The Portland daily press., 1873-02-22

'Aeu. as tue Iduy, after the usual Saluta- |
Ilon, said, Pardon me for disturbing you.
gu old not hear me come H." Her man |
ner, though it was more quiet and subiued |
than had known it before, was hardly to be
termed grave, still less sorrowful. There was
a change, but it was that kind of change !
only which may often be observed from the |
frank impulsiveness of an intelligent young |
lady, to the composure and self possession OF
thai same young lady when she is either be-
trothed or has recently become marion.
She asked me whether I had made any at
tempt at likeness of her. ! was obliged to
confess that l had not. She regretted IL
much, as she wished one for her father: She
had brought an engraving IA portrait OF Lady
NJ. A. with her hat she thought would as
sist me- II was like the one she had asked
nv opinion upon at the house in Lincolnshire
1t had always been considered very like her
and she would leave with me. Then putting
her hand impressively on my amy she added,
''She really would be most thankful and
grateful to me. would do it, land, if 1
recollect rightly, she added), as much depend
ca on ~. Seeing she was so much in earn
est, took up my sketch book, and by the dim
light that was still remaining began to make
rapid pencil sketch of her. On ob1erving
my doing so, however, instead of giving me
what assistance she was able, she turned
away under pretence of looking at the pic
lures arouud the room, occasionally passing
from one 10 another so as to enable me to
catch momentary glimpse of her features.
In this manner made two hurried but rath-
er expressive sketches of her, which being all
that the declining light would allow me to do
l shut my book, and she prepared to leave.
This time, instead of the usual ''Good morn
ing" she wi he'd me an impressively pro-
nounced 'Good by" firmly holding rather
than shaking my hand while she said it. l
accompanied her to the door, outside of which
she seemed rather to fade into darkness
than to pass through it. But I refer this i'm
preston to my own fancy.
immed ately inquired of the servant why
she had not announced the visitor to me. She
stated that she was not aware there had been
one, and that any one who had entered must
have done SO when she had lett the street
door open about half an hour previously,
while she went across the road for a moment.
500 after this occurred had to fulfil an en-
gagement at house near BOsworth Field, in
LeicesterShire. left town on q Friday, hav-
ing sent some pictures, that were too large to
take with me, by the luggage train week
previously, in order that they might be at the
house on my arrival, and occasion me no loss
OF time in waiting for them. On getting to
the house, however, l found that they had
not been heard of and on inquiring at the sta
it was stated that case simila. to the one L
described had passed through and gone on to
Leicester, where it probably still was. 1t be-
ing Friday, and past the hour for the post,
there was no possibility of getting letter to
Leicester before Monday morning, as the lug
gage office would be closed there on Sunday;
consequently, I could in no case ex-
pect the arrival of the pictures before
the succeeding Tuesday or Wednesday. The
loss of three days would be serious one !;
how 20 T Ind /,
that should leave Immediately to transact
some business in South Staffordshire, as I
should be obliged to attend to it before my re-
turn to town, and if could see about it in
the vacant interval thus thrown upon my
hands, it would be saving me the same amount
of time after my visit to his house was con-
cluded. This arrangement meeting with his
ready assent, fastened to the Atherstone
station on the Trent Valley railway. By ref
erence to Bradshaw I found that my route
lay through Ii, where was to change
carriages, to s., in Staffordshire. | was
just in time for the train that would put me
down at Il, at eight in the evening, and
train was announced to start from l. for
s. at ten minutes after eight, answering,
as l concluded, to the tr hin in which was
about to travel. I therefore saw no reason
to doubt but that l should get to my jour
ney's end the same night; but on arriving at
l. found my plans entirely frustrated ;
The train arrived punctuallv, and I got out
intending to wait on the platform for The ar
rival of the carriages of the other line. I
found, however, that though the two lines
crossed at l., they did not communicate
with each other, the L--station on the
Trent Valley line being on one side of The
town, and the L. station on the South
Stafordshi:e line on the other. I also found
that there was not time to get to the other
station SO as TO catch the train the same even
ing; indeed, the tain had just that moment
passed on lower level beneath my feet, and
to get to the other side of the town, where it
would stop for two minutes only, was out of
the question. There was, therefore, nothin g
for it but to put up at the Swan Hotel for the
night. have an especial dislike to passing
an evening at an hotel in country town.
Dinner l never take, as had rather go with
out than have such as l am likely to get
Books are never to be had, the country news
papers do not interest me. The Times I
ETY. am likely to meet have few ideas in
common with myself. Under such circum-
stances, l usually resort to meat tea to
while away the time, and when that is over,
occupy myself in writing letters.
This was the first time had been in L.
and while waiting for the tea, it occurred to
me how, on two occasions within the past
six months, had been on the point of com
ing to that very place, at one time to execute
small commission for an old acquaintance,
resident there, and another, to get the mate
rals for picture proposed painting of an
incident in the early life OF DIR, johnson.
should have come on each of these occasions
had not other arrangements diverted my pur-
pose and caused me to postpone the journey
indefinitely. The thought however, would
occur to me, How strange! Here am at
L@, by no intention of my own, though l
have tried twice to get hele and been baked"
When l had done tea, I thought 1 might as
well write to an acquaintance had known
some years previously, and who lived in the
Cathedral-close, asking him to come and pass
an hour or two with me. Accordingly, rang
for the waitress and asked,
"Does Mr.. Lutte live in Lichfield?n
Eyes, sir.' ..... -.. t'r
''Cathedral-close ?' 4.
eyes, sir.'
''Can send a note to him?''
eyes, sir" s.g ,--
I wrote the note, saying where 1 was, and
asking if he would come tor an hour or two
and talk over old matters. The mole was
taken; in about twenty minutes person of
gentlemanly appearance, and what might be
termed the advanced middle age, entered the
room with my note in his hand, saying that
had sent him letter, he presumed, by mis-
take, as he did not know my name. seeing
instantly that he was not the person intend
ed to write to, I apologized, and asked wheth-
er there was not another Mr.. Lutte living
in L.?
mo, there was none other.h
Certainly" I rejoined, "my friend must
have given me his right address, for 1 had
written to him on other occasions here. He
was fal young man, he succeeded to an es-
tate in consequence of his uncle having been
killed while hunting with the Quorn hounds,
and he married, about two years since lady
of the name of Fairbairn."
The stranger very composedly replied,
'You are speaking of Mr.. Clyne; he did
live in the Catbedral-close, but he has now
gone away"
The stranger was right, and in my surprise
I exclaimed:
."Oh dear, to be sure, that is the name:
what could have made me address you in
stead? really beg your pardon my writing
to you, and unconsciously guessing your name
is one Of the most extraordinary and unac-
me.''