The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-11-10

quaintud with her husbands invitation
to me, 1 thought it best not to be Offend
ed; so I commenced examining the pic
lures on the walls. They were not very
interesting, and 1 soon concluded my in
spection and looked round for something
else to occupy the moments which began
to hang rather heavily. The newspaper
of the previous day was upon a small
table by the window, so l took that up
Just to pass away the time, and l was
soon listlessly perusing the advertise
ments. I had not been sitting thus o
q minute or two, when I heard a slight
rustling, as of a lady's dress; simultane-
ously came three or four light footsteps
through the window into the room; and
before I could look up from my paper, or
rise from my seat, a musical voice ac-
costed me with Good morning, uncle;
here is your button-hole."
Istarted up in no little surprise at this
greeting. which was evidently not in
tended for ME; and there stood before
me a fairy-like maiden OF some sixteen
summers, her brown hair falling loosely
from a daintily shaped head; her cheeks
aglow with the healthy morning air she
had been enjoying. and ~deepened too by
a ROSY blush, when she discovered her
greeting had been unwittingly addressed
to a stranger. She was standing before
me, holding out the little knot Of flowers
destined for her uncle's button hole
how I envied her rncle!-a very picture
of health and life and happiness and
beauty. Her expression of unrestrained
endowment had changed in a moment to
one of embarrassment and dismay, min
gled with a CLEAN of amusement in her
bright ewes as the humor of the awkward
situation we were in broke upon her. An
instantaneous mutual agreement seemed
to flash between us. We both broke into
a merry little laugh; and 1 have often
wondered what would have happened if
we had not adopted this course, if, for
instance, the young lady had passed on
with a digniied GOODNESS, and simple
apologies and bows had passed between
us! Our sudden Introduction was, how
ever, not destined to have this sudden
ending. In a few moments we were
chatting away like old friends. I fancied
nv fairy seemed to be actually pleased
when l announced that I was going to
stay to breakfast; and 1 had almost sum-
moned up courage to ask her to present
me in reality with the flowers she had
undersigned offered to me-, when the en-
trance 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 I heard again the greeting,
GOOD morning, UNCLE" followed this
time by an unmistakable sound which
made me long more than ever to be that
girls uncle! The door opened C
more. I stepped forward to meet my
employer, but suddenly paused, as q tall
gentleman entered the room whom l had
never seen before in my life.
He stood looking inquiringly at me
after a sharp Good morning." 1 was
too embarrassed to make any response.
Ny first thought was: "He is some Wis
itor; but in a few moments the awful
truth dawned across my mind that this
was in reality the owner of the house l
was in, and that by some means or other
I had got into the wrong one. The stu
alton was tremendous. / am naturally
a cool character; but I was so taken by
surprise and chagrin that I 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 misunder-
standing; that I humbly apo)ogized for
my intrusion, and hoped he would par
don it. So speaking, 1 made a frantic
dash at my hat, maddened at my stu.
pidity, at the loss of my breakfast, and
still more at the thought of v seeing
or speaking again to that charming little
lady who in less than five minutes l
found l was absurdly in love with.
1 said a hurried "Good morning." and
was trying to make a CHASTITY attempt ct
a smile as 1 left the rOom-when. would
you believe it? That tall, dark man
burst out into a loud laugh. I felt ready
to knock him down. l knew how my
stupidity would be gaily discussed u
that breakfast table, before her. and l
felt my discontinue and humiliation
deeply; but this open merriment at my
expense maddened me.
A strange calm succeeded this storm.
1t was caused by some words uttered by
my tormentOr.
"You really must forgive me; 1 could
not refrain from laughing. My name is
Robinson. Your friend Mr.. Robertson,
lives in one of the other houses. We
get parcels and letters. and
even callers coming to the wrong house;
but in all my experience we have never
had so amusing . mistake 80 early In the
day as this one"