Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-01-10
The individual addressed hesitated mo-

The individual addressed hesitated a mo-
ment, but only for moment; the very ur-
gency of my entIeaty defeated its own end.
mo" lie said and there was now im-
movable decision in his tone: "itcannot be.
| think little of the error about the velvet;
such II trfling mistake is easily accountedfor,
and does not damage at all, to my mind, the
striking accuracy of the whole. The down
train to Exeter is due in little more than half
an hour, and by it you must I've prepared to
travel. | shall accompany you myself
Whether you are or are not the person indi-
Gated in this handful, we shall learn beyond
doubt tonight and if you have spoken
the truth, the company will place every ia
cility in the way of your proceeding to Lon
don tomorrow, as early as you like. You
see. y he continued, since the telegram is
gone, your friends will no longer expect YOU
to-day; and if suffered you to proceed,
you would most certainly be stopped at the
terminus at Paddington, for these handbills,
received by about an hour ago, have been
posted at all the stations, and in London
doubtless numbers of the detective force are
already on the alert The wonder to me is
that you have been allowed to proceed so
far; there must have been very reprehensi-
BILE oarelessness somewhere. The notices
must have been delivered at the stations down
the line before they arrived here. Yes, it is
Il wonder you were ever allowed to leave Ex-
eter, from which place observed your tick
ct was taken"
II was not alone there; had friends
to see me off nobody would have dared to
prevent me then, l said. 1t was, however,
no use to argue further recognized that
fact, and sadly made my way to the waiting
room, to sit there until the train should be
signalled which was to take me back to Ex-
eter.
| Mr.. Meredith tried all he could to raise my
spirits. can never be sufficiently grateful
to him, though at the time / am afraid ap-
peared very ungrateful. Ideclined the re-
freshmcnt he brought me. Not all his efforts
at consolation could induce me to look
up, nor his liveliest sallies bring smile upon
my face; yet all the time felt his presence
there comfort.
At length the whistle sounded, the London
down train came wheeling, putting, blowing
into the station. / travelled now in the
company of his serene highness the superin-
tendent, and 1t was, therefore, n first class
carriage which was opened for my reception,
yet the superior state brought me very infe-
rior enjoyment. Mr.. Meredith was there,
but he was silent. made such feeble re-
sponse to his attempts at conversation, that
he soon desisted them altogether. Yet
knew he was thinking of me, for whenever
l raised my eyes, always caught his fixed
on my face with such tender, anxious, pity.
ing expression.
tried to read a little of Miss Benson's de
licious novel, Oblivion, and not pleasure
was what sought for in its pages. wal
growing very, very tired. AT length, lore
after the short December day had quite clio
sed in, and the darkness over the flying lan,j
scape was only broken by the Pickering ROB
of the lamp on the roof OF the carriage, lfj
back my head, and fell asleep. A fifth
sleep ii was, that was broken by suddel
jerks and noises, but still, by fits and starts
a sleep that lasted all the way to Exeter.
don't know what o'clock it was when we go
there. seemed to be too sleepy to be con
scious of anything, even of getting out uftht
train, until gradually it began to dawn upor
| 40
rouslng myself forcibly, found myself driv-
ing through the night in fly, with Mr.. Mer
edith opposite and the superintendent at my
side.
"Where are we going now?e was my
puzzled question.
"To Barnstaple," the superintendent an
swered.
so, we needn't go there" / murmured
81 have friends at Exeter who will tell yor
who am and all about me-"
"You should have thought of that before
young lady, he returned. We have CONT
too far now to turn back, and | must satisfy
my doubts at Rarnstaple.
To Barnstaple, accordingly we went on
finding that little town, to all appearance
wrapped in deepest slumber when we reach
ed it. The superintendent was as great 9
stranger in the place, knew as little of the
residence of Messrs. Cannon and Co. us Mr.
Meredith or l did. He professed not tc
credit our ignorance, but of course there
was no making us speak against our will
and as he deemed that Messrs Cannon and
Co. would be probably sharing the sleep OF
their fellow-towesmen, and might possibly
be averse to leaving their beds, even for the
tracted parents, he announced his decision
to leave the matter till the morning, and in
the mean time to seek rest at one of the
| hotels.
They were hard to rouse even at the hotel
Travellers did not often arrive at Barnstaple
in the small hours of the night; but at length
a sleepy ostler was found to take charge OF
horse and vehicle, and chambermaid, also
rubbing haf-opened eyes, vouchsafed to con-
duct us superior animals to rooms inside.
Mine was not very dainty chanler it
looked very seedy indeed by the light OF
next mornings sunshine, but at the time
first set foot in it don't think should have
noticed any difference between an apartment
fitted for queen and one for a beggar. l
had slept, it was true, good deal on the
journey down; but sleeping in railway
carriage is one thing, and in bed another,
AMI soon cast anchor in that latter haven
for the weary, and was presently uncon-
scious.
The next morning was sensible of u
wonderful rise in my spirits; knew those
distracted parents could not claim me, and
that / should soon be on my return journey
to London. True had known this all along
the day before but things wear such diff
ferent aspect when one is tired out by bodily
fatigue, and when one has Just risen refresh
ed from ones couch. l was as lively as a
cricket,-no l retract that smile, for a
cricket's liveliness is reserved for the even
ing,-but was as lively as you like at the
breakfast-table in the hotel coffee-rooni, Mr..