The Bessemer indicator., 1893-05-27
HE MET HER BUT ONCE.
THE TRUE STORY OF A SIM
0ULAR ENCOUNTER. sr.
The Heroine Of the Adventure Known
to the Hero, Yet More Of Her
Than He Discovered Then
He Never knew.

One morning in May ! chanoed to
be strolling down an avenue noted as
fashionable promenade; tho day
was bright and l felt vexed that l
had inadvertently picked up my um-
brella instead Of o cane. However,
the annoyance soon merged into
qualification, for suddenly the sun
disappeared and dreuching shower
scattered the pedestrians IN every
direction. My umbrella proved Of
little avail, and nearing the Hotel
-, ran up the steps leadin4 to
the ladies' entrance Hastily open
Ing the outer door, l was soon in the
vestibule.
There stood a woman whose ep-
pearance l shall never forget. She
was OF medium height and plainly
though fashionably dressed; her face
was not beautiful, but 1t was strik-
ingly intellectual, and Furthermore.
1t possessed that charm called by the
English fetching. That she was OF
gentle birth instinctively felt con-
fident, but what impressed mo more
deeply was the expression OF grief,
OF Fouble, which the first glance at
her face revealed; she also appeared
quite unable to control her nervous
neB. Pretending to allow my closed
umbrella to drip before entering the
house, stood almost at her side glanc-
ing out the glass-paneled door and
watching her at intervals. She
showed IN every motion she was not
al case. says o Philadelphia Times
writer.
AT length, without knowing what
prompted me to do SO, said:
Pardon me, but may / bo OF any
service to youp"
"If might borrow your umbrella
for few moments shall be under
lasting obligations to you"
She refused politely but firmly my
repeated efforts to persuade her tc
let me call q cab, and saying, II viii
return 1t to you here" she tripped
rapidly down the steps and turned II
the direction OF "up town"
entered the hotel and lighted .
cigar. AS l sat smoking, at peac,
with the world, l wondered what i
was that SO troubled the little woman
My cigar finished, returned through
the corridor and again stood in tn,
vestibulo. The sun had reappearo,
and was shining brightly. stepped
aside to allow woman to enter an,
was about to close the door for he
when she said:
"Sir, think these are for you"
With this she handed me card,
tuberose almost hidden In three leave
Of English ivy and my umbrella,
glanced at tho card, it real: MRS
Alfred b" 1t was the name OF
man beside whose dcathbed / had Sc
years before in Arizona! Above TIL
name was written with q pencil
"With many thanks for the courtes
Of a stranger.
Was this poor old BIS wife? Owe
and over again ] asked myself thi
question. Though B. and / ha
been chums in old cavalry days. an
I had known him to be marie
man yet I had never met his wife
Unaccountable as 1t may seem, thi
woman filed my thoughts. l thre'
down the svenff1g paper inpatient
md went to the play. 1t was use
less. still saw that trou bled face
Surely" said mentally, "if b
wife is in trouble l may claim az
quaintance with her through hi
memory. II not by the instrumental
ity of inc umbrella episode. 1t wa
stupid in me not TO have nslIed tn
maid where she lived. But perhnr
the card bears her residence. Yo,
Si-avenue. will call tomorrow.
/ rested badly and arose unr,
freshed. BY ~ o'clock ] was well c
my way toward her dwelling.
passed No. S0and thought hers is I'll
second door beyond. Alas! A lare
bow OF black Grape encircled the be