The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-05-10
IN THE WRONG HOUSE.

IN THE WRONG HOUSE.
It was In Boston. The first snow Of
the season had fallen the night before,
and the wind was dashing it off the tops
of the high buildings, filling the air
with tiny particles that glittered like
diamonds in the brilliant sunshine. 1t
wasn't quite SO pleasant to have 1t come
with rush right into ones face, but
every one was merry and brisk this
morning, and why shouldn't the wind
be so too? Two bright-faced girls were
rapidly threading their way through the
crowds that thronged around the great
dry goods stores. For an hour they
had been fitting from place to place,
attending to matters important or other
wise, lowering over the pretty things
piled high upon tho counters, but
iaughlngly shaking their heads over
their empty purses.
81 shall have to appoint myself your
guardian, Alice, and put veto Oh your
buying what you don't need" And the
speaker linked her arm with that of her
companion, and drew her towards the
door.
II ought to be grateful, for I am in
debt now, and really ought not to
spend cent. Did you eyer see such
good-natured crowd2 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?"
mo, I won't, What windi I Ishould
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 fremont street, and stood in
the flooding sunlight, waiting for her
companion. -.-.--.....,, .......
(Which way shall we go?" asked
Alice, when they were together again.
"Up Park street or across the Com
mon?"
''Aoross the Common by all MEANS"
said Grace. II go out Of my way when
in Boston, to walk on the Common. 1t
1 is such a relief to mo to escape from the
cold shadow OF the high buildings"
/, So on they went, with faces 80 bright
from the cold air and their merry hearts
4 that all who met them smiled and went
1 their ways more blithely. Suddenly
h their path was blocked by the snow, on
n which men where still ut work. An un-
broken white expanse lay between them
Sand their goal. ....
& ''Three alternatives" exclaimed
5 Grace, gayly; to wade through this
81 &snow, which looks rather deep; to wait
5$till the men finish the path for.us, OF
f8to take this path over to Park street."
& ''In view OF the lateness of the hour,
sSperhaps we had better make a conoes-
S3sion and accept the last. See, there is
5sMollle's house. You see the house
with the roof higher than the others?"
8 "Yes, said Grace, not very decided.
sly,
''Weii, it is the third house from
sFthat. If you finish your call first you
Can stop for me, or Vice Versa, I will 60
ssto meet you. Now dom stay long"
&8 And they parted. Alice keeping on
f8down 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
Ssoon waiting for admittance at her
friends door. The servant who took
@the card returned presently with the
ssintelligence that her mistress was 80 i'll
What she was quite unable to receive
anyone. So it hnppend that in few
Snoments Grace was again upon the
sstreet.
s# This is nice" she said to herself, MS
iSshe retraced the steps. "AIice will not
d hurry herself, and, meantime, what is
ITO become Of mo? I do not wish to
,9Ahorten her call. will walk down the
street very slo ~ly and try to kill time"
ssSS What an exquisite picture it is! And
&truly it was beautiful. The leafess
strees on the Common lifted the delicate
Ssstracery OF their branches against the
Ssscloudless sky. The newly fallen snow
lay, still spOtless. on the streets and
u ssSshousetops. Along the few paths that
had been opened on the Common people
psssed and repassed. The roar and
sisrtsh OF the great city came softly to the
lgNsr across the white plain. Near at
y hand the State House raise its shining
apme high in the air, and the tinkle OF
Sslelgh bells and the merry shouts Of
tHehildren added life and interest to the
Ssdene.
S'I am getting somewhat tired of this
g, 81 promenade, although I doubt if there
could be found pleasanter place for it
I'm all the city. Which honse did Alice
aay2 I'm sure don't know. If walk
slowly past this club house few more
times shall create sensation. That
will not do at all. Let me try
egtfect.s But as she turned the corner
thoInckth wind met her, and her feet
ssiipPgd dang gerously. on the 10y pave
q S ant stand this, in more senses
than one. Why doesn't that girl appear2
M3tEsaR not for the snow, now, l might
aik iftthe Common in the most unno-
dceA way possible. will GROSS over
9 p,ft these roofs. What did Alice
4 M That stupid not to ask her the
But then I shouldn't have
Astsi itif she had told me. Serves me
70 Jsit f{& giving ouch careless attention