Year: 1866

duCc leCbuIe, ediu Jul lIltuu u
with smile, "and I don't think
shall ever attend another, Ia


You probably found it dry 2" a


"Well, yes-but that isn't it. The
lecture was well enough, but I got into
such an awful scrape after it was over,
that I never think of temperance with.
out a shudder. I'll tell you all about
it,"


"It was in N, where I was some
what of stranger, and theznight was
one of the worst of the season. Boreas
how it blew 1t was enough to take
ones breath away. Well, the lecture
was over, and making my way through
the crowd, fingered in the doorway,
contemplating the awful scene, when
somebody thrust an arm within my own
and clung to me with bear-like hug.


"Where have you been?' said the
sweetest voice in the world, ~ have
been looking for you everywhere


Very mnch to my surprise, I turned
and saw-but I can't describe her. It
makes me sad to think how prodi-
giously pretty she was. With her left
hand she leaned on my arm, while with
her right she was arranging her veil,
and did not notice my surprise.


d" You have been looking for me ?"


eyes, now let's be going,' was her
reply, pressing my arm.


A thrill went to my heart. What to
make of my lady, I did not know
but to accompany her. We started off
in the tempest, the noise of which pre-
vented any conversation. At length
she said with a scream


"Put your arm around me, or shall
blow away"


I need not describe to you my sensa-
tions as I pressed her to my side and
hurried on. 1t was very dark nobody
saw US; and, allowing her to guide my
steps, l followed her motion through
two or three short streets, until she
stopped before an elegant mansion.


" "Have you your key ?" she asked.


"My key!' I stammered, "there
must be some mistake


As she opened the door, 1 stood ready
to bid her good nj ght, or to have some
explanation, when, turning quickly, she
said


!" How queer you act to-night-ain't t
you coming in ?''


There was something very tempting
in the suggestion. Was I going in !?
A warm house and a pretty woman were
certainly objects of consideration, and
it was dreary to think of facing the
driving storm, and seeing her no more
1t took me three quarters of a second to
make up my mind, and I went in.


There was dim light in the hall,
and as my guide ran rapidly up stairs,
why 1 could do no better than run up
too. I followed her into very dark
room. -


"Lock the door, john" she said.


Now, as if we're the only John in
the world, I thought she knew me. |
felt for the key, turned it in the lock
without hesitation, wondering at the
same time what was coming next. Then
an awful suspicion of some horrid trick
flashed upon my mind !; l had often
heard of infatuated men being lured to
destruction by pretty women, and I was
on the point of opening the door when
my lady struck light. Then to my
dismay discovered I was in bedroom
along with strange woman. said
something, don't know what it was !;
but the lady lighted lamp, looked,
stared at me an instant, turned as white
as a pillow-case, and screamed:





Who are you? How came you
here? Go quick; leave the room; I
thought you were my husband )" and
covering her face with her hands, she
sobbed Historically


I was nearly petrifed. OF course
was as anxious to leave as she was to
have me; but in my confusion instead
of going out of the door I came in at, l
walked into closet, and before l could
rectify my error there came thunder
ing at the hall door. a Dn sssaI


The lady's real husband had ccme,
and she flew to let him in. Well aware
that it would be of no use to try to get
out Of the house by any other way than
that in which I had entered it, and con-
vinced of the danger of meeting the
man, who might. fall into the vulgar
weakness of being jealous, I was trying
to collect my scattered senses, in the
darkness, when the wrathful husband
burst into the room followed by madam.
The light was extinguished, and while
she was searching for match, the gruff