The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-08-12
4 LAME CONCLUSION.

a La
[ was on my way home from ''Mon-
day pop" or IL Saturday afternoon con
cert, when my heart was dissolved, and
my footsteps were arrested by the sight
of a female III distress. She was young,
she was attractive III face and figure,
aud she stood irresOlute IL Portland
place, crying.
If [ had time for reflection, [ should
certainly have passed on, without taking
any notice, for to speak to young lady
without an introduction Is a 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 [ did not
take time to reflect; [ acted on the
impulse of the moment, and inquired,
raising my hat, if | could be of any
assistance.
"Ohl" cried the young lady, II
have lost my aunt. -
g Tut , tut - | murmured sympath-
etically.
"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, "
continued the young lady. q 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 Z"
Somewhere in place called Clap
ham, not in London. She was coming
up expressly IT, 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.
'EMay ] ask where you have come
from ~ ! inquired
"Calcutta :" replied she
Good graciOus.' said L, for | had
been on the point Of recommending her
return. 1t was a long omnibus ride,
not to mention geographical difficult
ties.
ooh, how stupid = she added pres
entity. "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 ~
4 should have done SO already. if
my friends had been still there, but
they were to 60 away an hour after /
started.
Now, for fear YOU should deem this
damsel over-contiding, ] must be ego
tlstlcal, 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 roll of music in my hand,
because doing SO once caused me to be
pointed out as a famous composer.
And then the young lady was so very
young-almost a child-and so very in
geniOus and inexperienced She trust
ed me by instinct, which is not a bad
guide-sOmetimes
''And have You no idea where your
aunt intended to take you TO when you
met ? " | asked, presently.
80 yes !" abe replied; ''to the rail
way-station.
(Which 2"
care there more than one?'
Several Do you know where the
train was to 60 to ~
Yes, to Dublin and from Dublin
we were going on to Wicklow, where
papa's regiment is.
Here was a sudden tearing up of diff
ticulties. [ pointed out that she would
probably find her aunt waiting for her
at Euston square, or that, at any rate,
here best plan was to take the Irish
mail at a 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 lug
gage 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, trust
full eyes, that | quite forgot all about
the proprieties, called cab, told the
man to drive to Euston Square, put the
girl in and followed. You NAV blame
me as much as you please; [ am GER
tain that | was right; the position was
a very exceptional one. 1t is quite be-
side the mark to ask me whether |
should have taken SO much trouble if
the child had been plain and uninter-
esting, for under those circumstances
she would not have had the same need
of protection. Still. ] confess that 7
felt extremely hot and uncomfortable,
and did not dare let the conversation
flag for a moment, lest she should be
suddenly seized with a panic, ora sense
of awkwardness.
However, it never seemed to occur TO
her that she did not know nv name or
and she chatted on quite
easily and pleasantly about herself and
her belongings. / did not catch all she
said. for the four-wneeler early dislo-
Gated 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