Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1908-10-31
A BIunder.

II lawyer, ana lawyers were III those
days proverbial for their wrctchcd
handwriting. so found 1t difficult to
make out the address. As near as |
roud come to deCiphering the name of
the street 1t was Lafayette This was
not correct 1t was ISABELLE street
Leaving the station on my arrival,
took n cab and told the driver to take
me to 30 Lafayette street When saw
the house | was surprised that my
father could afford to live in it. had
left two story frame cottage In the
west to come to a four story stone
front house in the east.
paid the CoaGhman and, going up
the stoOp, rang the bell. A maid came
to the door whom ! had never seen,
and | told her to tell mother that had
come from school. She asked me whom
she should say had come. | told her
''her daughter, of course" and. going
into the rawing room, looked about
me at the handsome furniture, still
wondering how father had been able to
purchase it. The maid went upstairs
to make the announcement.
return. When she came down she told
me that no one was ut home except my
mother, who had recently had q Cata-
raCt removed from one of her eyes and
was obliged to remain in dark room.
/ was surprised, for | had not been in
formed of there being anything the
matter with her eye, and as the maid
said | was to go UP to her ran up
stairs and through a room that had
been darkened so that one entering my
mothers room should not let In any
light. The chamber occupied by my
mother was so dark that could scarce
ly see my hand before my face.
didn't know which way to turn till she
called me. and even then | went in the
wrong direction till she had done so
several times. Then | found her sit
ting in an easy chair and put my arms
around her neck
"Why child" she said. why did you
write us that you would come tomor-
row? Your brother would have met
you at the station"
| was startled. My mothers voice
had changed. Could it be that her
trouble with her eye had broken her
faculties
"There's some mistake about that
mother dear" | replied. 81 wrote that
l was coming on Thursday. Thursday
and Friday by bad writer may be
made to look alike. Perhaps there's
where the error lies"
| was about to speak of her trouble
when heard the door of the ante
room open and shut. Then the door of
the room l was in opened some one
hurried in, and mans voice said:
"Whcre are you. sis?"
I'm here"
ELLEN told me you'd come. and come
n day ahead of time"
My brother Tom, ten years my
senior, never called me anything but
isis" and "sisSey." but there was some
thing wrong with his voice. had no
time to wonder what had caused the
change when l felt myself claspcd in
two strong arms and lips pressed
against mine.
"Whats become of your beard?" 1
asked.
Beard. never had one. We've
heen counting ~ your coming. Moth
er IS shut up I, hr present. but she'll
come out all right. The doctor says
she may have the light in one week
more. Awful glad to see you'll mean
to feel you. ha, ha! Can't see any
thing in here. Have to rely on the
touch" And he gave me another good
hug and several kisses. But come
out into the light l want to see how
you've improved. You won't mind,
will you, mother?'
mot If you don't keep her too long"
Putting his arm around my waist, he
led me out through the anteroom, and,
opening the outer door, we stood on
the threshold between the room and
the hall
| say we stood there, and so we did
We didn't get any farther, at least not
just then. Never were two people moro
aStoniShcd, bewildercd. We were en-
tire strangers to each other.
"Grcat Scottw was his exclamation.
"Hcavensw was mine
He dropped his arm as if it had been
shot, and quickly drew away.
"How in the name Of
II must have-got intO-the wrong
At this point he regaincd his cQua-
nimity. "If you're not my sister, you're
certainly worthy to be any ones sister.
At any rate, I'm happy to make your
acquaintance, even by mistake, though
l assure you l don't usually on so
slight an acquaintance
He paused. and my face flushed Grim
son.
Come" he said reassuringly, tell
me how it happened"
told him my story, and he replied
that his own sister, who had been
away from home on n long visit, was
expected the next day. He Insisted
one, and while | was eating 1t he tele-
phoned for carriage. When 1t came
he got in with me and began n hunt
for me for my home. My fathers
name was not In the directory, but
told my new found friend that he was
an attorney, and, driving to the office
OF one of the profession, we learned the
address. Ten minutes later was with
my own family.
The family into which | had blum
dered became my intimate friends.
The daughter called on me, and the
son has been so attentive to me as to-
hnI