The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-05-17
GETTING INTO THE WRONG CAR
RIAGE.

The day was bitter and cold, IL
D track covered with snow, and the eas
!, ward bound train, of course, benin
! time. The waiting male passenge
: stamped out their impatience upon IL
cherries, Wind-swept platform, and I'll
} females huddled around the stove, el
deavoring to peep through the dirt
depot windows. sirs
Conspicuous among these might hay
been seen the pretty face of June Tracy
She was young, anxious and unaccu:
toned to travel alone; but having n
ceived an invitation from an old bacht
lor uncle and maiden aunt who live
in luxurious selfishness alone, haC
after much urging on the part of he
mother fwho had already visions d
June being heir to their immens
4 wealth., consented to make the visit
The letter giving the invitation con
tanned minute directions how she wa
to reach the city, and informed he
that a carriage would be waiting at th
New York side of the ferry on speci
ned evening, unless they were notifie.
on the contrary. .s-as
June bad early and always impresset
upon her the primness and prOprietyo
Aunt Prudence Crisw0ld, who wa
fifty and unmarried, and the vas
wealth and parsimony of Uncle Ma
than, and sat, with many foreboding.
of discomfort, watching for the train
and was half tempted to let it go on
without her, when it at last dashed uI
to the platform. The cry of "Af
aboartf'. decided the matter, and she
followed the rushing throng, found her.
self hustled into seat with scarcely
any volition upon her part, and was
whirled rapidly away toward her un.
known and terrible relations. 81
A long and weary ride brought her
to the depot, and, as she was preparing
to leave the cars, a motherly old lady
advised her to muffle up her earso she
would certainly freeze them in that
senseless little hat. She smiled in
reply, but wound soft, white wool
cloud about her head, so as to leave
nothing visible but q pair of bright
eyes, the tip Of a pretty nose, and red,
ripe lips, and followed with q palpitat-
ing heart through the noise and con-
fusion, and Stunned the vulgar gaze of
the men, glad indeed, when the stormy
river was passed.
"A young lady here for the Griswold
!carriageW shouted a man so near her
ears as to almost deafen her. ia
eyes; am the One," she faltered in
reply, feeling as if she had suddenly
found a friend amid the bedlam OF jost-
ling, fighting and importuning.
= This way, il you please, mics"
In moment she was led through
the crowd, seated upon the soft cushions
OF an elegant carriage, and was driven
rapidly through the brilliantly-lighted
street, half dazzled by the unaccustom-
ed glitter and splendOr. F
I, At length it stopped in front of a
brown stone front, the door was OPEN
ed, a servant assisted her to alight, she
walked up the broad steps, and Instant
ly was clasped in the arms of gentle
man, who rained warm kisses upon
her lips, gave her thousand well
comes, called her pet names, impetu-
ously lifted her in his strong arms,
earned her into the cozy reception.
room, placed her in an arm chair be-.
fore blazing anthracite fire, and began
to relieve her OF the cumbrous wrap
pings. Man-fashion. he tore off the
cloud, and, loosenipg the fastenings of
her hair, caused it to fall in a mass of
lovely golden ripples over her shoul-
ders. .,.--.-,g.-
"What the devil!r he exclaimed,
starting and crushing the jaunty little
hat in his hands, then gazing speech
less at the beautiful girl who sat COM
pletely stupefied by the unexpected
warmth of her reception, and wonder-
ing where WAS her curmudgeOn of an
uncle she had expected to see-wouder-
ing ii it could possibly be he, and ven-
turing to call him Uncle Nathan, ask
ed for Aunt Prudence. j.
"Uncle Nathan! Aunt Prue-the
luce! There must be some mistake
here. / know of no such persoDs as
you named.'
"NOt know him? Is not this their
house?" che asked looking anxiously
round
at certainly is not. Until 1 so rude
ly removed your wrapping-for which
L beg your pardon-1 thought it was
my sister Eva, whom am expecting
home from boarding school. The mis-
take was natural one under the cir
! f.ati
It's not this the home of Nathan
Griswold?' she asked again, rising
tremblingly, and with face blanched
even to her lips. |
''No, miss, my name is Buswell, and
/ am master here"
1t flashed upon her in an instant that
the somewhat similarity of names had
caused her to make the mistake, and
glancing up at the dark, handsome
face of him whose kisses were still
burning upon her lips, her own became
scarlet, and covering her face with her
pretty white hands, she sank back in |
the chair and burst into tears.
Fred BuswelI puckered up his mouth,
and went through the motions of All
imaginary whistle. Poor thing!n
he thought. "By Jove! but she is
it is no wonder that she |
became frightened at receiving such
dear embraces from an entire stranger,
when she expected to be cooliy wei |
coined by some antiquatcd uncle. But |
he could not endure the torture OF a |
lovely wsman's tears, and, clearing |
his throat, said aloud: ~
'tDO not be alarmed, miss. / regret !
as much as you possibly can, that I |
was so hasty in my conclusions" The |
when he was sluxuriatins upon |
the kisses he had stolen and was long
ing for more.
Up famed the color between the |
delicate white fingers, and the tears
fell even faster than before. He saw
that he was making matters worse. and |
with mental and not very fefiued |
he stopped shert, walked |
to the other side OF the room, rang the |
bell and ordered the carriage sent back I
to the depot to Bee IL Miss Eva was not |
waiting there. Then he resumed his |
place upon the hearth rug. Resting |
his elbow upon the mantle, he con-
tinued:
~ entreat you, miss, not to feel 80 |
badly over a slight mistake, and one 10 |
which any one was liable. It is more |
than otherwise. As soon as |
the carriage returns L will see that you |
are taken safely to your friends.n /
thank you, sir, she replied, slow. |
ly removing her hands and wiping |
away the tears, 'but if youdo not know |
who they are, how shall I be able to |
find them? l only know that my |
uncle's name is Nathan GriswoOd, and !
that he lives in University Place. His |
was to meet me at the depot,
and understood the coachman to say |
'Griswold,' but he was 30 muffled, and |
in such hurry, that / had no time to
question: 49,
A vigorous tinkling Of the door-bell,
and he excused himself and stepped
into the hall to meet his sister, Poor
I,,po oo.,ld hoop thoir uoice,cM ~ fI1 oie<<,