Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-01-09
WINN'S BLUNDER.
By Rochester.

OF their m1SlOTtllI1oS IIldOO pttUllC, lutt
Vivian Winn, young man of twenty
two, thought himself fully competent
to elude the wiles of any sharper who
might beset him on the journey he was
about to undertake from his home to
Chicago. To be sure, Vivian had never
travelled much, but then he had the
warming advice of his more experienced
uncle, and for the rest-he depends up
on his own shrewdness. He was going
to the great metropolis of the West to
take a stool at the desk of his brother
in-law's banking house, and so, elated
with his bright prospects for the future,
he gayly bid adieu to the few friends
who were at the station to see him off,
and entered a crowded car. All the
seats were full, except one, which was
occupied by a solitary young lady.
Vivian walked slowly down the jol-
ting car, and, pausing before the unoc
cupied seat, bashfully inquired if be
might sit there. With ready acqui-
escence, the accommodating maiden
gathered up her skirts and made room
for him. Disencumbering himself of
his overcoat, our hero proceeded to sit
down, pulled out a newspaper, and en-
gagged himself in the contents thereof,
while his fair travelling companion con-
tinued the perusal of book in paper
covers. in which she seemed deeply en-
gagged.
Vivian's eyes fell upon an article re-
lating how a poor fellow had become
enamored of a beautiful maiden with
whom he became acquainted on rail
road train, and who, on landing at his
destination, found himself minus his
pocket-book and its contents-some six
hundred dollars. He laughed to HIM
self over the simplicity of the dupe, aud
folding up his paper, turned his atten-
ton to the person at his side.
Heavens what beauty A thrill of
uncomfortable interest ran through him
as he beheld those large, dark, dreamy
eyes, those waving tresses, and that fair,
clear countenance. She seemed great
ly interested in the volume before her,
and gave him good opportunity Of
studying her features. At length, be-
coming aware of his steady gaze, the
fair unknown suddenly closed her novel
and turned those large eyes upon him.
Vivian, blushing at his detection in
staring on lady, excused his rudeness
by inquiring if she was not Miss Smith,
and if she did not reside at such a
place.
No, her name was not Smith, nor did
she live at B.
"Ah Indeed Really, you must par
don me, for the resemblance is very
striking"
His conduct was excusable,
Then you are not acquainted any
at B.?"
No; but her brother had friends
there.
" Your brother is not with you ?"
Il am on my way to meet him. Do
you come from B.?"
q do, madam, and am going to meet
mg brother.
Eyes? Quite coincidence"
Remarkable My brother is ban
ker at Chicago.
That looked suspicious. Vivian be-
gan to think that this was little too
much of a coincidence to be natural
in fact a vision of the lost pocket-book,
with its six hundred dollars, began to
loom up with painful distinctness, and
to cause an itching to put his hand in
his pocket, and feel that his own wallet
was safe; but moments reflection
satisfied him of the foolishness of any
such fear. Another glance at the beau
tlful face SO near his own made him
ashamed for having ever harborcd such
an idea as that this lovely being could
be capable of theft.
She a pickpocket Never So irrita-
ted did he become at the thought of his
baseness toward the fair creature, that
he was on the point of showing her the
article that had raised his suspicion.
and then confessing his crime and beg
ging forgiveness, when the young lady
once more resumed her reading, and
became alike indifferent to him and his
fate.
Perhaps she had an inkling of his
thoughts ! He blushed at the idea.
What fool he had been, after Begin
ming an acquaintance that was likely to
prove SO couLeur de rose during his tedious
ride, to forfeit her regard by such
wickedness.
Perhaps she imagined that he was a
rogue, and had trumped up the coinci-
OOiSO III OIOCl w SC6 ll1tO 11CI SOOU
graces. Jupiter should that be the
case
Thirty minutes for supper p shou-
ted by the brakeman, together with the
name of the station, put an end to his
cogitations and her reading.
Willy go to the tablet" inquired
Vivian rising.
No, thank you; but if you will be
50 kind, you may bring some refresh
ment," and she contidingly put her
purse In his hand.
Then she didn't think him rogue
no. she must have felt his own suspi-
cions, and-kind, forgiving soul-took
this method Of punishing him
With mixture of misery and hap
piness, he thrust the tiny purse into his
pocket, and rushed into the crowd of
hungry mortals standing round the
tables and eating away as-if for dear
life.
Having procured the best that the
house afforded, he handed them through