Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-01-31
A Fortunate Mistake.
BY JOHN A. PETERS.

Lansing is my most lnJlmaJe friend
one of tls sweetest girls living-and it
will seem inhospitable in the extreme,
when she has come such q distance to
visit me, to have no one but the coach
man meet her at the depot. Do, Harry,
say you'll go"'
And Harry's sister-in-law, n spright-
ly little lady, threw two white arms
around the tall, manly young fellows
neck, and gave him pathetic look out
of her blue eyes, which had the effect
of making him succumb to her pro-
position at once.
"All right, Nellie, I'll GO for your
sake; but / DONE take to girls very
kindly, and this one will be especially
disagreeable to me, inasmuch as you've
clearly conveyed to me the impression
that you intend l shall make her my
wife. None of that, Nellie! am a
confirmed old bachelor, able TO with
stand the Ci;-can smiles OF even this
Miss Lansilg, whose praises you've
rung in ny ears till fairly dctest her
name. rn sure / shall hate The girls. "
mo. you'll not" contradicted Mrs.
Neville; "Gertie is just the most be-
witching bit Of femininity in existence.
Wait till you see her! Now, do get
ready, Harry, and even if your heart
does not palpitate little faster at sight
OF her sweet face, be at least kind and
courteous TO her. Remember, she is
my dearest friend"
Every well, Nellie; I'll try to obey
directions;" and Harry Neville envelop-
ed himself in his great-coat of seal
skin, donned his seal cap, and, with a
wave of the hand, left the room.
A well-made fellow was Harry
Neyille-handsom too, in a bright
blonde way that was uncommonly
fascinating to tie fair sex, and about
which there was no suspicion OF
effeminacy. A frown was on his frank
face as he entered the sleigh, and
Robert started his spirited steeds down
the hill 1t was a cold, raw afternoon,
with keen wind signing dolefully,
like restless spirit, over the hills, and
the whole earth was one vast desert Of
chilling white.
IL do wish she was not going to pay
a visit TO Nellie at this unpropitious
season of the year." muttered the
young fellow disconsOlately, as he
listened to the wild requiem the wind
was chanting in his ear. II contem-
plated trip to New York, but Nellie
would never forgive me if l failed to
play the agreeable to this popular
| na,,aa tatya f4f Whnf 10 hnr
| object in coming to the country in the
winter time? Why didn't she remain
in Boston and break hearts by the score,
as I've been told it is her especial de-
| light to do? | wonder if the train will
be in time to-day, or-ah! yes, there is
its shrek now; and here goes to play
the agreeable to the charming Miss
! Lansing"
He alighted from the covered sleigh,
and watched the approaching train,
whose red, Cyclopean eye showed
plainly in the fast-fading light of day.
1t slowed, stopped, and several passen-
gers alighted, among whom Harry saw
but one--a girl, apparently nineteen
years of age, tall, slender, exquisitely
fashioned, with n face so pure and
sweet that he involuntarily drew deep
breath of surprise.
"Is it-can it be Miss Lansing2" he
unused. IF so, by Jupiter! all | car
say is, that Nellie has taste after all. A
1.-the, Undine shape, half-sylph, half,
woman, electric to her finger-tips.
Lovely as the favorite houri of q
Moslem's dream. Humph! case oil
love at first sight, and Harry Neville,
the invulnerable, capitulates at once. ,
He stepped up to the girl, who was
looking about her in perplexed way
dotted his hat politely, and inquired, in
his musical voice:
Ills this Miss Lansing? II so have
come for you,"
She bowed, and quietly made reply
at Is. was afraid, sir, that no one
would be here to meet me this stormy
day. Mr.. Neville, l presumed You
for q stranger"
81 should be deserving ofsuch name.
as bear and brute If l had failed tC
meet you" he said simply. "You mus
be wearied with your long journey
such cold, dismal day, too! Well
the sleighing is fine, the distance no
great, and you'll soon find yourself in [
warm room, with Nellie to cosset anC
make much OF you. Let me assist yo,
into the sleigh, and then will see Il
your luggage. Give me your checks.
Into the girls violet eyes crept |
puzzled look.
HE is as gracious to me as II wer'
TO be an honored guest instead OF oc
cupying the position of governess il
his family. Nellie! that must be hi
wife. What an enviable lot Is hersl"
She sighed, then smiled sweetly a
Harry took seat beside her in thu
sleigh, and the horses sped over tn
snow-clad road at a rapid rate. A quar-
ter of a mile from the depot the.
passed dashing young fellow in a cut
ter, driving spirited bay horse, VIII
nodded pleasantly TO Harry, and shout
ed:
''Is the train in? am going afte
Lucy's governess, I'm a little behin
time, I'm afraid"
| He applied the whip; the horse