The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1909-01-29
a BEunder.

lawyer and lawyers We're in those
days proyerbal for their wretched
handwriting so ! found 1t difficult to
make out the address. AS near as I
could come to deCiphering the name of
the street 1t was Lafayette. This was
not correct IT was ISABELLE street.
Leaving the station on my arrival, I
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.
I paid the Coachman and. going Mp
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
cher daughter. of course and. going
into the dra wing room. looked about
me at the handsome furniture, still
wondering how father had been able to
purchase it. The maid went upstairs
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 cata-
ract removed from one of her eyes and
was obliged to remain in a dark room.
] was surprised, for | had not been in
formed Of there being anything the
A.
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 in any
light. The chamber occupied by my
mother was so dark that could scarce
ly SEQ 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 Il wrote that
I 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 ! heard the door of the ante
room open and shut Then the door of
the room I was in opened some one
hurried in. and mans voice said:
Where are vow sisf''
81 m here
ELLEN told me you'd come. and come
q day ahead Of time
NV brother Tom. ten years my
senior. never called me anything but
sis and "sissev." but there was some
thing wrong with his voice | had mo-
time to wonder what had caused the
change when ] felt myself clasped in
two strong arms and lips pressed
against mine.
What's become Of your beard?" |
asked
Beard | never had one We've
heen counting on your coming. Moth
er Is shut M for the present but she'll
sho may have the light in one week
more Awful glad to see you'll mean
to feel vou. hn. ha, Can't see any
thing in here. Have to rely on the
touch" And he gave me another good
hing and several kisses. But come
out into the light. I want to see how
you've improved You won't mind,
will Won, mother
">Iot # Won don't keep her too long"
Putting his arm around my waist he
led me- ont through the anteroom, and.
opening the outer door. we stood on
the threshold between the room and
the hall
I say we stood there. and so we did.
We didn't get any farther. at least not
Just then Never were two people more
astoniehnd. hewiIdered We were en-
tire strangers to each other.
Great Scott" was his exclama ton.
Heavens" was mine.
lie dropped his arm as if 1t had been
shot. and quickly drew away.
How in the name Of
81 must have-got into--the wrong
At this point he regained his equa-
nimitv. If you're not my sister, you're
certainly worthy to he any ones sister.
At any rate, I'm happy to make your
acquaintance. even by mistake. though
assure you | 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 long visit was
expected the next day. He insisted
that | needed a luncheon and ordered
one, and while I was eating it he tele
phoned for carriage. When 1t came
he got in with me and began a hunt
for me for my home. Ny fathers
name was not in the directory. but !
told nv new found friend that he wac
m attorney. and. driving to the of1c
Of one Of the profession. we learned tb
cd at I Wit