Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-04-29
A COMEDY OF ERRORS

ACOMEDY OF ERRORS
The golden rays Of the July sun were
beating down mercilessly upon the dusty
pavement of the little hamlet Of M,
but the oppressive heat was somewhat |
relieved by q balmy breath Of air STIR
ring the leaves Of the old chestnut trees
which lined the principal thoroughfare,
tanning them with deliciously cool
breeze and enabling the portly host Of
the inn Of the Blue Lion to take his
after dinner nap in comfort.
But he was fated to suffer an un-
looked for interruption, for just as the
big town bell struck the hour of 2 the
letter carrier made his appearance, hold
! ing letter in his outstretched hand,
which he delivered to mine hosts wife,
uttering tbs words, From America =
Mother and daughter shook their heads
incredulously. Mine host rubbed his
sleepy eyes. ''Is it really from Amer
ica?" he queried. ''Who could have
written to as from that faraway coun-
try? Go some Of you, and find my
glassesl''
The surprise was now general. It was
in the days when everybody was talk
ing about California. For two years |
previous to the occurrence here narrated |
people from all parts of Europe had
emigrated to the gold mines in the far |
west, where-so ran the story-gold |
was actually laying about everywhere |
and to be had for the picking up.
At last the spectacles were found. and |
the old man read in loud voice, while |
all present held their breath in suspense:
&c Dear Cousins Well, I declare
he interrupted himself, ''this letter is
from Cousin Berner, who emigrated 80 |
years ago. !"
Cousin Berner was immensely !
wealthy. Like all emigrants, he had to |
work very hard at first and had learned |
the lesson which stern necessity teaches |
all newcomers in that country. He had |
been a street swo eper, a bootblack, a |
lamplightar-in fact, he had been COM
PEELED to do almost anything and every
thing to earn a scant livelihood. Final
lyhe had succeeded in saving few dol
lars and started small store. Fortune
had favored him, and he ;,massed vast
fortune, which he intended to leave to
his son. It was now his dearest wish to
see this son happily married, and having
accidentally gathered from some Ger
mans who had arrived i'll San Francisco
that his cousin had daughter he had
decided to send his boy on a visit to
M, hoping the young people would
like each other. His boy, Charles, was
diligent and industrious, and he saw
no reason why his (the writer's) plans
should not be carried out.
The old man cast radiant locks around
him. ga marriage Of the two young
sters? Well, 1 should think So! Could
there be greater luck il store for our
Marie? Just to think Of it, my son-in- |
law an American! Won't the neighbors |
be Jealous? But where is Marie? do |
not see her?'
81 dare say she is busy in the gar
den," responded his wife hesitatingly.
"Call her at once!'
Marie, a beautiful, vivacious girl,
soon made her appearance. She slowly |
perused tho contents Of the letter. |
''Well, girl, what do you think cf this
piece Of good fortune?" the father que
ried after she had finished "Would ycu
like your rich cousin from America for |
your husband?'
''Why not, % she replied in thoughtful
and measured tones, provided like |
him?''
y T.
Charles Berner Of San Francisco and
Henry Decker Of Hamburg, two young |
men who had become acquainted the
day previous, upon leaving the Thames, |
stood on the deck Of the Hamburg |
packet. The former was relating the OBJ
ject Of his trip, adding frankly that he
would have much preferred remaining |
in California, having as yet no desire to
marry, but had been urged by his father
to bring home European wife. 'And |
here I am, (" he concluded, zen route |
for little out Of the May place called |
NJ to have lock at my prospective |
bride.
''This is strange coincidence, said
Decker. 81 also have to go to M
shortly"
"To M? Are you also looking for
wife?''
''No, indeed smilingly. tMy ia
ther has an interest III some neighbor-
ing mines, and business alcnc takes me
there. Likely we may meet at the home
Of the future Mrs. B. ?''
'Hardly, as intend remaining some
weeks in Hamburg and Berlin. To tell
the truth l ara not very anxious to
make my cousin s acquaintance. -
Charles Berner made the most of his
stay in the beautiful Hanse town on
the Elbe, and then proceeded to Berlin.
One day, while promenading Unter den
Linden he picked up pocketbook ly-
ing before him en- the sidewalk. 1t was
made Of tortoise shell, with silver fill
gree work and mother of pearl fasten-
ings. no doubt the property of some
woman. Entering cafe he examined
his find. Besides some money, it con-
tanned note, which he opened 1t was
letter signed "Clara, 7" and addressed
to her dear Amalie, asking to excuse
the delay in her reply on account of the
change of residence of the writer's par
ents to 124 B street, first floor, and
also telling the news that her father in
tended her to marry the son of his old
friend, the merchant Decker of Ham
burg, charming young fellow, rejoic-
ing in the sweet name Of Henry.
Here was poser for our young Cali
fornian, for no doubt this paragon and
his acquaintance on board the packet
were one and the same Suddenly an
idea struck him. He would return the
pocketbook in person.
Getting into droschke, he soon
found himself in the B strasse Arriv-
ing at 124 he read above the bell for the
first floor the name L. Foster. He knew
now the young woman name and reso-
lutely rang the bell. Stating the ma
ture Of his errand to the servant who
admitted him, he soon found himself
in the presence of the object of his
visit, whose beauty and majestic bear
ing made such an impression upon him
that he remained riveted to the spot,