The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-04-15
LOVE IN AN EXPRESS TRAIa-
BY ANY ~nANDoErn.

drear, around the tumult and hustle of the
railroad station In the heart of the great city.
Mothers were there bidding adieu to their lit
tie children-Eusbands parting from their
wives-old, experienced travellers, to whom it
seemed a mere triae to skim half across the
continent on the wings of steam, and nervous,
uncertain voyagers to whom the briefest jour-
ney appeared fraught with iudiscribable peril.
These were The tableaux exhibited in the gas
lighted waiting room, while without the snow
fell, white and ceaselessly, and the fiery eye of
The locomotive threw a line of light through
the darkses5 for yards around. 6s-I
Hugh Southbank was walking solwly up and
down the platform, with his arm resting care
lcssly an the shoulder of Alfred Neville, his
dearest and Oldest friend. Both were Warped
to the very throat in furs and broadcloth, and,
even had it not been SO, they were far too
much absorbed in their own thoughts and
conversation to heed tho driving snow or cut
ting wind.
so you are really setting forth on your
travels, Hughp exclaimed Neville. And
when shall you return home.
4 can scarcely telI-certainly not in many
years, and perhaps never. l may become a
Russian, or possibly pitch my tent among the
palm tress of Palestine
Hugh, said his friend turning so as to look
into the dark eyes that were partially hidden
by the fur-trimmed cap of the traveller, 4 re-
member when you were the quietest and most
home-loving of prosaic individuals. What has
changed you so entierly, during the last ten
years 2
Time works changes in us all returned
Southbank, evasively.
Hugh = said Neville reproachfully, surely
we have not been fast friends for twenty years
Cor you to deny me your confidence at last Z
Il have no secrets from you Neville re-
piled Hugh, somewhat softened by the earn
estness of his friends appeal.
Nor am / unwilling to confess to you that
the whole secret of my life has been changed
since that unlucky lovers quarrel with Edith
Sayre, six years ago. We both acted very
like a couple of foolish children. / was pas
sionate-and SO we parted
And what has become Of herr
she married Charles Caithrope years ago,
and 1 have long lost sight of her. I have
30 netimes wondered whether the man to whom
she has given her hand, has loved her as truly
and tenderly as I should have done
| sWhy don't you follow her example, my
boy, and take unto yourself wife
Southbank shrugged his shoulders.
Il am constituted somewhat like the tree /
have somewhere read of, that blossoms but
cncc in a lifetime. 1 could no more love a
second time than l could be BORN twiee!p
'Pi.yP observed Neville, when there are
so many maneuyering mammas and sentimen-
tai daughters who would appreciate your six
feet OF manhood and your snug little fortune
Halo here comes your train In with you,
old fellew-drop me a line now and then,
~iuststo let me know that you haven't turned
| Musselman at Constantinople; or taken to IL
ger-hunting in the jungles of Bengal
There was, a cordial grasp of two earnest
lkands-a farewell spoken almost beneath the
lbreath-and then Alfred Neville stood alone
on the platform, a mist that was not the dew
efIrnelting snow fakes before his eyes, and the
ex1ress train was speeding away through the
| gloam and darkness OF the winter night.
lbs this seat engaged, sir ?
Hrgh Southbank answered in the negative,
almost petulently, for the conductors voice
roasdl him from a deep reyerie into which he
thadi f. Hen. The twilight of the half illumina-
ted car, tie heated atmosphere within, and
the sM lift tremulous motion of the train, were
aikeigavorable to dream fancies, and 1T was not
particularly pleasant to be reused up to make
roanSJor q lady and two little children.
People haven't any business to be travel
I.ingavzth children = ~grumbled the fat old man
with spectacles opposite, across whose out
streGke ed feet the little four-yearold had STUN
bIed-
tBA5ies are a perfect nuisance in a car ? re-
marked the calculated old maid whose nerves
lwcreadisturbed by the cooling of the baby-bur-
,sdleavaose blue eyes were just on q level with
its faanma's shoulder.
Aaa Hugh Southbank-whether out Of the
| ~sheerspirit of contradiction, or from Christian
charity, will never, we fear, be known-leaned
forward and took the four-year-old upon his
knee, while he assisted the lady to dispose Of
her. nnenifold travelling bag and bundles.
Thank you, sir
1 The words wers spoken SO low that South
bankscarcely caught their sound, but the
| rosy little boy on his knee quite made up for
his msther's taciturnity by clamoursly de-
ma nding to see the strangers watch, and
rubbing his velvet cheek delightfully."- against
the. costly furs which edged Hugh's travelling
| coat.
sPspa had a fur coat like this-papa is
deadF chartered the little fellow, lifting his
brown eyes to Hugh Southbank's with inno-
cent confidence.
,Sauthbank did not answer-he looked down
lints the liquid child-eyes with a strange feel
ing, akin to the revival of forgotten dreams.
Where had he seen those eyes before /?
tAnd mamma is going to B--to try and
earn some some money for me and the baby /!
Mamma has only nine dollars 1ef,' went on
the small chatterer, md
Hugh, dear, don't talk any more interuos
ed the soft; tremulous voice at Southbank,s
side, with an accent that thrilled him to the
very heart, while a small glovcd hand was
laid on the child's shoulder. Southbank leaned
forward to get a glimpse if possible at the
face that belonged to the sweet, low voice, but
it was useless-the car was too dark. Was
there no way of reading this strange riddle.
tAnd what is your name, my little fellow p
he asked, a sudden inspiration coming to his
aid.
Mamma says I'm not to talk ? pouted the
child, his scarlet lips thrust out with offended
dignity, and looking around as if he expected
the decree to be repeated.
Tickets, if you please 7 shouted the CON
duotor, b%ustling down the aisle.
Hold your lantern here a minute, my man:
wnere did 1 put that ticket p said Hugh, os
tentatiously searching through the compart