Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-08-16
NO. 1913
Mistellaneous.
THE RESULT vF A BLuNDER.
By FRANK LEE BENEDICT.

| have always been very methodical
person; it has always been my habit to
regulate my actions according to fixed
rules-l mean the rules which the course
OF centuries has rendered so plentiful, and
which will usually fill any case when re-
garded by well-regulated mind -..
l am proud to admit that in the matter
of which mean to tell you, violated in
toto this Gfyou will permit so me to call it),
guardian stay and guiding star of my HE.
AS | have told you that 1t is my habit to
be methodcal, had better tell you some
thing of myself, so that you may under
stand the circumstances which led to an
adventure Detailing me me, who had
ever abhorred adventures and held in
slight esteem those of my sex to whom
such accidents occur.
had been governess from early girl
hood; was educated to that extent, and
hope did my duty; tried at all events
When | reached forty-or very nearly-I
thought the hard work of my life had
ended. A relative left me ten thousand
dollars well invested, and / proposed to
live on the income. i do not know
whether my inactive existence would
have proved happy or not, tor before
had time to grow accustomed to the
change had not decided how or where
| would make my home-a female with
growing family arrived from the Ber-
mudas, laid claim to being my deceased
relatives widow, established that claim,
proved him insane, upset the will and
took the money.
Not to be tedious, shall tell you only
that for several years aiter-we need not
in a matter like this, be particular to
day in regard to dates-I taught in
young ladies' school. The mistress was
a French woman, and I'm afraid not so
honest as she might have been. At least
know this: ! had in the course of time
saved a few hundred dollars; she per-
suaded me to enter into a partial partner
ship with her. The school broke up, and
| lost my money. And you can under
stand how it happened that put myself
in the hands of the well known agency in
New York of Wakely & Sons. 1t was
| weary waiting; my funds were running
low; matters were complicated by fire
| of the establishment. At last was i'm
| formed by the new clerk, that a gentle
man who wanted governess for two
children, and with whom the House had
held (before the fire) communication in
| regard to me-sending on my certificate
had grown impatient by waiting. i'll
desired the place / must start at once.
To accept position in family with
whose head | had held no personal cor
respondonce, was the act to which re-
ferred, when saying that l violated not
| only a rule of my life, but a rule of society.
But | was harrassed-afraid of finding
myself penniless, and decided to depart.
| was sDing to Sheldon, Pennsylvania--to
the house of person named Lothrop-I
knew that, and | knew very little more.
1t was afternoon when | arrived at my
destination we were still early in June,
and as we had a shower in the course of
the morning, the journey had been sufii-
| ciently pleasant.
felt somewhat futtered when the train
stopped, and the conductor called out
Sheldon, but collected my little packages
| and descended, trying to encourage my
self by repeating some of the moral
axioms, such as | had set so often as
copies to my pupils, that they had re-
| manned in my memory.
Only few people alighted; had no
difficulty in persuading one Of the rail-
| road officials to listen TO me, when asked
for directions how best to reach Pine Hill.
1.-The omnibus goes by the house," he
said ''you will have to wait half sn hour
though, because the bus does not start
| till the up train comes in"
81 could walk" | suggested, "if IL is
not eoo far, and let the omnibus bring my
trunk that is if could find some one to
show me the way"
"Oh it is not far-straight down High
| street-ust outside the town--why there
there is MIR. Moulton,' and he broke off
to beckon gentleman who had come out
of the station, and " no approached at the
| sign he received-looking surprised.
| 'Mr. Moulton," began the hurried but
pattern oficial-since he preserved his
| politeness and good nature even in the
midst of his haste-"this lady is going to
Pine Hill. She does not want to wait for
| the omnibus. Give me your checks,
ma 'am-I'll attend to your baggage" and
he seized my checks and off he dashed,
| and there the unfortunate gentleman and
| stood looking at each other, at first l
thought nobody in the world was ever so
much embarrassed as /. discovered that
he was still more confused.
He was such a dainty, dapper person
| he looked about seven and forty-that you
could told at a glance he was bachelor.
Disturbed as | was, knew that one of US
must speak, and as he did not-though he
opened his mouth several times, and
| thought he was about to say something,
and grew more embarrassed because he
failed to do so-therefore | said:
81 beg your pardon, sir = l could not
think of troubling you, ii you would kind
y direct me the way must take to get to
Pine HILL ~ am going" he interrupt
ed. 81 can show you. Pray let-let me
carry your wraps and satchel and-and
things"
had very few-only my shawl, my
waterproof, my umbrella, my satchel and
my luncheon basket--he tried to take them
all, but he made such bad work oft, drop
ing one article as fast as be attempted to
take another-he STOPPING and l STOPPING
to pick up the articles, and twice knock
ing our heads together, that by the time
consented to let him carry the satchei and
basket, we were both as red as possible,
and so confused that really do not believe
either OF us could have told our names il
anybody had asked them suddenly.
We walked quite distance through the
busy part of the town: turning into broad,