The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-05-19
IN THE WRONG HOUSE.

IN THE WRONG HOUSE.
It was in Boston. The first snow of
the season had fell the night before, and
the cold was dashing it off the tops of the
high buildings, filling the air with tiny
particles that glittered like diamonds In
the bright sunshine. 1t wasn't quite SO
pleasant to have it come with rush light
into ones face, but every one was merry
and brisk this morning, and why should
not the wind be so too? Two bright
faced girls were rapidly threading their
way through the crowds that thrOnged
aronnd the great dry goods stores. For
an hour they had been fitting from place
to place, attending to matters important
or otherwise, lowering over the pretty
things piled high upon the counters, but
laughingly shaking their heads over
their empty purses.
ST shall have to appoint myself your
guardian, Alice, end put veto on your
buying what yon don't need" Aud the
speaker linked her arm with that of her
companion, and drew her toward the
door.
ST ought to be grateful, for am in
debt now. and / really ought not to
spend cent. Did you ever see such q
good-natured crowd? Now, you have
that call to make, and while you go
there will run in and see Mollie. Don't
stay long, will you, Grace?'
''No, l won't. What wind should
think it came straight from Labrador.
This was rightly named Winter street!
Here, give me your hand. Let us get
into the sunshine somehow, as quickly
as we can"
Hand in hand, laughing, breathless,
with heads bent to meet the fierce winds
that came tearing around the corner, the
cousins struggled forward until they
gained the corner, where Alice halted for
breath; but Grace ran on, across Ire
mont street, and stood in the flooding
sunlight, waiting for her companion.
(which way shall we go?" asked
Alice, when they were together again.
Sup Park street or across the Common?"
'Across the Common, by all means, "
said Grace. "I go out of my way, when
in Boston, to walk on the Common. It
is such relief to me to escape from the
cold shadow of the high buildings"
So on they went, with faces SO bright
from the cold air and their merry hearts
that all who met them smiled and went
their ways more blithely. Suddenly
their path was blocked by the snow, Oh
which men were still at work. An un-
broken white expanse lay between them
and their goal.
'.Three alternatives" exclaimed Grace
gayly; ''to wade through this snow,
which looks rather deep; to wait till the
men finish the path for US, or to take
this path over to Park street"
Gin view of the lateness of the hour,
perhaps we had better make concession
and take the last. See, there is Mollie's
house. You see the house with the roof
higher than the others?"
Eyes" said Grace. not very decidedly.
\"Well, it is the third house from that
IfSou finish your call first you can stop
for me, or vice versa, will go to meet
you. Now don't stay long"
And they parted, Alice keeping on
down Beacon street in the sunshine,
Grace turning north over the hill
Neither had far to go from the corner
where they separated, and Grace was
soon waiting for admittance at her
friends door. The servant who took the
card returned presently with the intelli.
gence that her mistress was quite unable
to see any one. So it happened that in
few moments Grace was upon the
street.
''1,his is nice" she said to herself as
she retraced her steps. "Alice will not
hurry herself, and in the meantime,
what is to become of me? I do not wish
to shorten her call. will walk down
the street very slowly and try to kill
time"
What an exquisite picture it is! And
truly it was beautiful. The leafess
trees on the Common lifted the delicate
tracery of their branches against the
cloudless sky. The newly fallen snow
lay, still spotless, on the streets and
house-tops. Along the few paths that
had been opened on the Common people
passed and repassed. The roar and rush
of the great city came softly to the ear
across the white plain. Near at hand the
State House raised its shining dome high
in the air, and the tinkle of sleigh bells
and the merry shouts of children added
life and interest to the scene.
II am getting somewhat tired of this
promenade, although I doubt if there
could be found pleasanter place for it
in all the city. What house did Alice
say? I'm sure I don't know. If I walk
slowly past this club house few more
times shall create sensation. That
will not do at all. Let me try - street. "
But as she turned .he corner the north
wind met her, and her feet slipped dan
gerously on the icy pavement.
Cant stand this, IN more senses than
one. Why doesn't that girl appear. II
it wasn't for the snow now, might walk
in the Common in the most unnoticeable
way possible. I will cross over and
study those roofs. What did Alice saw
What stupid not to ask her the nun
Der. But, then, shouldn't have heard
it if she had told me. Serves me right
for giving such careless attention tc
what people are saying. I declare I de
not even know her friends name. Mol
lie, Mollie--what? ought to know.
have heard her name often enough whel
have been here before. She was on
of Alice's classmates, but she did no
mention her last name this morning
Shall try it?"