The Opelousas courier., 1896-10-31
uAIv dressen T oasne6.

| Slue[dDly VeAeu iDOut lG-SO luucH 81
that the gentleman, Judging from N,
flushed cheeks that the subject wa!
unpleasant, pursued it no further, tt
my great relief.
! Presently the carriage stopped be
fore q large and handsome dwelling
and although I knew that Mrs. Whar
ton was in possession of very comfort
able income, | WIS not prepared fol
the elegance | encountered.
My poor brown merino looked sadly
out Of place beside the rich crimson
furniture and splendid mirrors, ant
had not Mrs. Wharton's nephew made
strenuous efforts for MY entertain
ment, I should have subsidized into
that most forlorn and dreary feeling
-homeslckness.
"My aunt begged that we shoulo
| dine at the usual hour" said tn
gentleman, after / had dive5ted myselt
Of my wraps, Gas she was afraid she
would not be abie to return before
| eight or nine o'clock; the friend she
has gone to see is very ill-in fact,
dyiDg-ana Aunt Lizzie will probably
stay until all is over"
"Aunt Lizzie?" | thought; ''has she
| discarded the name Of Rose:'
I remembered, however, that her
initials were L. L. W.
The dinner WAS charming my appe-
tite was good. [ never had dyspepsia
in my life, and I ate the luxuriant
food, SO daintjiy prepared, with an en-
ioyment that must have been quite
amusing to my companion.
Aboutanh hour after we had sat down,
while we were ]eisurely ~partaking OF
our dessert, and discussing the rights
of women, the butler handed a note
to my vis-a.vis. After asking ne to
excuse him, he opened and read it.
The look OF surprise and consterna-
ton in his face was simply appalling.
"Has anything happened to your
aunt:" [ timidly inquired, feeling I'M
comfortable under the scrutinlzins
gaze of mis- dark gray eyes.
"No, nO-thet Is, nothing Of i'm
portance-but l do not think she will
be back tonight. But, Miss Rose
your name is Miss Rose, is it notY
I put down the orange I was peel.
ing. and looked the amusement I felt.
MY name is Miss Rose Terry,"I
replied, with as much dignity as I
could assume.
"Yes--certainly-I begyour pardon
but Miss Rose-Miss Terry, ] meat
you will make yourself comfortable
for the night-until my aunt returns,
I should say"
His confusion seemed very strange,
after his late graceful seIf-possession;
but, attributing it oil to the contents
Of the note-alas, ] did not then
dream OF the informationit conveyed!
i ~endeavored to make the best Of it,
and told him not to be uneasy, as l
had no doubt bat that Mrs. Wharton
would return early in the morning.
Books and music formed the princi-
pal subjects of conversation during
the few hours I passed with Mrs.
Whartou's nephew, and so pleasant
and agreeable did he prove that I be-
gan to like him very much, and quite
forgot my embarrassment at remain
ing SO. long alone with a stranger.
At breakfast, next morning, we
chatted away quite like cid friends;
but when the meal was over my COM
panion asked me to walk into the
library for q few moments.
I complied with his request, made
rather gravely, feeling a sensation pass
through me that something was going
to happen.
"Please be seated, Miss Terry" he
began. 81 regret that I am obliged
to explain a very strange mistake
and I beg your pardon for keeping
you in ignorance through last even
ing, but, believe me, I did so only be-
cause I wished you to have a pleasant
and comfortable rest after your long
Journey"
could say nothing to this prepara-
tory speech, for my heart was throb-
bling ct such a furious rate I dared not
trust my voice.
"My aunt" he continued, "expect-
ed q lady friend, named Miss Annie
Rose, to arrive yesterday, and being
called from home unexpectedly, she
commissioned me to be her escort from
the railroad station to the house. She
spoke OF Miss Roses travelling dress
being brown, and hence my mistake
in ~accosting you. The note T received
last evening apprised me OF my error,
for in it Aunt Lizzie informed me
that Miss Rose, learning the illness Of
Mrs. Tslmage, had arrived by an
earlier tram, and gone directly to the
house of Mrs. Talmage, so that she
might see her friend once more while
If you will accept my apologies
for causing you this inconvenience
and delay in your plans, I will be
truly grateful for your forbsarance,
and will do all in my power to rectify
my mistake al speedily as possible"
What could I say? He was SO sim
cerely ,sorry,a1L could not find fault
with him. Wassb hot cheeks, I ex-
planned my part in Srate misunderstood
a
''My friend is Mrsto1lRRGs@.e Wharton.
She lives on Charle; stree. If you
will" r
u shall deliver yot safely into her
Miss Terry" he interrupted,
land will Immediately order the car
But first I must thank you for
your goodness in SO readily granting
pardon for my inadvertence."
When we arrived at Mrs. Rose Whsr-
IONS door lie turned to me and, taking