th
man to drive TO Euston Square, put tn
girl in and followed. You may blam
me as much as you please; I am Gel
tain that was right; the position wa
very exceptional one. 1t is quite be
side the mark TO ask me whether
should have taken so much trouble
the child had been plain and unintel
esting, for under those circumstance
she would not have had the same nee
of protection. Still, / confess that
felt extremely bot and uncomfortable
and did not dare let the conversatio
flag for a moment, lest she should b
suddenly seized with a panic, or a sens
of awkwardness.
However, it never seemed to occur