Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-05-26
THE WRONG VALISE.

It was certainly an odd adventure,
and one in which / exhibited de
gree of audacity that can scarcely
credit now, but it brought me such
good fortune that | never regretted
it, especially with such reputation
for dignity as now enjoy. 1t is not
very long story, yet l think it will
interest you. My wife says / have
told it too many times, but believe
it will bear one more repetition.
It was in the year 1850. was in
the employ Of a large mercantile
house. l had begun with them six
years before, fresh from a country
town, and had gradually been pro
NOTED until / was confidential clerk
and had charge Of the corps of book.
keepers which the business demand
ed was of a reserved disposition,
of studious habits and was fast be-
coming a confirmed bachelor when
the events l shall narrate occurred,
changing the tenor of my life.
1t was the month of December. ]
remember the evening as distinctly
as though it were just past. The
snow was several inches deep, and
the sky was filled with the small
white messengers The gaslights
glimmered feebly, the shop windows
were obscured, traffic in the street
had nearly ceased, while the few
who were out hurried as fast as pos
sible to their respective destinations.
Important business demanded my
attention in Glasgow, and | was to
leave by the midnight train for that
city. l had taken my supper, or,
more properly speaking, a light
lunch near the Office, where was
employed until 10 o'clock with the
accounts and papers which were
necessary in the transaction Of the
business which called me away. l
looked at my watch and found I had
but scant time to 60 home and get
my valise, which had unfortunate
ly las / then blindly hoped) forgot
ten to bring with me.
AS stepped out into the wintry
air and breasted the storm the SEN
sation, instead of being unpleasant,
was rather exhilarating. found in
a few moments, however, that the
storm was more severe than / had
imagined, and my progress was very
difficult. 1t took me much longer
than ] anticipated, so | was in a
great hurry.
lived in long row 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, and after got back at night
devoted myself to my pipe and
books, very rarely going out again.
The storm seemed to have re-
doubled its fury as | went up the
steps and opened the door. l was
almost blown into the hall, and the
door swung behind me with violence.
All was dark, but ! knew just where
my valise was, all ready. So | crept
up stairs cautiously to avoid further
disturbance. found my room door
open and in the corner where ex
pected my valise.
Without an instant's delay rushed
down stairs and was soon out in the
binding sleet. Twas really exhaust
ed when | got to the station, and to
add to my trials was just in time
to see the train slowly moving off.
After sharp run caught the last
carriage, recovered my breath as
soon as ! could, put my valise into a
rack and settled myself for a nap.
When ! awoke, it was morning, and
| found to my dismay that we were
snowbound and had made but little
progress on our way.
There was nothing to do, however,
but make the best of it. read
awhile, smoked awhile, even lent
them hand in clearing the line, and
after other devices to kill time
thought ! would look over my busi-
ness matters. AS l took down my
valise it felt so light it attracted my
attention at once, so l involuntarily
looked it over attentively. 1t GER
tainly appeared right, and there were
my initials. G. s. r., in the proper
place.
Something instinctively told me
had made a mistake, and before
opening tried to think how it hap
pened. Although / had taken it il
the dark, recalled the stairway, the
room at the end of the upper hall
the position Of things as they ap
peared in what little light there wa,
and the valise in the corner whence
/ took it. There could be no mis-
take, and yet this valise seemed only
about half as heavy as it ought to be
1t may appear strange that ! had
not noticed it before, but in my hur
ry to the station doubt If ! should
have noticed it had it been empty.
To solve the mystery ] opened It,
and the contents certainly were no'
| mime. Perhaps some OF the fei