Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-07-17
Gitrrurp Selections.
MARY KINGSFORD.
REcoLLEcTIoNs OF A POLICEMAN.

Towards the close of the year 1886, l
was hurriedly despatched to Liverpool
for the purpose of securing the person of
one Charles James Marshall, a collecting
clerk who, it was suddenly discovered,
bad absconded with considerable sum
Ofmoney belonging to his employers. l
vas too late-Charles James Marshall
having sailed in one of the American
liners the day before my arrival in the
Northern commercial capital. This fact
yell ascertained, L Immediately set out
ON nv return to London. Winter had
come upon US unusually early; the wealth
er was bitterly cold; and a piercing wind
c,u,ed the snow, which had been falling
heavily for several hours, to gyrate in
fierce binding eddies, and heaped it up
here and there into large and dangerous
drifts. The distractions offered by the
raUidlyeongealing snow greatly delayed
our progress between Liverpool and
Birmingham {; and at few miles only
distant from the latter city, the leading
egs1e ran off the line. Fortunately, the
rate at which we were travelling was a
very slow one, and no incident of mo-
ment occurred. Having no luggage to
care for, | walked on to Birmingham,
where found the parliamentary train
Just on the point of starting, and with some
hesitation, on account of the severity of
the weather, l took my seat in one of the
then very much exposed and uncomfort-
able carriages. We travelled steadily and
afeiy though slowly along, and reached
Rugby Station in the afternoon, where
We were to remain, the guard told US, till
fast down train had passed. All of US
hurried as quickly as we could to the
large room at this station, where blazing
fires and other appliances soon thawed
the half frozen bodies, and lOosened the
tongues of the numerous and molly pas
sengers. After recovering the use of my
benumbed limbs and faculties, I had
leisure to look around and survey the
miscellaneous assemblage about me.
Two persons had travelled in the same
compartment with me from Birmingham
whose exterior, as disclosed by the dim
light Of railway carriage, created some
surprise that such a finely attired, fashion.
able gentleman should stoop to journey
by the plebeian penny mail train.
could now observe them in a clearer ligh
and surprise at their apparent condescen
sion vanished at once. To an eye les.
experienced than mine in the ARTICLE.
and expedients familiar to certain clas
ot'swellS, they might perhaps have passed
muster for what they assumed to be es
pecially amidst the varied crowd of
parliamentary : but their copper inery
could not for a moment impose upon me
The watch-chains, were, / saw, mosaic
the watches, so frequently displayed, gill
eyeglasses the same; the coats, fuI
cOllared and cuffed, were ill-ftting an
secondhand ditto of the vanished boot
and renovated velvet waistcoat, while til
luxurlant moustaches and whiskers, an
lowing wigs, were~unmistakably mer
pieces fOccaSiOn-assumed and divers
fed at pleasure. They were both ar
parently about fifty years of age; one {
them perhaps one or two years less tha
hat. watched them narrowly IL
more so from their making themselv,
ostentatiOusly attentive to young woma
girl rather she seemed-of a remarl
ably graceful figure, but whose face l hs
not obtained glimpse of. They mac
boisterous way for her to the fire, al
were profuse and noisy in their offers
refreShment-all of which, l observe
we're peremptorily declined. She W
dressed, in deep, unexpens i've mournin
and from her timid gestures and avert
head, whenever either of the fellows a
dressed her, was it was, evident, terrif
sWell as annoyed by their rude and ins
lent notice. Iquietly drew near to t
side of the fireplace at which she stoC
and with some difficulty obtained a sig
I" her features. / was struck with c
IRENE surprise-not so much at her 81
guiar beauty, as from an instantaneo
oohVlctlon that she was known to me,
al least had seen her frequently befo
Out where or when l could not at all C
=" mind. Again l looked, and my Fl
Impression was confirmed. At this n
Heht the elder of the two men ha
partially described placed his hand, W
'uue familiarity, upon the girls sho
uer' profering at the same time a gil
y" not brandy and water for her acc
% She turned sharply and ind
1anly away from the fellow and 10,