The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1897-01-16
A Fairy Omnibus.

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nance some time in their lives. The
green glade Of olden days is probably
replaced by a busy street, your armor-
clad night by city man in a frock
coat and silk hat, your distressed dam
sci is a practical, level-headed. ener-
getic little typewriter, perhaps ;the
actors are changed, the scene is chang
ed, but, believe me, the element of TO
nance is just the same as it was i'll the
days Of chivally.
Now, l dare say you would scarcely
believe that a bald-headed. middle
aged, stout old solicitor like me-sct-
ting every day more engrossed in bust
ness. and more and more apt to be a
trific crusty in my temper, owing to
tiresome liver-was ever sufficiently
Interesting" to play the part of a
modern knight-errant.
Let me tell you all about it, and how
it ended. It's commonplace enough. l
know, and dare say most of you have
gone through something similar. but il
it does nothing else it may perhaps
serve to stir up pleasant memories.
l had nearly completed my articles,
and was reading hard for my final
when one morning the firm told me TO
go to a client who was ill and take i'll
structions for her will.
She was an. old maiden lady living in
Paddington, Ind our people had trans
acted all her business for her for
something like forty years.
1t was a wet day; one of those days
that we get from time to time i'll LoQ-
don, when you feel as if you would
like to go to bed and not get up again
until things have changed.
HOlborn was like little river. and
the traffic stopped and splashed along
in way that made you feel damp
even to watch.
l stood on the curbstone waiting for
a chance to cross without being smoth-
cred with mud, when l noticed Il girl
standing near me. She, too, was try
ing to cross.
1t was very funny to see her. She
was evidently from the country and
didn't at all understand the London
traffic. Three times she started. ana
three times she turned back in despair.
l watched her with interest. There
was an amusing expression of good
tempered misery on her face; she was
pretty-very pretty. and daintily dress
ed, and-weil, l seized my opportunity
like an articled clerk who is worth his
salt. is bound to do.
''Excuse me-" l said raising. my hat,
'but l think you want to cross the
road?'
She looked rather startled.
Il think l shall get on all right she
answered, IF you would kindly tell me
where to start"
Suppose we try together? Give me
your arm"
She did not give me her arm. took
it, and we started on our pilgrimage.
In and out the cabs and omnibuses l
guided her safely, until we got to
about the middle Of the road, which,
as you know, is very wide opposite
Furnival's Inn.
Suddenly she limped and gave
funny little hop.
I'm very sorry" she said. laughing,
''but I'm afraid my shoe has come off.
1t stuck in the mud"
looked around. Sure enough. few
yards behind us was a shoe lying in
the mud looking very lonely and get
ting terribly wet.
Can you stand here for a moment
while fetch it?'' asked.
| left her there standing on one foot,
with the tip of little stockined toe
Just touching the ground to steady her.
"A cab driver who happened to pass
found the situation amusing, and said
so candidly. but Pm proud to say that
managed to keep a grave face. The
shoe was such small one that | mar
veled how a human being could ever
get it Oil. much less get it off again.
Now. IL saint from heaven can't put
a lady's shoe OH for her without seeing
her ankle. didn't try to. l thorough
ly enjoyed that little ankle and lin
gered over the task with becoming
solcmnity in spite of the weather.
At last we We're ready to start on
again.
1T was very kind Of You not to laugh
at me-" she said. with little blush.
II must have looked very silly stand
ing there on one foot"
"You looked very charming" said,
with young mans bluntness.
l landed her safely on the path aud
she thanked me.
| asked her. If / could be of any far,
ther service. She thought not. She
ONLY wanted to get into PaddingtOn
bus, and then she would be quite safe.
Now l wanted Paddington bus, hut
I didn't say so. AS soon as one came
up l stopped it, put her inside, aud
went on top myself.
Perhaps you will think me quixotic
for going outside in such miserable
weather! Wolf. I believe you wGald
have done the same thing, after all.
You see, l was afraid you might think
I was Fostering her if followed her
inside. 1t looked rather like taking ad-
vantage of a tritiing service, ana l
was at the age when man would
rother have rheumatic fever than 7ac-
rifice the good opinion of pretty girl.
Things are different now-I'm
married man.
But, bless your heart, you can't es-
cape destiny by getting outside an 0nl-
nibus. l hadn't been up there three
minutes, the rain had only just BEGAN
to soak through the knees of my trOns-
ers and trickle down my legs, when
the conductor came up with sigiiti-
cant grin on his face.
..If you please, SIR" he said, "thern's
n Young lady inside wants to speak to
YOU
I climbed down the ladder, with
which buses in those days were far
nished.
There she sat, in the corner, ha!f-
smiling. half blushing. There was TO-
body else inside.
"Won't you get wet If you go oAt-
sldey" she said.
Il was afraid you might think was
n ,,,,ioonco (" 7 answered