The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-05-19

uOJ very interesting, ana l. soon con-
cluded my inspection, and looked round
for something else to occupy the mo-
ments, which began to hang rather
heavily. The newspaper of the pre-
vious day was upon a small table by the
window, SO ] took that up, just to pass
away the time, and was soon hstlessly
perusing the advertisements. L had not
been sitting thus above O minute OF
two, when / heard slight rustling, as
of lady's dress; simultaneously came
three OF four light footsteps through
the window into the room; and before I
could look up from my paper, OF rise
from my seat, a musical voice accosted
ME with "Good-morning, uncle; here is
ycur buttonhole bouquet"
I started up in no little surprise at
this greeting, which was evidently not
intended for me and there stood before
me fairy-like maiden of some sixteen
summers, her brown hair falling loosely
from daintily-shaped head; her cheeks
aglow with the healthy morning air she
had been enjoying, and deepened, too,
by rosy blush, when she discovered
her greeting had been unwittingly ad-
dressed to stranger. She was stand
ing before me, holding out the little
knot of flowers destined for her uncles
button n-hole-how I envied her !
very picture of health and life and
happiness and beauty. Her expression
of unstrained enjoyment had changed
in moment to one of embarrassment
and dismay, mingled with a CLEAN OF
amusement in her bright eyes as the
humor of the awkward situation we
were in broke upon her. An instan-
taneous mutual agreement seemed to
flash between us. We both broke into
a merry little laugh ; and L have often
wandered what would have happened il
We had not adopted this course, if, for
instance, the young lady had passed on
with digni6ed GOODNESS, and simple
apologies and bows had passed between
us Our sudden introduction was,
however, not destined to have this sud
den ending In a few moments we
were chatting away like old friends. ]
fancied my fairy seemed to be actually
pleased when L announced that 1 was
going to stay to breakfast ; and 1 had
almost summoned up courage to ask hel
to present me in reality with the flowers
she had undesignedly offered to me-
when the entrance of the servant with
the completing dishes for the breakfast.
table served as an excuse for her to
leave the room.
She had scarcely gone through the
door, when 1 heard again the greeting,
"Good-morning, uncle" followed this
time by an unmistakable sound, which
male me long more than ever to be that
girls uncle! The door opened once
more. l stepped forward to meet my
employer, but suddenly paused, as a
tall gentleman entered the room whom
[ had never seen before in my life.
He stood looking inquiringly at me
after a sharp "Good-morning." was
too embarrassed to make any response.
My first thought was: "He is some
visitor !" but in a few moments the
awful truth daWned across my mind,
that this was in reality the owner of the
house was in, and that by some means
or other l had got into the wrong one,
The situation was tremendous. L am
naturally a cool character but I was SC
taken by surprise and chagrin, that /
could only mutter some confused
apology about having been invited to
breakfast by Mr.. Robertson that 1 had
been directed to this house by some
miserable misunderstanding that
humbly apologized for my intrusion,
and hoped he would pardon it. Sc
speaking 1 made a frantic dash at my
hat --maddened at my stupidity, at the
loss of my breakfast, and still more at
the thought of never seeing OF speaking
again to that charming little lady, who,
in less than five minutes, 1 had found /
was absurdly in love with
1 said a hurried "good- "
and was trying to make a ghastly at
tempt at smile as 1 left the room
when, would you believe it > that tall,
dark man burst out into loud laugh.
I felt ready to knock him down.
knew how my stupidity would be gayly
discussed at that breakfast-table, before
her, and L felt my discontinue and
humiliation deeply; but this open mer-
riment AZ my expense maddened me.
A strange calm succeeded this storm.
1t was caused by some words uttered by
my pOlllCllbOls IOl D1uSb lOI-
give me; could not refrain from laugh
ing. My name is Robinson. Your
friend Mr.. Robertson lives in one Of the
other houses. We frequently get par,
GELS and letters, and even callers coming
to the wrong house; but in all my ex-
perience we have never had so amusing
a mistake 50 early in the day as this
one."
Now this explanation toned down my
anger considerably; but the words
which followed were like balm to my
troubled heart. "Mr. Robertson will
have finished breakfast by now. 1 can
not think of allowing you to go. Do
me the favor of remaining here and
breakfasting with us this morning." So
saying he took my hat out of my hand
and led me into the room again. OF
course it did not need much persuasion
to make me stop. Two minutes before
had been ready to knock this man
over; / now thought him the most kind
and considerate fellow in the world.
OF course the breakfast was delight
ful. 1 found Mr.. Robinson and his
wife sensible, genial, kind-hearted peo-
pie. l found their niece even more
sensible, more genial and more kind
hearted than they were; and when,
after breakfast, 1 accompanied her and
Mr.. Robinson into their pretty flower
garden, I received from her a rosebud
for my buttonhole, which 1 kept for
some years afterward. When saying
goodbye was perplexed by thinking
how 1 should manage to see her again;
it must be contrived somehow 1 men