The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-10-09

Lne circumstances, you KNOW you nave
got something for me, 80 hand it over. y
81 have a letter in my pocket" said
|, with dignity, "which promised to
deliver to tall young man of military
appearance, with auburn hair and
If l wait here all day
won't give up my charge to any one
who dares not answer that description
TO the letter"
"And don't ~ said he.
| took out my eyeglass, and after
having examined him coolly for several
seconds, | replied, mo sir, you do not
and turned away. He came after me,
of course
"Really, SIR" said he, 81 consider
your conduct exceedingly offensive and
| was told that if / came
to st. Mary's Church should meet
gentleman of diminutive appearance,
who would give me the bill of the
goods certain lady ordered at our
shop the other day, unknown to her
mamma"
"Oh, it's bill, is it p 1 interrupted,
eagerly. "Then take it, by all means,
and if there is any difficulty about the
matter in any way apply to me and l
will forward you check for the
amount"
He grasped the scented note IN one
hand, while with the other he raised
his hat high above his head with ironi
cal courtesy.
Tell Anna, with my love, said he,
"that | was delighted to get another
letter from her so soon, and that she
shall hear from me by this evenings,
AS for you, sir, if there is any diilicul.
ty in arranging our business I'll let you
know; and if you are still generously
inclined, all / can say is check will
not be acceptable. l wish you good
morning"
l wished him something less polite.
but more sincere. Then We separated,
I, for my part, devoutly praying tina,
we never might set eyes on each other
again. 1t is more than probable that
he literally indorsed my sentiment.
had not been home more than ten
minutes before Anna sent for me aga,n.
She was anxious to know what success
| had had in my mission. was not
inclined to be either gracious or commu.
NEGATIVE.
"You might as well have described
him properly" said l. "When you
told me his hair was auburn l couldn',
be expected to know that YOU meant
it was red. Besides, he isn't tall; he
is scarcely above the medium height
OF course, did not recognize hin
from your description, and never at
tempted to give him the letter"
"Then he hasn't got it?" said Anna
"Oh, yes, he has, said l. for he in
quired for it at last. And although
asked him no questions and gave hin
merely short answers to those he aske,
me, he volunteered statement con.
cerning you which consider yer,
damaging
"Impossible!' y she exclaimed, ID in
dignant disbelief, and turning ava,
from me haughtily. But in minut
her curiosity had mastered her dignit,
and she begged to know what accuse
ton he had made against her.
"Well, Anna" | then replied, 'h
distinctly asserted that you had run n
q bill as some tradesman's unknown /
your mother, and induced him I
promise that if he had any difficulty i
arranging the business he would appl
to me for check"
"Oh, Jerry, he never could have sal
that!" she exclaimed, ready to or
with veXation; "there must have bee
some misunderstanding, and you ough
to have known me better than to bt
lieve me capable of deceiving IN
mother IN that way"
Following this principle with all I'll
zeal of new convert | refrained frol
making a single inquiry respecting M
Jeffer.on's character, profession an
pursuits, leaving it for him to candid
explain his birth and circumstance
unless my aunt should enlist my ser
ices in the investigation
a fortnight passed without any i
cident worthy of record. Anna vi
regaining her spirits, as | knew to m
cost. She had utterly resigned q
worldly amusements, and yet in Il
last week she had been to two ball
one breakfast party and a horticult
raj fete, and Marc slyly insinuated tn
she would have liked a double allo'
ance of each. Of course Anna protest,
that she had only been there to plea
her mother, for that all her enjoyme
of such things was gone, but we kno
that it does not do to believe quite
young ladies say; not that they me,
to be guilty of deception, but they a
. naturally so ingenious that the simp
|, unvarnished truth is too plain {
!, them, and seems to demand the gle
! and polish of their own quick wits
= render it palatable.
One evening was strolling alor
" busy with my thoughts, when my c
way attracted TO a window in front
!, me by the brilliant light which it sc
!, forth into the outer grayness.
Whilst | paused to note its stro
effect broad tongue of flame suddt
, ly shot forward, curled round the e
brasure of the window and then lea
y ed upward, menacing the roof |
" tered a shrill cry of "Fire!' and pr
emily head protruded from anotf
4 easement above and then sharply wi
. drew, echoing my warning in vo
!, of abject terror and dismay. rush
y wildly to the door, at which l knock
= with such force that you would ha
q thought must have wakened the S,
q en- Sleepers themselves. l gained
a trance. The smoke was so thick in ,
i passage that | had hard work to ma
" my way to the stairs, though the han
# overhead peered curlously between ,
~ chinks and crevices like imprisoned
"a mons, threatening every moment
IA burst from their bondage and ov
a whelm us with their fury.
There was no time TO be lost. I
D. smoke clogged my utterance, but
shouted As well as | could, and presc
| ly door on the ground floor was op
<. ed preclpitately and the master of