Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-02-18

HOW MI FATE WAS DkGIOkU.
"Oh. Nellie, how / envy you" said
Louise Carey, as she stood upon the
platform bidding me eoodby. What
a delightful time you will have. Of
course, in so romantic spot as Newport
YOU will have an adventure and meet
your destiny"
Louise Carey and / had been friends
from childhood. She was beautiful, vi
vacious, and inclined to be sentimental,
while / was plain, staid and matter Of
fact.
AS nv amt and took our seats in the
car, Louise's last sentence came into my
mind, and / must confess that little
romantic feeling came with it. What
kind of an adventure would mine be!
wondered.
Auntie soon fell asleep, leaving me to
enjoy my own thoughts, and improved
the time by building all sorts of air
castles concerning my future until we
reached our destination.
Arrived at our hotel We were shown to
our rooms, which, contrary to orders,
were not adjoining. Ny aunt fretted
that We should be 30 far separated, but
the assurance that / was not a coward
calmed her fears, and We resolved to
make the best of the existing condition
of things.
NV room opened on n balcony which
extended before the windows of two or
three rooms. My curiosity was immedi-
ately aroused concerning my ne'ghbors.
but for two or three days remained un-
satisfied, as l spent the greater part Of
my time in auntie's room.
At the end of the third day began to
think that adventures in Newport were
not such everyday occurrences AZ Lou
ise had imagined.
On the morning of the fourth, after
bath in the briny waters, l hurried up to
my room to make my toilet for dinner.
The exhilarating bath had aroused my
spirits, and | was humming q gleeful
song with great deal OF enjoyment
when, upon opening the door Of my
room, discovered a man lounging Ill
my easy chair.
started back in amaZement, fearing
had, by some mistake, entered the room
of stranger.
Bot no; my number was upon the door
and my trunk and various articles be-
longing to me we're in the room; conse-
quently / presumed to enter, and was
drawing up my figure with great deal
of dignity, preparatory to demanding
the cause Of his intrusion, when, with
smile, he addressed me as follows:
My dear little miss, how sweetly you
sing! One would suppose you had been
taking lessons Of Apollo; in fact, l should
insist upon retaining that idea, were |
not in direct communication with the
gods. Had ii not been for them, should
be Just now in my own coy little room
in Hartford; but Cupid and had long
conversation, which resulted in my visit
TO this delightful spot. Arriving here
this morning. l saw you in the water and
made Neptune promise that he would
today preserve the calmest serenity in
the watery element, that you might come
forth unframed.
During this speech he had been grad
ually moving toward the door, which
encouraged me to hope that he was about
departing, when, horror of horrors! he
turned the key and quietly placed it III
his pocket! was locked in the room
with a mailman!
My blood seemed to freeze in my veins,
and, catching a glimpse Of my face ia
the mirror, my eyeballs seemed starting
from their sockets. OF course there was
no hope of escape, but by the terror of
violent death my mental action became
intensely quickened. and in few mo-
ments had thought of everything.
What was ! TO do? knew that ma
niacs must always be INDUCED by those
who did not understand controlling them
and 80 concluded to agree with all that
he said.
~ have nephew whom am anxious
to see happily settled in life before
leave him." he began. "You are the
first young lady saw after my arrival,
and you are the ono selected for him
He is rich ~ Cr1sus, strong as Hercules
and handsome AZ Apollo. II you do not
accede to my terms and accept him
when he arrives, will hurl thunder
bolt at You, for l sometimes act the part
of Jupiter"
II promise with all my heart" re-
Piled, hoping that he would leave after
accomplishing his object. But as he re-
mainedy and seemed in deep thought, I
inferred that he was planning some ter
rible deed, and exerted myself to draw
him into conversation.
PLEASE describe your nephew more
minutsly," said /. "for a N anxious TO
understand thoroughly tho man whom
am to marry"
In the most gracious manner he com-
Piled with my request, and extolled his
nephew in the most entertaining and
eloquent manner.
II anyone had been with mo should
have enjoyed hearing him express his
nightly ideas; but was alone, expecting
every moment he would produce some
weapon with which to take NV life.
Oh" thought l, can this DO the ad-
venture referred to by Louise. and is muir
der the destiny awaiting me?"
most have lived hours in those few
moments spent in racking my brain for
some way Of escape. At last l resolved
70 make desperate effort, and, having
pencil and paper in my pocket, pre-
tended to be carelessly scribbling, talk
ing at the same time with the maniac.
AFTER long time had written, in large
letters:
"A mailman in this room; get a force
OF men and capture him."
l had moved toward the windows, and.
etationinR myself at one, invited him to
HOOK from the other. Thanking me with
great yolubility, he accepted my invita-
Sion. My object in doing this was tina,
might, without being seen by him, hold
up the paper on which I had written q
be seen by any one who might pass on
the balcony.
While We were standing there sxerteS
myself to entertain him, trying to diver,
his thoughts from myself, describing
almost by inspiration, (for was neve,
gifted with the art of amusing) ludicrous
things that had read, until he &c emeo
convulsed with laughter.
Really, miss" said he. "you are ths
most entertaining Young lady ever met
believe ! shall marry you myself. in,
stead OF giving you TO my nephew. ID,
you think you could act the part OF
A sensation of faintness came over ma
when footstep on the balcony arousr.j
my railing energies. l placed my paper
N fuii view, and presently q young cen.
teman passed the window. He probsbi,
saw us standing there, but was not rud,
enough to stare at US. When he IA
passed fixed my eyes full upon him
resolving that, II there was any powel
of IL. ''se
He turned his head toward me. IA he
DID 30 reading the mute agony writer
ON my face; then, reading the words
mad written, he comprehended the sitn
ALTON, and. giving me an assuring glance
passed on.
soon afterward there was a clickin,
OF th0 loCk thA s3..x.. ...m-1