Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-03-10
A STRANGE STORY.

~ eS, Sir, IL was tne suranSesb tulnS
that ever happened to me. l didn't
believe it could be, but it came right
along, and l amt bit sorry for it
now. I'll tell you how it was, and
then you'll see the strangeness OF 1T.
Il was young and foolish, sir. Most
girls are at my age l was just six
teen, and I'd read all about Cinder
ella. and 1 thought my prince'd come
one of these bright days and say to
me, Come, Julia, and we'll laugh and
dance and be merry all our lives.
II don't suppose there was any
particular harm for girl like me
(who had to work so hard and please
a cross missus, who the harder you
tried to please the less satisfied she
was) to dream at her work, which was
from the rising of the sun to near
midnight, of princes and beaux and
such like. --. -,t.-. .t.r
"Well, one day my heart gave q
great thump, and L thought it'd rise
right up in my throat and choke me.
I'd been dreaming more than ever on
that particular day about Prince
Charming, and az. Twas vtrudging
through the street where I'd gone on
message. a NICE young gentleman
stepped quietly up to my side, and
with a smile that was all sunshine on
his handsome face-and it was hand
some, sir-said:
"'Pardon me, miss, but I'm a
stranger in this town and I'm IN
search of the house Of Mr.. Rodgers,
the lawyer. Can you direct me to
his residenceF
"'Why, yes, sir, L said. 4 live
with Mrs. Rodgers she's my mis-
tress.' & -
".Aunt Rodgers-Aunt Becky Rod
gersr he repeated. I'm so glad
Now, sir, weren't it queer he
should say on such short acquaint-
ance that he was glad? l know
was more than glad Oh, heywas good
Hooking. Was he the one I'd been
dreaming and thinking. of 80 long
But, perhaps, after all, he meant that
he was glad he had found out where
his cross aunt lived. -. y.ls - <
II took him directly to the door OF
the house, and 1 warned him on the
way not, to say to his aunt that he
had seen and talked with me.
"'Why?' he asked.
Because 7 said, looking down
and blushing, l know, like a cabbage
rose, If You do, she'll be angry with
me and scold-me. and-sayI was pre-
suming and all that
Poor julia he murmured ever
so softly.
You see, sir, I told him my name
Well, sir, ! ran down the basement
I steps and was in the Kitchen as un
concerned like as possible whore Mrs
Rodgers just then happened to be
when a tremendous ringing OF the
door bell began. Y,....aA..
"Gracious! exclaimed the mistress
who can it be? Julia, run up an6
see who that is, and if it is any one
for me show them into the front
parlor and tell them Til be up pres
emily. And then come and tell me
who it is, do you hear?'
"'Yes'm,' / said, and with my face
all atire, bounded UP the basement
stairs and into the hall sss ! "s
Il flew to the front door anf
opened it. Here was the handsome
young mar. 1 said to him; .sI
walk into the parlor. Your aun
will be with you in minute
a,''He followed me to the room, ant
all at once, sir, he put an arm aronnt
me, and STOPPING until his bright
sunshiny face was a level with mine
whispered as he looked right into m!
eyes: yy ,.-.v.r.y -01tVT
Remember, Julia. we are to bt
friends. And this shall be our pledge.
"'And all at once, sir, he kissed
me. If my face had been atire before
what was it now, and there was mis-
tress to meet. But / was in goo(
fortune that day. IBroleaway from
Sthe young man, George Bigaft hi
name was, and ralf back into the hall
Then went to the basement stairs
which were dark like, and there l me
mistress coming up. r.s. - sa, s1s
@"tYou've been a long time Q letting
them in, she said, sharply. Who il
| ftp en'o- 7ei AS" is3 - --sAhaf
.s4,stA young gentleman, ma'am,T a
says he wishes to see you particularly
"a young gentleman. she re
peated What does he look like
What's his namef