Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-09-11
THE WAY 1T HAPPENED.


I was sitting in my study, reading Moli-
ere. when she entered the room-perfectly
unannounced at that.
looked up, and saw an angel in white
nuns yelling, .jaunty little blue hat, about
the size of saucer, tipped to one side in a
most bewitchingly heart-breaking manner;
and she wore cream-colored kids, and car
ried white pongee-taken all in all, a
fairyl
She smiled at me, and held out her hand.
took it mechanically What did this
mean?
She pouted-ah! those cherry lips!-and
stamped her little No. impatiently on the
floor
"You don't seem very glad to see me-,
she said, pettishly.
I murmured that I was delighted-en-
tranced! So was-such visions were not
of everyday occurrence with me.
"Well,' said she, gleefully, that'sa COM
fort! Now, they told me thatyo wouldn t
receive me-that l would be turned out of
doors"
"Reptilesr' said 7.
"But I came-and you're not angry?"
"Angryr'
| could say no more.
Then she walked up and down the room.
''How do you like my dress?" she asked,
revolving before me as if on pivot.
murmured something about ''angelic
superbnessr'
81 did intend" she said, half doubtfully,
''to get dress of gray cashmere, with un-
derskirt trimmed with deep plaiting-the
spaces to be filled in with bias folds above
the plaitings in band of silk-the over
skirt cut square-the side cores rounded up
four inches and finished with bow-the
back breadth twelve inches longer, and
looped up into a tournure. That, with q
pretty little sacque with open sleeves,
trimmed to match the under-dress, would
be nice, wouldn't it?"
murmured an unqualified assent-not
that [ understood what she was talking
about, for she uttered the full description
in one breath; but then l didn't know what
| was saying.
yelling because [ liked it. Don't You?
Il admire your TASTE" l said, family;
for | was fast losing my senses, though
wondering as to who and what she was.
"You're dear, good fellowP' said she,
rapturously; ''and l know we'll get on fa-
mously togetherp'
ting into very deep water!
'Now, them" she continued. 'show me
some place to put my things, and then you
and will have a talk
I mechanically pointed out small room
opening out Of the library She hurried in.
I sat like statue carved from adamant. -
Deeper water!
Presently she returned, divested of little
hat, poneee and kids Dainty and jau lty
as the little hat was, it never could be such
a head dress as that curly black head of
hair; and the bare hand was certainly pret-
tier and its dimples showed better than
when gloved l could not speak-I only
| looked
She cast searching glance around the
| library.
'Horrid dirtyr' she said, disdainfully.
''When has it been cleaned?
''About year ago." said, meekly.
She gave utterance to a pretty little scream.
"A year? Shocking! Oh, couldn't t
sit down in a room that hasn't been cleaned
for year This must be put to rights"
She said this in very determined tone,
and then set to work She converted my
linen coat into an apron, tied cunning
little handkerchief over that pretty head,
and snatching up the fly duster, busted away
valiantly-raising cloud of dust, in which
sat gazing on the vision. What did all
this mean? Iconsulted Moliere, my STAN
ding authority, but Moliere could give no
explanation. Could she be an angel, sent
to cast ray of light over my dismal path
of lifes Perhaps but did angels wear
white nuns yelling, and talk about cash
mere and tournures? Impossible! Itmust
be dream.
| Suddenly she paused, and came to me
through the cloud, and held out her arms,
and said:
''Roll up my sleeves, please. can work
better with them up, and then Immediately
secuted the idea of its being dream.
Could dream of such arms, with such a
beautiful aimple in each elbow?
Certainly not! They were real! I did
not think that q sculptor would have been
proud to have them for model, because l
was morally certain that any sculptor would
have been distracted by the sight, and have
dropped his chisel, ..despairing of ever doing
them justice.
And then she busted, and while she dust
ed she sang. What voice! Don't men,
ton Nilsson-I won't hear of it!
And then she drew up a chair, and sat
down beside me, having first removed the
handkerchief and the improvised apron.
Then she shook her curls and addressed me.
''AIy dear uncle, let us have talk"
Her uncle! IF my heart had suddenly
changed to lump of lead, it couldn't have
sunk any quicker than it did then
"You know" she contin ued, 'that you
wrote me letter saying hat you consid-
cred it best for me to stay at the farm until
you wrote again. But then, didn't want
to stay; felt SO lonely away out there,
hardly seeing a new face once in a month,
for the twelve years that l have been there
for you know you left me there when -
was six years old. Well, thought would
come up to the city, so l took fifty dollars
and bough this suit. Mrs. Marsh picked
it out for me. You know she has been in
the city, and so came; and you're not an
cry, are you? Because, if you are, I'll go
right back again, uncle-indeed | will"
My feelings during this brief speech had
been very painful. gradually awolze to
the fact that it was all a blunder-that the
visit of this angel was not intended for me
and | felt very bitter over the discovery,
but my duty was plain.
s'AIy dear child,'' said 1, humbly, twill
you have the kindness to inform me what
your name is ?"
She opened her eyes, and then laughed.
"Why," she said, ''surely you cannot
have forgotten me? Little Bess, you
know"
'Little Bess q'' repeated.
"Bessie Ludlow she said, gravely.
'FY our niece
"No;" said I, sadly; ''not my niece.
have no niece. There has been some error.
My name is Floyd"
! ''Then," said she, ''you are my uncle.