Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-02-12
MisetlIzntous. &
Prom BeS,gaviA-l
LucretiA.
A CHRISTMAS EVE ADVENTURE.

will acknowledge tha, / was certainly
very Young man in the year '76; indeed,
was only just turned of twenty. and was in
ordina,ely proud Of Sigh, downy fringe on
my upper lip. which was pleased to speak
Of as my moustache. Still, was a sturdy
young fellow enough. in spite Of my con-
sump;ive tendencies, and not given TO
groundless fears in a general way; but
mus, allow that was decidedly frightened
by nv adventure in the Richmond Hotel on
Christmas Eve Of ;ha, aforesaid year Of
grace. 1t may be foolish reminiscence
vet dare say YOU won't mind listening to
it.
When | say the Richmond Hotel, YOU
must not understand me TO speak Of the
Star and Garter IN the town of that ilk stu
a;ed in the county of Surrey, England. The
Richmond where passed my uncomfortable
Christmas Eve stands on the banks of the
pretty ST. Francis River in Lower Canada
had gone out to the colony in the autumn
of that year to look after small property of
nv mothers near kamouraska; and orig
inally intended to spend the winter in Que
bee. But as the November snow grew deep
er and deeper upon the plains Of Abraham, !
became gradually aware that q Canadian
winter was not the bes, adapted tonic in the
world for a young man with Sigh, hereditary
predIsposI,ion to consumption. l had seen
enough Of Arctic life in Quebec during those
two initial months to give Inc good idea of
its pleasures and drawbacks. ! had steered
nv tobogan down the Falls Of Montmorenci;
had driven a sleigh, fete-a-tde with a
French Canadian belle, to picnic in house
at Sainte Anne; l had skated, snow -shoed.
and curled TO nv hearts content; and had
caught my death Of cold on the frozen St.
Lawrence, not TO mention such minor mis-
fortunes getting nv nose, ear and feet
frost-bltten during a driving party up the
Chaudiere. So a few days before Christmas
] determined to strike south. ! would 20
for a tour through Virginia and the Carroll
mas, to escape the cold weather, waiting for
the return Of summer TO catch glimpse Of
Niagara and the great lakes.
For this purpose l must first 20 to Mon
treal; and that being the case what could be
more convenient than to spend Christmas
Day itself with the rector At Richmond, to
whom had letter Of introduction, his wife
being in fact first cousin of my mothers.
Richmond lies half way on the Grand Trunk
line between Quebec and Montreal, and it
would be more pleasant, by breaking my
journey there, to eat my turkey and plum
pudding in a friends family than in that
somewhat cheerless hotel the Dominion Hall.
So of started from the Point Levi station
at four O'Clock on the oath Of December,
hoping to arrive at my journeys end about
one O'Clock Christmas morning.
Now, those were the days, Just after the
great American civil war, when gold was al
most unknown either in the States or Cana
da, and everybody used greasy dollar notes
of uncertain and purely local value Hence
l was compelled to take the money for the
expenses of my projected tour in the only
form Of specie which was available, that Of
solid silver. A hundred and fifty pounds in
silver. A hundred and fifty pounds in silver
dollars amounts to . larger bulk and heav-
ier weight than you would suppose; and
thought it safer to carry the sum in my own
hands, loosely bundled into . large leather
reticule. Hinc lilo lacryme, that was the
real cause of my nights adventure and Of
the present story.
When l got into the long open American
and warm foot-bricks, found only one seat
vacant, and that was . red velvet sofa, op-
posite to another occupied by . girl of ain
gular beauty. / can remember to this day
exactly how she was dressed. Idare say my
lady readers will think it horribly old-iash-
ioned At the present time, but it was the very
latest and most enchanting style in the year
'67. On her head was . coquetish little
cheese-plate bonnet, bound round with one
Of those warm, soft Aeecy woolen wells or
head-wraps which Canadian girls know -
Nubias. Her dress was short winter walk
ing costume of the period, trimmed with fur,
and vandyked At the bottom 20 - to show
glimpse Of the quilted petticoat underneath.
Her little high-heeled boots displayed BY the
short costume, were buttoned Far above the
ankle, and bound with fur to match the
dress; while tassel at the side added Just
suspicion Of Paris coquetry. Her cloak was
lined with sable, or what seemed 90 to my
indriscriminating eyes; and her rug was .
splendid piece Of wolverine skins. A to her
eyes, her lips, her figure, had rather not
attempt them. can manage clothes but
not goddesses. Altogether quite dream Of
Canadian beauty, not devoid of that inde6na-
BILE grace which goes only with the French
blood.
Twas not bold in 81, and l would have
preferred to take any other seat rather than
face this divine apparition; but thsre was no
help for it since al the others were filed, 90
I sat down . little sheepishly, dare Say.
Almost before We were we'll out Of the sta
ton We had got into conversation, and it was
she Who began it
"You are IN Englishman, thinks" she
said, looking at me with frank and pleas