The daily Alaskan., 1908-12-03
A Blunder.
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removed to Bankton, \. Y. He gave me the street and number but he was a lawyer. and lawyers were in thoUe days proyerbal for their wretched handwriting. so l found 1t difficult to make out the address. AS near as 1 could come to deciphering the name of the street 1t was Lafayette, This was not correct. It was Sabelle street. Leaving the station on my arrival, took cab and told the driver to take me to 90 Lafayette street When l saw the house I was surprised that my father could afford to live in 1t. had left a two story frame cottage in the west to come to a four story stone front house in the east
 I paid the coachman and, going up the stoop. rang the bell A maid came to the door whom I had never seen, and I 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 drawing 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.
 I waited quite long while for her return. When she came down she told me that no one was at home except my mother, who had recently had a cato- ract removed from one of her eyes and was obliged to remain in a dark room. I 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 I ran up- stairs and through a room that had been darkened so that one entering my mothers room should not let ln any light The chamber occupied by my mother was so dark that could scarce ly see my hand before my face. l didn't know which way to turn till she called me. and even then went in the wrong direction tln she had done so several tines. 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"
 l 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," I replied. "I wrote that was coming on Thursday. Thursday and Friday by bad writer may be made to look alike Perhaps there's where the error lies"
 I was about to speak of her trouble when I heard the door of the ante room open and shut. Then the door of the room was in opened, some one hurried in. and a mans voice said:
 Where are you, sIs"
 "Tm here"
 "Ellen told me you'd come, and come day ahead of time"
 My brother Tom, ten years my senior. never called me anything but "sls" and "sissey," but there was some thing wrong with his voice. had no time to wonder what had caused the change when felt myself clasped in two strong arms and lips pressed against mine
 whats become of your beard% I asked.
 Beard. never had one. We've been counting on your coming, Moth CT is shut up for the 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-I mean to feel you. Ina, hal 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. I want to see how you've improved You won't mind, win you, mother"
 Not 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 tue hall
 say We stood there, and so we did. We didn't get any farther. at least not just then. Never were two people more astoulshed. bewndered, We were en- tire strangers to each other.
 Great Scottw was bis exclamation.
 "Heavensw was mine.
 He dropped his arm as if 1t had been shot and 1 quickly drew away.
 "How in the name of"-
 q must haye-got into-the wrong"-
 At this point he reganed his equa- nlmlty. "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 assure you I don't usually on so slight an acquaintance"-
 He paused and my face flushed crim- son.
 Come" he said reassuringly, "tell me how 1t happened"
 l told him my story and he replied that his own sister, who had been away from home on long visit was ] FwrfgNaH