The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-10-06
THE BLUE VEIL. v. l,L,,'
4Loo. q. isr Lnl. u ~. ven v 4. esless !.

| Ia
"a dollar and twenty cents, sir, and sign
your name in tho book. II you please said
the boy from the telegraph Office. uoiia.,rr.
"a dollar and twenty ceuts!r-sign my
name IN the book =" repeated stupidity ;
"but this telegram isn't for ,ns!',, oisrn d.
"Yes, sir! Il 10 sent to Mr.. Charles Ches.
ter, at the Lakeville House, Lakeville, N. Y.
There is no other Mr.. Chester 10 L,keyille,
and railways board here. so II must be you,
sir; all right! The telegram just come. and
1t was so near six, they sent me around with
it in a hurry. It has been delayed some
where in coming to New York, but the fault
wasn't at our Office annnHl i'n,',!
Liuzle-could It be Lizzie Glare, or vas it
one of Mrs. Stowell's handsome daughters' 7
There was no time for me to idle in surmis-
ing ,uhieh Lizzie was to meet. l paid the
boy, snapped the patent lock OF my valice
and drove hurriediy to the depot, duly to
"look out for Lizzie" and take the night
train West. The Now York Express had al.
ready arrived, and the iron horse was snort.
ing his impatienoe to be, of. Passengers
were crowding into the cars. baggage was
rattlingby, the bell ringing, and where toas
Lizzie? ..lg.r. ....
AT length, near the door of the ladies'
room, looking uneasily about her. ! espied q
lady wearing the identical Blue Veil.
"Is this the Lizzie whom am to meet?'
ventured to ask, groaning in spirit at the
ignorance in which had been left regarding
any other cognomen. ~ y I'm. i.....,.. I'D.
.Oh, yes! And this must be Mr., Chester,
I suppose. You knew me by my blue veil,
did you not? Fred said that would be q
sufficient signal. You are very kind to take
charge ofme. I was fearful that you would
find the care Of a lady great burden on a
night journey; but Fred insisted that you
would not mind It. II you took the trouble
for him SO here am, as YOU perceive. Are
not the cars just about starting!
III have time to see to your baggage" I
managed to say. .E s4rK ~ .Il
"Oh, thank you, but Fred checked y
through, and bought my ticket. 1t is all
right" gsaT b.ir4H'.
Ikne,p it was oil wrong. but what bache.
lor OF two-and-thirty would decline to es
cort charming "Lizzie" in a blue veil, thus
mysteriously committed to his protection ?
We had just minute and half in which
to secure our seats. ore the Western train
was of, and my companion uttered very
contented little murmur Of satisfaction as We
slowly steamed out Of the Depot. ~ f
"Oh. was so fearful you would not be
here to meet me, Mr.. Chester" she said,
"and I dreaded to undertake the journey
alone" ..... ......r s5ur
alt is q long journey" I replied, with
some faint hope that might tempt her into
a mention Of her destination. 4 :
Every long, she answered demuroly. But
a call of the conductor revealed the fact that
the lady was going to Cleveland. My ticket
had been purchased for Cincinnati. previous
to the reception Of that bewildering telegram,
and thought with some satisfaction that |
could stop in Cleveland without any change
of route. .a,d
As We rode along l scanned my travelling
companion as closely as Idared but only q
suggestion Of bright eyes. ruby lips and a
dazzling complexion, reached me through the
veil. .# ...-. H..f. 90 si.,Iisinn,
"I think we had never met until to-day"
I Notwithstanding an observation which
might or might not, provo to be correct. d.
"Oh, no but have heard Fred speak Of
you so frequently that ! do not feel as It we
could be strangers long "'' y -, - ..,,',, 49,,
She smiled. and putupher blue vcil. With
tho veil lifted, she looked somewhat older
than expected. I had fanced she was raj, sew sew,
entcen, but she now appeared seven.and'
twenty. Yet she was 50 fair, SO dazzling
white-with eyes that matched the blue OF
her yeil-.hat forgot the question. OF her
age, in speculating the possibilities Of her her
being near.sighted. Seated by that radiant
vision, I became speedily conscious. .of my
rough coat. and shabby "man OF business"
aspect. /; and while secretly vowed an
amendment for oil future time in various
particulars. | hoped that she might not prove
too observing. ...' ...s..m ~. y. ~. ..g p, =
"This is rather asudden journeyof mine,''
remarked my fair companion--.'my trunk
was nearly packed. and expected to. Leave
next Monday, and travel alone; but when
Fred heard that you we're going to take the
evening train. he telegraphed to you imme-
diotsly. and hurried me oH iasb :. etas +, "a y
"Ah. Fredr thought Lists Just like
gay Fred Dalrympls to surprise one with
such q telegram. ali in tina dark, and this
must bo his sister Lizzie. She is going to
Cleveland to visit Robert and his wifs; and
Fred hearing that I was to start on my trip
to night. cent his sister along, under my care
without ceremony" 20 ~ t,t.' aeiD =. i'i
The mystery was explained. and with a
lighter heart ! turned to the young lady
stimulated BY this discovery in my previous
determination to render myself desperately
.,,rooahia t /