Year: 1866

why ?-the meeting couldn't help be
ing interesting in such good cause


well, yes but that isn't it. The meet,
ing was we'll enough, but got into such
an awful scrape after it was over, that |
never think of temperance without shud-
der. I'll tell you all about it:


1T was in town not thousand miles
from Lewistown, where | was some
what OF stranger, and the night was one
of the worst of the season Boreas how
it blew /! 1t was enough to take ones
breath away. Well, the meeting was over,
and making my way through the crowd,
fingered III the doorway contemplating the
awful scene, when somebody suddenly
thrust an arm within my own, and clung
to me with bearike hug


Where have you been,' said the sweet
est voice in the world Il have been look
ing for you everywhere


Very much to my surprise, turned and
saw-but | can't describe her. 1t makes
me sad to think how prodigiously 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.


You have been looking for NE p


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


n thrill went to my heart. What to
."ke of my lady's address, did not know
but to accompany her. We started OF
in the tempest, the noise of which proven
ted any conversation. At length she said
with a scream


Put your arm around me, or 1 shall
Bio" away" ..


[ need not describe TO you my sensation
as I pressed her to ICY side and hurried on
l. was very dark; nobody saw US and, 81.
lowing her to guide NY steps, 7 followed
her motion through two or three short
streets. until she stopped before an elegant
mansion


Have you your key she asked


'Niy key? ! stammerad, there must Jc
some mistake


AS she opened the door, stood ready to
bid her good night, or to have some expla-
nation, when turning quickly, she said :


'How queer yon act to night-ain't you
coming IL p


There was something very tempting IL
the suggestion. Was | 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 second to make up my mind
and in | went


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


Lock the door. john she said


Now, as if | were the only John in the
world, | thought she knew me felt for
the key, turned it in the lock without hes
ltatlon, wondering at the saline time what
was coming next. Then an awful suspi
cion of some horrid bad trick flashed upon
my mind | had often heard of infatuat
ed men being lured to their destruction by
pretty women, and | was on the point OF
opening the door when my lady struck
light. Then, to my dismay, discovered
| was in bed room, along with a 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 pillow case and then screamed


Who are you? How came you here
Go, quick leave the room l thought
you were my husband ); and covering her
face with her hands, she sobbed hysteri-
cally.


[ was nearly petrifed. Of course,
was as anxious to leave, as she was that
should but in my confusion, instead Of
going out at the door | came In at | ran
into a closet, and before could rectify my
error there came a laundering at the hall
door.


The lady's real husband had come, and
she flew to let him in. Well aware that
1t would be Of no use to try to get out of
the house by any other way than that in
which L had entered it, and convinced of
the danger OF meeting the man, who might
fall into the vulgar weakness of being zeal.
ous' L was trying to collect my scattered
senses IN the darkness, when the wrathful
husband burst into the room followed bv
madam, The light was extipguished aud
while she was searching for friction
match, the grut voice rayed and stormed,
jealous ana reVeDgiul.


1 know he is here, I saw him come in
to the house with you! You locked the
door III have his heart out-where is he?'


Hear me Hear me | will explain,
urged the lady.


AS | was listening to hear the explana,
ton, the husband walked plump against
me, and at the same moment the light an
peared. ~


well, B. we cried, deeply interested,
for we knew that every word of bis story