Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-06
A MISTAKE.
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The whistle had sounded its shrill re- |
frain, the train was on the eve of starting.
and Melicent Merivale was snugly en- |
sconced in seat on the shady side.
Ske was pretty. high bred looking girl, |
with large blue eyes, skin as fair as a |
rose leaf.
Melicent liked to travel; she liked COM
Portable seat; she delighted in a new book
and relished chocolate bonbons, and here
they were all combined in one. And she
drew little sigh of relief as she turned the
first page and bit her dainty white teeth in
to the crisp, brown side of burned al
mond. just then the dream was dispelled
by:
rs this seat engageds''
Melicent's brow darkened. A lady in
black was standing in the aisle
Mo-" she answered in precisely the &C
cents which, interpreted by woman's
quick ear, mean, Il wish you were in Jer-
icho," and she moved about three inches
toward the window
The lady hesitated.
Cannot you make a little more room3"
she asked politely.
Miss Merivale, without deigning any YER
bal reply, moved perhaps an inch farther
1.-THE bag might go in the rack overhead"
suggested the stranger.
ut is too large" briefly answered Mill
cent, growing more and more exasperated.
ION the floor, then, perhaps"
Miss Merivale made no answer, but opened
her book. The lady bit her lip.
"Do you pay for two seatsf"
Melicent looked up with weary eleva--
ton of her prettily penciled brow.
Il have made all the room can, ;" she an
swered sharply.
And the newcomer, coloring scarlet with
mingled indignation and embarrassment,
was obliged to edge herself into the frac-
tion of space left by Miss Merivale and her
travelling bag.
And a warlike silence ensued.
Melicent Merivale ate chocolate almonds
until she was tired and then drew her veil
over her face and unused over past, present
and future
PASTA situation as nursery governess
at Nine. Ardeaus fashionable Seminary
For Young Ladies'" not much money,
plenty OF work and a perpetual longing for
change, for recreation, for opportunity.
Pressnt-En route from New York to
Philadelphia to visit Mrs Addington Sey-
mour, "A second cousin Of her mother, who
was rich, fashionable, hospitable, and,
moreover, endowed with two exceedingly
eligible brothers-in-law.
Future--A veil, a wreath OF orange bios
SONS and a trousseau. Goodby teaching
music lessons, glove mending, dress darn
ing and all such tedious economies.
1t wasn't such n disagreeable kaleido-
scope of mental changes, was it2 Mrs.
Reginald Seymour" Mrs. Julian Yer
sehayle Seymour" Both were delightfully."-
romantic names-she really could not make
an election in the matter.
philadelphia Passengers for Balti-
more and Washington keep their seatsl'
bawicd Il stentOrian voice through the
aisles rs the train came to pause. People
started UP, grasping wildly at their various
articles Of baggage The through passen-
gers sat looking on with mild and placid
interest, while Melicent leaned back in her
seat.
Haste is vulgar" she said to herself,
'and | don't doubt but that Mrs. Adding
ton Seymour's carriage will be here to meet
me-"
At this instant tall, distinguished fig
ure entered the nearest door with a ques-
tioning look on its features and as il by in
stinct Melicent Merivale knew that this
was the widowed brother-in-law of Mrs.
Addington Seymour. She half rose invol-
UNFAIRLY.
miss Mervale2n
Melicent smiled and bowed graciously,
but at the same moment she became con-
seious that his face was Frightening at the
sight OF some one else as he sprang forward.
"Fanny Is it possiblep And you two
have come on in the same trainP How
very pleasant it must have been But
pray pardon my gaucherie-I see you are
unaequanted. Miss Merivale, let me make
you formally known to my sister-in-law,
Mrs. Addington Seymour"
And Melicent, with burning face and
sensation as If a good sized crack in the
floor would have been an infinite relief
found herself bowling to the very lady whom
she had been crowding 80 numerically all
the way from New York.
Miss Meriyale had some tact In the make
upDf her nature, and she decided during
the one hurried second in which Mr.. Sey-
mour was helping her onto the platform
that apologies would only make matters
worse. So she smiled and murnured some
feeble inanity of conventional speech, feel
ing the while that she had ruined her own
prospects
She staid just three days at the Walnut
street mansion and then went back to the
infant class at Nine. Ardeau's, a sadder and
n wiser woman for that railway ride. And
the wedding wreath and veil are yet phan-
toms of the future.-New York News