The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-11-06
IDENTICAL INITIALS.
Chicago Current.

1t was certainly an odd adventure
and one in which l exhibited a degree
Of audacity that ! can scarcely credit
1T now; but it brought me such good
fortune that | have never regretted it,
especially with such a reputation for
dignity as | now enjoy, 1t is not a
very long story; yet | think it will in
terest you. My wife says l have told
it too many times; but | believe it
will bear one more REPETITION. 1t was
in the year 1850. l was in the en-
ploy OF q large mercantile house in the
rity OF Boston. | had begun with
them six years before, fresh from a
country town, and hadcradually been
promotedu until | was confidential clerk.
and had charge OF the corps Of book
keepers which the business demanded.
| was Of q reserved disposition, of
studious habits, and was fast becom-
ing a confirmed bachelor, when the
events shall narrate occurred, chang
ing the tenorof my lie.
1t was in the month OF December; I
remember the evening as distinctly as
though it were just passed. Thesnow
was several inches deep, and the sky
was filled with thesmHll, white mes
sengers. The gas light glimmered
feebly; theshop windows were obscur-
ed; travel in the street had nearly
ceased; while the few who were out
hurried as fast as possible to their re-
spective destinations. Importan bus
mess demanded my attention in New
York, and | was to leave on the mid
night train for that city. had taken
my supper, or o properly speak
ing, q light lunch near the store, where
was employed, until ten O'Clock, with
the accounts and papers which were
necessary in the transaction Of the
business which called me way.
L looked at my watch, and found |
had but scant time togo home and get
my valise, which / had unfortunately
las | blindly thoughtl forgotten to
bring with me. As | left the warm store
and stepped out into the wintry air,
and breasted the storm, the sensa-
ton, instead OF being UNPLEASANT, was
rather celebrating. l found in II few
minutes, however, that the storm was
more eve than | had imagined, and
my progress was very difficult. 1t
took much longer to get to d street
than | anticipated, SO | was IN Il great
hurry.
lived in a long block OF houses, all
just alike, and knew nothing Of those
who lived upon either side; for was
away early in the morning, was gone
all day, and alter returning at night
devoted myself to my pipe and books,
very rarely going out again.
The storm seemed to have redoubled
its fury as | went up the steps, and
opened the door. / WAS blown into
the hall, and the door swing violently
behind me. All was dark, but knew
just where my vaiise was all ready, so
| crept upstairs, cautiously. found my
room door open, and right in the
corner, as ! expected, my valise.
Without an instant's delay, | rushed
downstairs and was soon out in the
binding sleet. I~wasncarly exhausted
when | got to the station. and 20 add
to my trials, | WIS Just in time to see
the train slowly moving Off. Alter
had run / got on the last car, recov-
ed my breath as soon as [ could, put
my valise into a rack, gave the CON
ductor my ticket, and settled myself
Tor q nap.
When awoke it was morning, and
found to my disinay, that we were
snow-bound, and had made but little
.~rNrracs or O,,ru-ou HNl,,, ,,a,,,-+l,.
ing to do, however, but to make the
most of it. | read alittlc while, snlok-
ed awhile, walked impatiently through
the cars, and even lent them a hand
at clearing the track; after other de.
vices to kill time, | thought | would
look over my business matters. AS
took down my valise it felt so light it
attracted my attention at once, so
that | involuntarily looked it all over
attentively. 1t certainly appeared
light. There was my initials. c. S. r..
in the proper place. Something intui.
lively told me | had made a mistake,
and before opening it | tried to thinl;
how it had happened. Although Ihad
taken it in the dark. | recalled the
stairway, the room at the end of the
upper hall, the position of things as
they appeared mwhat little light there
was, and the valise in the corner
whence | took it. There could be no
mistake, and yet the valise seemed on
ly about half as heavy asst ought. 1t
may appear strange that | had not
noticed it before, but in my hurry to
the station, | doubt | should have
noticed had it been empty.
To solve the mystery I opened it,
and the contents certainly were not
mine. Perhaps some OF the fellows in
The house had played a trick on me.
found some toilet articles, some ap
pies, a book, and at the bottom, a
roll which appeared to be a lecture in
manuscript upon ''Grecian Art" with
the name Chester Sylvanus Richard
son at the end. Who the dickens he
was, wasa mystery, and how Icameby
his valise was still a greater problem
After more study Owe it, it flashed
upon me that I must have gone into
n of the other houses in the block
This eased my mind little, though
still felt anxious about my papers,
There was nothing / could do but ex,
arcise patience, so | began reading the
lecture. Although somewhat beyond
my requirements, l found it interest.
Ing and instructive.
Toward 4 o'clock in the afternoon
ne arrived in the manufacturing town
Of S., whose inhabitants We're nfthc
vide awake, knowledge seeking class,