Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-03
FAST N FIRM.
: Romanee .. nsr.eIIIe.

It was at the Marseilles railway-station
. why l was there, or where / was going, j
don't exactly remember, so much having
happened since, and 1, Just at that time
having no special reason 70 go to one
place more than 10 another.
The express train from Paris had Just
come in.
She was standing a little aside, Just out
of the crowd and hustle, looking on, scan
mig every face as it passed and repassed
mine among others, and, as l fancied, with
more interest than others. Her face was
very pale. and her eyes were anxious; but
she looked calm and self-possessed; her
manner had no b~ashfulness; no hardi-
hood,
Was she waiting for her f-Gllow-passen-
ger to rejoin her?
People hurried TO and fro, each one IN
tent on his or her business. No one ap-
preached this little lady.
BY and by | saw her speak to an elderly
woman, who for a few moments stood near
her, a matured specimen, apparently, of
the genus unprotected" OF her l think
she asked some question. From her she
received, I fancied, a hurried, a not over
courteous answer l saw a flush rise to
her face as she turned away.
By this time the platform was almost
clear. Such passengers as were by and BY
going on had departed to refresh them
selves; others had gone to their resting
places; the railway officials began to re-
gard this solitary figure euriously. Rails
ing my hat, speaking TO her in French,
with as formal a courtesy as 1 could COM
mand, l ventured to ask if she was wait
ing for anybody; wanting any informa-
ton; if 1 could in any way be of any ser
vice to her. A shade as of p~erplexity or
disappointment crossed her face when |
thus addressed her.
She answered in better French than
mine, while her eyes seemed to- read mine
with something more than c~uriosity-with
interest.
Al was to have been met here. l SEQ
nobody who is looking for anybody. l
am disappointed. 1 must wait here; some
one will, perhaps, come vet. Thank you
very much for your kindness, but Unjust
wait"
Again lifting my hat, L left her; but
only to pace the platform and think about
her. Waitl what had she TO wait for z
Any one meaning to meet her would have
been there when the train came in. Alone
there and most likely a stranger 10 the
place, what could she dor Meanwhile.
there she stood, waiting compe.edly, pa
tiently.
As the minutes passed by, 1 thought she
looked paler and paler at last, as 1 APP
preached her nearer than in my other
turns, she came a few steps towards me.
win you be so kind" she began in
English, then, correcting herself she
spoke French.
l smiled. al am English, as you are"
80, l am so gladl" she said, quite
childishly. Then she added, al can offer
no excuse for troubling you; but will you
tell me what to do -? l am come direct
from London. l am going to my brother,
who is i'll in Rome. Some one was to
nave met me a. Marseilles, and l know
nothing of the route beyond this. My
brother is very i'll. I must travel quickly,
or" here she paused, or rather her voice
failed her.
Were you 10 go by land r
AYES; my brother forbade me to travel
by water. Sea-traveling half killed him,
and be won't let me try If"
"But," l said, quite angrily. ait is an
ihfDCssAO4C yOuAANN AOA Ou " ulOGItdkt I
alone by this route, OF indeed BY any route.
What were your friends thinking Off"
IL was to have been met here, you
know. 1 quite depended upon that"
But you have no business here at all.
If you want to go by land, and quickly,
You ought TO have gone by Chambery,
across Mount Gents, by Susa, Turin, Mi
Ian
She turned so pale that 1 paused. She
looked about for some resting place; Igave
her my arm, led her to the waiting-r0om,
got her a glass of water and a cup of cof-
fec, begging her to drink the latter.
She obeyed me, and as soon as she could
speak, it was, HYou will tell me what to
do now2 My brother is very i'll, perhaps
dying. Will it be best to go back te-to
the place you spoke of, or, as | am here, TO
push on by this reuter- Which way is the
quicker2"
"Where is your baggage7 The train
starts for Nice in five minutes. I am not
what better you can do than push on
by this route now you are here"
She rose directly. Il have no luggage
but what is that bag" pointing to one l i
had taken from her when l gave her my
arm. {
4" What a charming travelling eompan-
she would makeI" / thought to my
self.
She added as we FASTENED towards the
platform, al left London at an hours no
tice, in consequence Of a telegram" Ash
hurried her along she asked, Are you
any further by this route ~
"Yes" |,
"Would you kindly, while you are I
travelling the next stage, write me down 5
7"
|" Certainly" !
The ladies carriage into which I looked
full; sol banded her into another,
and got in myself; and as that small hand A..
rested in mine a ~curiously strong eonvic- !
ion entered my mind, and rested there.
i seated myself opposite to her, and hav.
ing said, awe shall have plenty of time
10 talk it over before we get to Nice" 1 :
to be fully occupied with route !
books and maps in order TO leave her quiet
lime TO recover herself.
All the while that 1 seemed thus oceu- :
pied 1 was thinking intently. l was not
very young or green" l had heard of
bewitched and bewitching widows and of
looking little adventuresses lying 1
N wait, at such places as the Marseilles
-ailway-station, for mems hearts to ensnare
hem, and mems purses to make use of {
hem, and 1 considered myself a man not !
to be imposed upon. Many q calm :
investigating glance Of mine rested on my ;
neighbor's face, her dress, her en- !
!
She did not speak TO me; she turned her
ace to the window. 1 thought her earn :
interested in the ~fascinatingly rO- :
scenes past which we were then =
lying-the rocky heights, eastle-looking I
'ocks and r~oeky-looking castles, the blue q
pays and gray o%live-hoary plains, which
he was now probably seeing for the first
By and by a gentle, stealthy move A.,
nent of hers, a little hand slipped into her :
pocket, and then her handkerchief lifted to !
face assured me she was crying. 3
am always afraid of a woman who is Q
4 man is a brute who ean speak :
harsh word to a weeping woman, and a /
lind one often changes a mild trickling of Q
he salt waters to u delugei so l left her
lone. T
She kept her hand, and her handker- a
hief in it, over her face, and her face a
urned towards the window, as much as I
1 began to hope she would soon t
all asleep. 1 believe 1 myself did fall
for a few moments. By and by 1 f
N -o.,.o1 - A. EoI1.-- q 1oal- g., n