Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-06-07
Escaped from Justice.

TO death, and the very marrow seemed
to CONCEAL in ones bones.
"There's one advantage in steam,
growled fat old gentleman in the
corner seat; "wind ID weather
don't effect it. No flesh and blood
horse could stand a night like this,
but the iron horse keeps straight
ahead, whether the thermometer is al
zero or boiling heat"
just then the conductor entered.
"Tickets, gentlemen, if you please.
dts dreadful night, CONDUCTOR
I said, feeling with stifened fingers
for nay ticket in the breast pocket of
my coat.
'Dreadful, sir" feelingly responded
the conductor. "Why the brakemen
can't live outside, and so look the
other way when they come to get a
breath of warm air at the stove. We
haven't had such night since year
ago come the second of February
when Tom BlakeSlee, the baggage
master, fr0ze both his feet, and a wo-
man who was coming on from Chicago,
got off at Blinn's Four Corners with
a dead baby in her arms, a corpse" "
Frozen to death ?"
"Aye, frozen to death and she new
er thought, poor thing, but that it was
asleep. My poor baby is cold, but
We will soon warm it when we get
home, said she. 1t was just such a
night as this.
And the conductor opened the door
and plunged across the coupling into
the next car, crying out;
"Hardwicz."
1t was quite considerable city
with handsome iron depot, haring
gas lamps and the usual crowd
around the platform, with their cigar
ends flaming through the night.
Our car was nearly the last Of the
long train, and but one passenger en-
tered ia slender young girl, wrap
ped up liz a gray blanket shawl, and
wearing neat little travelling hat of
gray straw, trimmed with stone color
ed velvet flowers. She seemed to
hesitate, like one unused to travelling,
and finally sat down near the door.
Pardon, me, young lady said I,
"but YOU had better come nearer the
stove"
She started, hesitated an instant,
and then obeyed.
Does this train 90 to Bavswater p
she asked in a voice so deliciousIy
sweet that it seemed 20 thrill thro' me.
Yes. Can | be of service to YOU p
20, no-at least not till we reach
Bayawater. l would like carriage
then.
We viii not De there for three
hours"
d" Do We stop again p
"Only at Exmouth."
She drew a long sigh, seemingly of
relief, and settled back in her corner
By the lamp that hung in its brass
fixture opposite, | could see her face
that of a lonely child. Apparently
she was not more than sixteen, witt
large blue eyes, golden hair. drawn
straight away from her face, and q
rosy mouth like that OF a baby.
DO you expect friends to meet you
at Bayswater, my child ?" asked
No, sir; | am going to school there.
1T will be an awkward hour toI
you to arrive by yourself-one in the
morning"
"Oh, l am not afraid said she, will
an artless little laugh; Al shall &C
straight to the Seminary"
So the express train thuudered on
with steady, ceaseIesS puIsings at 1t.
iron heart, and constant roar.
Suddenly the signal whistle sound
ed; the train began to slacken in speed
Surely we are not at Exmouth yet
unleSs [ have fallen unconciousll
asleep and allowed the progress OF
time to escape me.
| glanced at my watch; it was bare
ly half-past eleven, and [ knew W,
were not due at Exmouth until few
minutes past twelve. rubbed th,
frost from the window and looked out
We had stopped at a lonely ittl
way station in the midst of dens
pine woods.
'Is this Exmouth ?'
| 1t was the soft voice of the prett
traveller opposite,
"No; | don't know what place it is
some way station"
"Do the express trains stop at wa
stations p she asked.
"Noyer, generally; they must hav
been especially signalled here. Yo
are cold, child; your voice trembles.
ut is cold" she said, in a scarcel
audible tone, drawing her shaw
around her. 30, [ wish they Eoul
hurry on.
1--WE are moving once more" | sale
Conductor" (for the man Of ticket
; was moving through the car "wh
| did we stop at this backwoods place
"Out Of water" was the reply, as b
l passed hurriedly by.
Now | knew very well that this wa
not the real solution of the matte
! Our delay did not exceed half a mi
: ute, altogether too short time for r
plenishing the boilers; and where Q
> earth was the water to come from
that desolate stretch of pine woods
Five minutes afterwards the co
ductor entered the car; / made roo
; for him at my side.
"Sit down, conductor you've not
5 ing to do just at this moment"
He obeyed.
What did you mean by telling n
, such a lie just now 2"