St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1865-08-31
THE BLUE VEIL.
=: BY 9. 8. +. c..

"Look out for Lizzie in blue veil by six = T. train
"a dollar and twenty cents, sir, and sigu
your name in the book, if you please,
said the boy frem the telegraph efticc.
"A dollar and twenty cents !-sign my
name IN the. book!'' l repeated stupidly
''but this telegram isn't for me.'' ~.
''Yes, sir!" It is sent to Mr.. Chas.
Chester, at the Lakeville House, Lakev,lle,
N. Y. There is no other Mr.. Chester in
Lakeville, and you always boards here. so
it must be you, sir; all right! The tele-
gram just come, and it was so near six,
they sent me around with it in hurry. 1t
has been delayed somewhere in coming to
New York, but the fault wasn't in our Of
fce."
"Lizzie-could il be Lizzie Clare, or was
it one of Mrs. Stowell's handsome daugh-
ters? There was no time to idle surmis-
ing which Lizzie I was to meet. I paid
the boy. snapped the patent lock Of my va
lise, and drove hurriedly to the depot, du-
ly to "loek out for Lizzie" and take the
night train west. The New York Express
had already arrived, and the iron horse
was snorting his,;mpatience to be off: Pas
sengers were crowding into the cars, bag
gage was rattling by, the bell was ringing,
and where was Lizzie !~,>~@@t 81 ..
At length, near the door of the ladies
room, looking uneasily ar und her, / es-
pied q lady wearing the identical Blue Veil.
lis this the Lizzie whom am to meet %
l ventured to ask, groaning in spirit at the
ignorance in which had been left regard
ing any other cognomen.
"Oh, yes! And this must be Mr.. Ches-
ter, suppose. You knew me by my blue
veil, did you not? Fred said that would
be sufficient signal. You are very Kind
to take charge of me. I was fearful that
you would find the care of lady a great
burden on night journey but Fred in-
sisted that you would not mind it., if you
took the trouble for him; SO here am rs
you perceive. Are not the cars just about
starting I" ~ " ;.so."..a.t ..
IL have time to see to your baggage"
managed to say. =. g.. ID. ..5, t.,,jn:
'0h, thank you. but Fred checked it
through, and bought my ticket. 1t is oil
right p ~ ~. ..s..sl5 .,-. .+-..s. ... =.
l knew it was all wrong, but what bach
elor of two-and-thirty would decline to es-
cort charming ''Lizzie'' in blue veil,
thus mysteriously committed to his pro-
lection s5.. " l.... * .,.E...
We had just . minute and . half in which
to secure our seats ere the western train
was off, and my companion uttered o very
contented little marmur. Of satisfaction as
We slowly steamed out Of the Depot. :
"Oh. l. was so fearful that you would
not be here to meet me, MIR. Chester :" she
said, "and 1 dreaded to undertake the
journey alone" sas Z, Il Z -, =
1T is a long journey" replied, with
some faint hope that i might tempt her in
to o mention of her destination Z :. = j.,
every long," she answered demurely.
But q call Of the Conductor revealed the
fact that the lady was going to Cleveland.
My ticket had been purchased to Cincinna-
ii, previous to the reception of that bewild
ering telegram, and 1 thought with some
satisfaction that could stop in Cleveland
- l pleased without any change of route. l.
AS we rode along scanned my travel
ing companion as closely as I dared buI
only a'suggestion Of bright eyes, ruby lips,
and d dazzling complexion, reached me
through the veil. u. as:s Z .
- hn~n S,nSa> t~nnk -
day" I misunderstanding an observe.
stion which might or might not be correct
= "Oh, no! but have heard Fred speak
Of you so frequently that do not feel az
if we could be strangers long" jst<
She smiled and put up her blue veil.
With the veil lifted she looked somewhat
older than expected. had fancied she
was seventeen, but she now appeared sew
en- and twenty. Yet she was SO fair-so
dazzling white-with eyes that matched
the blue Of her veil, that 1 forgot the ques-
ton Of her age, in speculating on thepos-
sibility Of her being near sighted. Seated
by that radient vision, became speedily
conscious Of my rough coat, and shabby
t'man Of business" aspect; and whilesl se,
oretIy vowed on amendment for ell future
time. in various particulars, j hoped that
she might not prove too observing &. =: {,
..This is rather i, sudden journey, ot
mine, remarked my fair companion-''my
trunk was nearly packed and expected q TO
leave next Monday /, and travel alone i but
owhen Fred heard that you were going to
take The evening train, he !telegraphed 70
you Immediate and hurried me of. = ia =,.s y.
..Ah, Fred Z, thought I---''it seems tonne
aS