River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-10-08
BY THE MEREST ACCIDENT.

Mr.. Whitney,"
SIR" replied the individual adj
dressed.
Il want you to cross to France this
evening
Very well. sir, " said Mr. Whitney.
quietly,
Or tomorrow morning will do.
Here are your instructions. Read these
papers carefully; make the best
arrangements you can may want
the house you will see all about it in
these documents.
Am I to purchase the premises,
sir?'
NO, no; they have come to mc-to
the tirm-in consequence of an advance
made by my old partner, who, you
know, died the other day. Take pos
session; see what the place is like;
whether it will do for a summer re-
sidence. You know the kind Of thing
want to take the children to, and
can depend on you.
Mr.. Whitney bowed, and said he
thought Mr. Barnstone might depend
on him. lie took the deeds, made his
arrangements at the Office. tidicd and
tied up the papers on his desk, and
then strolled homeward at 3o'clock to
pack his portmanteau. He was a man
of about go good-natured, trustful
and trustworthy man of whom little
children always stopped to inquire
the lime, and were satisfied even if he
did not drag out his watch-a man who
piloted old ladies and blind men over
dangerous London crOssinrs-a man
beloved by animals and children, and
who cherished an affection for a cat,
which followed him as faithfully as a
dog in and about his house at Brlxton.
Such was Peter Whitney, some
what impulsive man, like his great
namesake-a person deserving of every
confidence in the legal employment
which re pursued, but not likely to
make a very large fortune in any
+ ~
a too good naturcd.
Mr.. Peter Whitney strolled home
rds, first to Ludgate Hill station ia
take a train to Brixton, where in bachc-
lor apartments he passed his quiet
evenings lie was crossing Chancery
Lane. by the post Office, when 4 young
and decidedly pretty girl. g French girl,
stopped him. and said in broken Eng
lish
.'Sare, would YOU be so kind ?-you
look very kind could YOU tell me
where l can find the Lincoln's Inn
Fields?"
'Lincoln's Inn. mademoiselle; mais
ccrtainement; ie-
I .'Ah! monsieur parle francais, she
exclaimed, interruptin@ him with a
pleased expression.
Then Mr.. Whitney. who was French
4 scholar, addressed her in her native
tongue, and walked with her a few
PAGES in order to put her in the right
direction. SO they went through Lin
coin 5 Inn, chatting, and he found that
her destination was none other than
Mr. Barnstonc's Office.
Having parted with his Young com
pani0n at the office. he hurried away to
l.udgatc again He had learned from
a slip Of paper She gave him that the
fair foreigner name was Pulcherie
Malias, but he did not inquire her bust
ness in Lincoln's Inn Fields after he
announced her arrival to the clerk il
charge.
a very pretty girl indeed muir
INJURED this middle-aged bachelor; -
charming face; and what pretty name
Pulcherie: quite fitting too. for won
der. MaliaS is not so nice, but it may
one dav be changed All me-"
Thinking of Pulcherie. Peter Whit
nev entered the train; still thinking o
her. he went home, and packed ''Pulch
erie in his portmanteau. But some
how that young person escaped. fol
she was with him all the evening il
the train to Newhayen: she crossed tn,
Channel with him in the Normandy.
and reached Dieppe with him in th'
warm autumn daylight, rs bright anC
fresh memory as ever. Oh, Peter
Peter, truly thou art in love,
The premises which Peter whitney
had to investigate for were situated
some little distance up the coast, at o.
near village which boosted a small
river and fishing population of am
phibiouS habits. The place shall no
be more particularly described, but tn,
river flowed through the valley Of tn,
Ange. and the stream and the increas
ing village bear the same name.
Fishermen. dealers ia cattlc-for til,
valley Is ral-lacemakers. thes,
are the inhabitants. and they follow
their peaceful occupations contentedly
II was very fine morning when Mr.
Whitney reached the little village; b,
/ had walked over from Dieppe the da,
after his arrival in that town, an'
found the people en- fete in the village
1t was a holiday holy-day, ap
nnrnntlr for the inhahItants had ins