The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-09-07
SELECT STORY.
A FORTUNATE MISTAKE.
by PIERCE LoR1MER.

May, in 185--, that / went to hear the
Russian Princess Strainervoyce, who
at that time attracted the fashionable
world to her concerts. went to hea,
the Princess partly to kill time, and
partly from desire to see and heal
for myself the marvellous foreienci
whose name was in everybody's mouth
When l reached Her Majesty's con.
cert room it was crowded to its utmost
capacity. II was SO closely welged
that one could have studied anatomy
after fashion, merely from the i'm.
preston Of ones neighbor's bones. AT
the close of the concert l was borne
along with the crowd, and iammed
through the doorway at the risk OF
breaking every rib in my body. Ere
could escape from the throng, and
while was Struggling my shoulders tc
assure myself that my collar-bone was
in its proper position, l felt a hand
clasping my arm, and musical voice
exclaimed
"You good for nothing / thought
had lost you! What frightful crush
do believe my arm is broken, and my
dress ruined, and all for the sake Of
hearing this Strainervoycel" 1851,
was on the point of replying that
agreed with her, but restrained my.
self, laughing inwardly at the novel
position in which was placed, and
wondering who my fair companion
could be. Evidently she mistook me
for her brother, or, possibly, her hus.
band, judging from the familiarity Of
her manner, for she added, in sym.
pathizing tone:
"Forgive me, Ralph--your pool
head l am sorry l made you
come"
"Pardon me, madam said l ''bui
"Oh, nonsense, Ralph!' she inter.
rupted me. "You have become hall
barbarian since you went to the Cri-
mea, to permit me to seat myself,
while you stand there as if | were your
wife, and you ten years married, in.
stead OF your sister, whose ready as
slstant and attendant-in place of a
better-you should be-
"Excuse me-" said l, but"
'Ralph, l shall catch my death OF
cold sitting here, and such long ride,
too" Here the lady gave a peculiar
shiver. "Do jump in and sit down, or
| will"
What she would have done | did
not wait to hear; but taking my place
beside her in the brougham, we were
driven off, whittier knew not where.
81 won't ask you to talk to me, with
that headache, but l want you to lis,
ten to me-" began my companion, the
moment we started. 81 wanted to
talk to you coming in, but that little
chatterbox, Maggie, prevented me
from saying word to you. You re-
member poor little Lucy Walters,
Ralph. Her mother died about two
months ago, and the poor gi,l has
gone to live with the Deans. Mr.. and
Mrs. Dean has been very kind to her,
but it is impossible for them to do
more than shelter her. How anyone
can have the heart to wound Lucy's
feelings is a mystery to me, and yet
every occasion that presents itself is
seized upon by the Wares and Kings
to insult her, even to commenting
upon the poor girls fathers actions, as
If she could have prevented that which
occurred twenty years ago, and have
seen Sarah Ware initiating her walk,
regardless Of poor Luoy's tears"
| could not restrain an exclama.
tion of disgust as I listened to this.
Il knew it would disgust you,
Ralph" continued my companion.
"Well, the doctor says now that Lucy
will always be lame-there can be
nothing done for her. l have been
thinking, ever since her mother died,
that if she had a good teacher she
might not only be independent, but
achieve name as an artist. You
should see some of her attempts. She
is genius, Ralph. But that would
require money, and where is the money
to come from? You know I haven't
much, Ralph, but I have determined to
do something for our old playmate.
can save out of my allowance at
least thirty pounds, and now if you
will double it, what will that not do
for Lucy! l was counting it up the
other day, and if am correct it will
enable her 70 attend the School of De-
sign and take private lessons in Art
for year; and, at the end of that
time, if Lucy is alive, she will show
the world what aGwoman can do,
When look at the poor girl, with her
rare mind and her Craving for knowl-
edge, ] cannot help thinking how su-
perior she is to me-a mere idler; and
sometimes think that if she had my
place and l hers, there would be more
justice in tho distribution of the
worlds goods and comforts. Don't
say I'm silly and sentimental. Ralph.
| know you will give your share to-
ward the sum, like good brother, as
you are, / have been talking to her
about it, and ] know I can manage it
so as TO overrule any scruples she may
have against receiving anything from
u.s."
Here my companion became quiet,
and the question presented itself to my
mind, 'How am to escape from this
awkward position honorably? Here l
have been guilty of listening to COM
munication intended for the ear of an
other-have been guilty of an inexcu-
sable deception practiced upon a stran-
ger and lady knowingly, Perhaps
the honest plan would be to aoquaint
her at once with the mistake and 'sQlie-
it her pardon
] had at last summoned sufficient
courage to clear my throat, and was
about to commence my well-studied
speech, when my companion gave a
little laugh, as she said;
"Really, Ralph, you are very enter
tanning in your own peculiar way but
if you are as dumb when in the pres
ence of Miss Vernon as you have been
to-night, she is TO be pitied rather than
enyied. You are little better than a
barbarian {! But here we are at uncle's,
and you know ] promised to stop with
Carrie TO night; SO you will have nc