The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-03-28
A LUCKY MISTAKE.
author Of "Deacon Bulge" "By Hairs Breadth" Etc.

out, she saw that she was In front OF
Mrs. Maitland's house. She sprang
/ out, paid the man and he was gone.
She ran lightly up the steps and in
serted her key in the door. There
was some little difficulty at first, but
in an instant or two it yielded, and
she stepped in out of the cold, frosty,
wintry night into the grateful warmth
of the hall. The gas was not lighted,
at which she wondered somewhat, but
cautiously and and quietly felt her
way up the stairs and into her room
at the front of the house. Here the
gas was turned as low as possible,
and before reaching to turn it up, she
flung her fur trimmed wrap across the
foot of the bed. Then she turned up
the gas. Her first thought was
Why, they have moved the dressing
table" Next her eyes fell upon Venus
rising from the sea, from which she
knew Mrs. Maitland would recoil in
horror.
Terrified, she turned and looked at
the bed, and there, fast asleep, with
one arm thrown over his head, lay a
handsome, fair haired man of about
thirty.
Madge could not stir for a moment,
being literally frozen with fright.
Then in desperation she rushed from
the room, her tulle skirts making
no sound. Her first impulse was
flight from the house she had entered
by mistake. She reached the head of
the stairs and paused to look at her
sippered feet, her bare arms and
neck. In her haste she had left her
| wrap in that room nor did she dare
return for it, or to turn down the gas,
which was LETT burning brightly.
What should she do? Trembling in
every limb she sank down on the
stairs to try end reflect.
She was stranger in New York
Supposing she should rush forth in
the street-she might be near Mrs.
Maitland's, she mi ght not be able to
find her house. Appeal to policeman?
He might credit her story, and, then
agaid, horror! he might arrest her.
There was stir in that room-she
heard a voice-"Who in the euce
turned up that gas p
She staggered to her feet and
clutched to the balluster rail. Again
the voice: "What the devils this
thing" with unutterable contempt.
"This thing" was her wrap.
The poor girl tried to move, but
could not. She felt herself swaying
unsteadily to and fro-she heard him
jump out of bed-she gave a little
moan, then in another instant, wrap
ped in gorgeous Japanese dressing
gown, his big blue eyes wide open in
amazement, there he stood staring at
her.
She put her lovely, bare, white,
arm across her face.
"Don't shoot me-" she whispered
"I'm not burglar made mistake
wong house"
She heard him cry: "Mother."
"Thank God" she thought "there is
woman then," and fell little limp
heap on the stairs. When she opened
her eyes, she looked into kind, moth.
erly face, crowned by a wonderful
night cap. A jolly looking old gen..
tleman, was also bending over her
| with glass OF wine.
"Drink this, my DEAR" he said,
"and you'll be all right"
She obeyed, and presently found
strength to tell them who and why
she was prowling around their house
at dead of night. They were kind
ness itself. Old Mr.. Wellington
knew of the Maitlands They lived
on the next street. Either Mr.. Den
ming or the cabman had made blum
! der. A messenger was sent to quiet
Mrs. Maitland's fears, and an hour
later, when Madge had quite recov-
cred, Mr.. Wellington took her home.
She was spared the sight of that hand
some blue eyed wretch who, she was
firmly convinced, was laughing at her
in the privacy of his chamber.
A day or so later Mr.. and Mrs. Wei
lington called ON Mrs. Maitland and
Madge.
/ The Wellingtons were people to be
cultivated, Mrs. Maitland said, and it
was only few days and Mr.. Murace
Wellington was bowling over the lit
tie hand extended tremulously to him
and the big, blue eyes were scanning
u blushing face with considerable
I amusement in their depths.
And it was not six months before
there was quiet wedding at Madge's
1 little country home, when, through
her lucky mistake, she was made, not
the Hon. Mrs. Timothy Boggs, but
Mrs. Maurice Wellington.