The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-06-06
a CENTENNIAL ADVENTURE

While in Boston recently | was told
the following very remarkable incident,
which is quite good enough to resurrect
our dead interest in the late EXPOSE
ton.
Two young ladies living among the
White Mountains determined to visit
the Centennial together. They had
pluck, self reliance and intelligence, and
thought neither of them have ever jour.
neyed beyond Concord in all their lives,
the trip to Philadel phia did not seem very
formidable. With great good sense and
taste they prepared dresses that would
do for universal wearing, and then fold
ed into their respective satchels the one
precious black silk which seemed to them
the acme of elegance. On they came,
noting everything of interest en- route,
and especially taking keenest observa-
tons of the people about them. Study
ing the maps of the grounds and the
hotels nearest, they selected rs their abid-
ing place the Atlas, hut o.ce landed
within the great barn Circulated, MIS-
take No. l. This is no place for us !" A
brief consultation resulted ill their start
ing to look up the regular commission
who furnished respectable lodgings, and
our girls entered Chestnut street car.
Their bright faces and lady like demean-
or would attract notice anywhere, and
an elderly lady, plainly but richly dress
ed, seemed especially interested. The
conductor came for his fare.
Miss A. produced quarter and said,
"take two"
Tickets or exchange" queried the
functionary.
'tTm sure l don't know" said Miss A
Il want to 90 to the Centennial Lodg
house Agency.
The elderly lady smilingly interposed
conductor obeyed, clicked his bell punch
and left all explanations to the unknown.
They were soon made, and 50 kindly that
our Yankee girls frankly stated their
case.
"You are quite right the Atlas is no
place tor you Let me see! think |
can recomend you to 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 Geographic consul
tation with their eyes, rendering an af-
frmative answer with the quick deci
sion of their nature, and settled into a
cosy three cornered chat about Phila-
delphia, till their new friend signal
ed for stopping the car before hand
for an ordinary boarding house, Miss
A. CALCULATED mentally. Her thought
was answered at once. Every body rents
rooms this year, and here l know you
will find nice quarters if they are not full, y
said their guide.
"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"
elbow we dared do such thing after
all we had read of misplaced confidence,
l can't guess" SAID Nellie NJ. while tell
ing me the story, "Only there was some
| thing so fascinating in the lady's voice
and manner that distrust never entered
our heads"
"Our Philadelphia squares are SO
long that rather than fatigue you l shall
take you by back way" was the next
information given, as their guide turned
into an alley with only narrow pave
ment on one side.
1--WE are in for adventure" whispered
Miss A.
81 am not afraid; are you?" rstorted
Nellie, and on they went, reaching one
of those ponderous doors in the brick
wall with which people Of substance in
the Quaker City surround their areas.
eli doesn't look inviting, girls, but in
a minute I'll show you something better,
observed the lady, giving a hearty rat
| tat which the old-fashion knocker.
Now, I'll let Nellie's own bright words
tell the rest of the story.
at seems like bit out Of the Arab
an Nights, for handsome colored man
opened the door, bowed respectfully, and
STAYED to close it, while Fan and /, too
dazed to speak, meekly trotted along past
a coach house and stable and the ell of a
huge mansion. There was a 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 of her
hands, and said, with much emotion
Young ladies, | know l am doing a
strange thing, but my daughters are dead,
and the sight of your young faces in this
quiet house is at once a great pleasure
and pain to me. You look like my
lost Mary and she touched my hair
with light caress. We were tired and
dusty, not at all in costume for the SUI
perb parlor into which she ushered US,
and where she left US for a few minutes.
Fan stared at me and | stared at her.
but we didn't speak even as much as
| Poe's 4aven. We took observations,
however, for we had never seen so hand
some a room. All the coIors were dark
and rich conservatory opened on one
side and great bars of sunshine lay on
the carpet. Presently our hostess re-
turned, saying with laugh: 1T is quite
time we were introduced. / am Mrs.
j, and you are p Miss A,
said Fan, while demurely gave my
patronymic. The next performance was
to usher us into large chamber, as su-
perblY appointed as the parlor, 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 tressesJ
vowed 1t was as good as any play-better
than mos.-and we went down stairs ms if
we had been to the manner born. Mrs
j. met us, conducted as to the dining
room, and presented us as her prizes to a
! tall, white-haired man, who welcomed us