The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-02-24
Adventure of Two Yankee GIFTS at the VEN
tenniHl.


Adventure of Two Yankee Girls at the Cen
tenRial.
While in Boston recently was told the fol
lowing VERY remarkable incident, which Is
quite good enough to resnrrect our ueau IN
terest in the late Exposition:
Two Young ladies living among the White
Mountains determined to visit the Cenenn ial
together. They had all the pluck, sell reli-
ance and intelligence of the typical Yankee
r,r,. and, though neither of them had ever
iourneyed beyond Concord In all their lives,
the trip to Philadelphia did not seem very
formidable. With great good sense and
taste they prepared dresses that would do for
universal wearing and folded into their re.
spective satchels the one precious black silk,
which seemed to them the acme of elegance.
On they came, netting everything of interest
en- route and especially taking keenest obser-
vations of the people about them. Studying
the maps of the grounds and the hotels near.
est, they selected as their abiding place the
Atlas, but once landed within the great barn
calculated: "Mistake No. 1. This is no place
for us!' A brief consultation resulted in
their starting to look up the regular commits
sion which furnished respectable lodgings,
and our girls entered a Chestnut street car.
Their bright faces and ladylike demeanor
would attract notice anywhere, and an elderly
lady. plainly but richly dressed, seemed es-
pecially interested The conductor came for
his fare.
Miss A. produced quarter, and said:
Take two"
tickets or exchang queried the func-
iionary.
"I'm sure don't Know" said Miss A. 81
want to go to the Centennial Lodging,house
Agency"
The elderly lady interposed: give the
young lady tickets" The conductor obeyed,
clicked his bell punch and left all explana-
tions TO the unknown They were soon made,
and so kindly that our Yankee girls frankly
stated their case.
"You are quite right The Atlas is no
place for YOU Let me see! l think | can
recommend you to a house which will suit
YOU admirably if you can trust me- and she
smiled again, such smile that no one could
doubt her sincerity.
The girls held telegraphic consultation
with their eyes. rendering an Affirmative an
swer with the quick decision OF their nature,
and settled into cOZy three-cOrnered chat
about Philadelphia, till their new friend sig
nailed for stopping the car before a hand
some house. "much too handsome for an or
binary boarding house" Miss A. CALCULATED
mentally Her thought was answered at
once Everybody rents rooms this year, and
here know you will find nice quarters II
they are net fnll" SAID their guide.
Their ring was answered by the mistress OF
the house, and the question of accommoda-
ton settled in minute by the assertion that
every room was crowded
"Never mind" my dears! 1t is only noon
now and you can still go to the Agency; but
first come home with me and have some
lunch.'
"How we dared to do such thing after all
we had read of misplaced confidence | can t
guess" said Nellie NJ, while telling me the
story, "only there was something so facinat-
ing in the lady 8 voice and manner that DIS
trust never entered our heads"
sour Philadelphia squares are so long that
rather than fatigue you shall take you by a
back way!" was the next information given,
as their guide turned into an alley with only
n narrow pavement on one side
1--WE are in for an adventure" whispered
Miss A.
"I'm not afraid, are you?" retorted Nellie,
and on they went, reaching one of those pom.
derous doors in the brick wall with which
people of substances In the Quaker City sur
round their areas
at doesn't look Inviting, girls, but in a
minute I'll show you something better" OBJ
served the lady, giving hearty ratiat with
the old.fashioned knocker.
Now, III let Neilles own bright words tell
tue rest OF lne story.
at seems like bit out of the Arabian
Nights for handsome colored man opened
the door, bowed respectfully and said to
close 1t while Fan and l, too dazed to speak,
meekly trotted along past a coach.house and
stable and the ell of huge mansion. There
was pretty side yard with flowers and
fountain, and we went in at side door. The
minute we had crossed the Threshold our
hostess turned suddenly, held out both her
hands, and said, with much emotion: Noung
ladies, | know am doing a strange thing,
but my daughters are dead, and the sight OF
your young faces IN this quiet house is at
once great pleasure and pain TO me. You
look like my lost Mary and she touched II y
hair with light caress. We were tired and
dusty, not al all IN costume .or the superb
DarOr into which she ushered MS, and where
she left MS tor few minutes. Fan stared at
me and stared ~ b. but we didn't speak
even as much as in = raven. We took OBJ
servations howe. r. lNr we had never seen so
handsome "a room All the colors were dark
and rich: a conservatory opened on one side
and great bars of "nshine lay on the carpet.
Presently, our h.. 49, returned, saying, with
laugh 1t is gni'e time we were intro
dnced I am NJ, j, and you are
Miss A. So Fan. while | demurcly
gave my patron ''i' The next performance
was 10 usher US iu' = large chamber as sup.
erby appointed a ''e + 'rlor, where we were
requested to lay aside our hats and be ready
for lunch when the bell rang. Fancy how
we chartered while we washed our faces and
smoothed our treSses! I vowed il was as good
rs any plav-beter than most-aud we went
down stairs az If we had been to the manner
born Mrs J. met us, conducted US 10 the
dinng-room, and presented us as her prizes
to atall, whitehaired man who welcomed us
warmly Such lunch rs that was! | in.
wardlv thanked the Lord for the summer
when fan and played table walters at the
knnr-nrrrn crHnr Ia hnv hlack