Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-08-23
TRusL0W's MISTAKE.

1 ~ " 90 q loS3io" oNy - ROa ~
sornd, the blue water sparkling in ith
noon sunshine, the far on Long Is
and hills disdemej with yellow ring
of mist, and Major Truslow,i leanin
back In his easy chair, rs be glance
up and down the columns of the morI
ing paper, passively enjoyed the geld
en- beauty OF the day, the rush OF th
steamers bows through the shinin
flow of the deep, and the merry sound
of life and vivaeity around him..
As he sat there, his Panama slight
tipped forward over his handsom
middle-aged brow, the voice of one q
his best servants struck his ear.
She's sittiu' there, cryin' as IL he
heart would break and there's no kin,
o. use teilin' her it's all her own fEuit.
what il the matter? asked MsjO
TruslOw, now fitting the Panama bacl
into its proper place. 'Whom are yo'
talking sOfT s.s7a. ra.i 81
-'It's n young girl, sir, as has takeI
the wrong boat, and never found IL on
until there was two good miles atweeI
US and the slip,' answered the man
'and she do take on awful. Perhaps
sir, if you was to speak to her-sh'
won't pay no attention to what w
says i..-.rt.
sWhere is she?'
In the upper cabin, SIR
Major Truslow laid down his pspe
and walked off.
Cronching on one of the sofas. with
her face hidden in the pillow and pro
fusion of light brown hair, shot viii
burnished CLEANS like gold, was sim
gularly graceful figure dressed in som
bre gray stuff-a figure whose slender
shoulders seemed to shake with sup
pressed s0bs.
Look up, child, said he. What srt
you crying so piteously about?'
She sat up, disclosing an oval flushed
face-one OF the very few which weep
ing cannot disfigure. The soft, brown
hair grew on the forehead, the long
lsshsd eyes were of the softest hazel
and deep dimple nestled on the chin
what is it?' he repeated, sitting
down beside her, and assuming an all
of psternal kindness. Don't cry any
more, but tell me all about it, ear
oh, sir, I have been SO foolish! she
faltered, the brown eyes cast shyiy
down. i came ON board the boat tC
say good bye to school mate, who was
going to New Haven, and must have
mistaken the landing, for they tell me
this is not the New Haven boat--and
and / have no money, and mamms
won't let me land again. -.i. D
And she burst forth into fresh tears
and sobs as she spoke. ..s
But there is no sort of necessity for
all this tribulstiOn, my dear child.
soothed the Major, this time smooth.
ing down the brown curls that fell like
silken floss beneath his touch. We
shall reach Bridgeport In a few hours,
and the fare is only dollar. You must
allow me to pay 1t for you, just as
would for a sister or even daughter.
But mamma wouldn't like my ae-
cepting money from a gentleman
Nonsense, nonsense cried the Ma
jor. Why, am old enough to be your
father. Here, stewardess--a ticket fer
this young lady!,
'Oh, sir, you are too kind!' filtered
the distressed damsel, but she resisted
no further. .Only-mamms-'
we can telegraph to her when we
reach Bridgeport, and you can easily
reach her tonight by the evening
train.' .......
'Or. I might go to friend 1 have
there suggested the girl. Il have
been i'll, and l am easily tired. Per-
haps Ought not to travel 30 far In one
That would be better stilI,' said the
Major. i will take you to your
friends house, il, as you suppose, you
are q stranger in the city,
Entirely so,' was the detected an
,wer. 'Oh! how could be so carelessr
There was every sign Of a relapse in
10 the hystericsl weeping which he
had at first witnessed, but the Major
made haste to avert such Q calamity.
My DEAR said he eheerfully, do
you know what think would be the
best thing for you to do?'
What, sir? she asked, with the
ready, innocent docility of y child.
Just to dismiss all caro- and regret
rom your mini, and to enjoy this
sail as much as possible. Al
er all, there Is no great harm done
nothing to justify the unavailiDg tears
you have shed. Cheer up
1t was amazing how brief was the
Quincy up the sound after Alice Brooks
that was her name ,as the Major soon
from her artless COPIES
on-became mis-, travelling compan-
on. Her pretty ignorance, ner child
ike confessions, her interest ia every
hing he told her, were ali 80 new and
to our war.wOrn veteran,
hat he caught himself more than once
that Providence had been kind
enough to bestow upou him just such
IN innocent, lovely young daughter rs
his. ....tf,. 80 ,a
'Or perhaps q wife, thought the Ma
or. With curious stirring beneath the
lbs. 'I've known people married
rom stranger beginnings than this, and
hough she is only sixteen and ] am
orty -six-pshaw! what ami thinking
IbOut?' .,- as.rff.l .D.i-i -ip...s
He was unfsignedly sorry when
hey reached Bridgeport, and he help
ID to fasten an enveloping waterproof
Hoax all around the slight little figure,
md to knot Q veil 80 as to hide the
curls.
People stare sol said Alice, impa-
ieDtiy.
you are limping!' said the Major in
'larm, as they passed up the gang
Vay plank. Have you hurt yeurselfr
And he started rs he looked down.
Had s0me evil genius spirited away the
girl, and left an ancient, par
Ilytic old dame in her stead? How
lad the child contrived to transform
,erself 30 suddenly.
Its nothing whispered Alice, ON
y 1 slipped on q bit OF orange peel
Shall we stop aud rest . minuteT
'Oh, no, no! 1t will be better pres
'nly, and do 80 long to be out OF this
rowd.' -e''-.
She got with diniculty into the car
iage which the Major had signalled,
md 90 they drove away and abe lifted
I'D her veil, he could see that she was
,ery pale. ~ +u-
'You have hurt yourself seriously,
ny child r.rs nsn se
No. she persisted, 1T is better al
eady, only Lam such sad coward at
,esring pain 1855.
Al Ho.a> . ka