The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-04-24
MY ADVENTURE.
A Funny Mistake and It's Fortu-
nate Termination.

1t was an odd adventure, and one
in which | exhibited degree of audac-
ity that can scarcely credit now; but
it brought me such good fortune that |
have never regretted it, especially with
such a reputation for dignity as l now
enjoy. 1t is not very long story, yet
think it will interest you. My wife
says have told it too many times; but
] believe it will bear one more repeti-
ton. It was in the year 1850. Twas
in the employ Of large mercantile
house in the city of Boston. L had be-
gun with them six years before, fresh
from country town, and had gradual
" been promoted until l was coniiden-
tial clerk, and had charge of the corps
of book-keepers which the business de-
manded. | was of reserved DISPOSE
ton. of studious habits, and was fast
becoming confirmed bachelor, when
the events | shall narrate occurred,
changing the tenor of my life.
1t was the month of December; re-
member the evening as distinctly as
though it were Just past The snow
was several inches deep. ana the sky
was filed with the small white messen-
gers. The gas-liehtS glimmered feeb'y;
the shop windows were obscured; travel
in the street had nearly ceased; while
the few who were out hurried as fast as
possible to tleir respective destinations.
teutioa in New York, and / was to
leave on the midnight tain for that
city. L had taken my supper, or more
properly speaking. a light lunch, near
the store, where L was employed until
ten o clock with the accounts and pa
pers which were necessary in the trans
action of the business which called me
away
| looked at my watch. and found |
had but scant time to go home, and get
my valisc, which l had unfortunately
Gas then blindly thought) forgotten to
bring with me. As | left the warm
store. and stepped out into the wintry
air, and breasted the storm, the sem
sation, instead of being unpleasant, was
rather exhi,araiing. found, in few
minutes, however, that the storm was
more severe than had imagined. and
my progress was very difficult. 1t took
me much longer to get to ID street than
i anticipated, so that was in a great
hurry.
/ lived in long block of houses. all
Just alike. | knew nothing of those
who lived upon either side; for was
away early in the morning, was gone all
day, after / got back at night, devoted
myself to my pipe and books, very
rarely going cut again.
The storm seemed to have redoubled
Its fury as went up the steps. and
opened the door. | was almost blown
into the hall, and the door swung be-
hind me with violence. All was dark;
but | knew just Were my valise was, all
ready, and so L crept up-stairs eau
tiouS!y, to avoid further disturbance,
found my room door open, and, Fight
in the corner, where l expected my
valise.
Without an instant's delay I rushed
downstairs, and was soon out il the
binding sleeS> was really exhausted
when | got to the station. and. to add
10 my trials. l was just in time to see
the train slowly moving Of. After
hard run ! got or the last car. recov-
cred my breath as soon as could. put
my valise into a rack, gave the con-
dGctor, with whom l was well &C
quairted, my ticket, and settled myself
for nap. When | awoke it was morn
ing. and found, to my dismay. that we
were snow-bound, and had made but
little progress on our wav. There was
nothing to do, however, but to make
the best of it. read awhile, smoked
awhile, walked impatiently through the
car, even lent them q hand at clearing
tie track; and, after other devices to
Kill time, thought / would look over
my business matters. As l took down
my valise, it felt so light il attracted my
attention at once. SO that l involun-
tarily looked it over attentively. 1t
certainly appeared ght. and there were
my initials, c. S. T.. in the proper place.
Something intuitively told me l had
made mistake, and before opening l
tried to think how it had happened.
Although / had taken il in the dark, /
recalled the stairway, the room at the
end of the upper ha;l, The position of
things as they had appeared in what
little light there was, and The valise in
the corner whence 1 took it There
could be no mistake, and vet this valise
seemed only about half as heavy as it
ought 1t may appear strange that l
had not noticed it before; but, in my
hurry to the station, doubt il should
have noticed had il been empty.
To solve the ri-stcry. opened it,
and the contents certainly were not
mine. Perhaps some of The fellows in
She house had played trick upon me-
found some toilet articles, some apples,
q book, and, at the bottom, roll which
appeared 10 be my papers, but which
proved TO be n lecture in manuscript
upo.. ''Grecian Art," with the name
Chester Sylvanus Richardson at the end
Who the dickens nc was was a mystery.
and how came by mis- valise still
greater problem After more study
over it, it flashed IRON me that l must
have gone into one on the other houses
In the block. THIS eased my mind a
little, though still felt anxious about
my papers. There was nothing could
do but exercise patience. and SO began
rea1ing the lecture. Although some
what beyond my requirements, found
it interesting and instructive.
Toward four clock in the afternoon
we arrived at the manufacturing town
OF s., whose inhabitants were of the
~'ide-awake, notwithstanding class
so often found in thriving New England
villages. As it was impossible to tran