Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-01-10
SELECT STORY.
FROM "LoNDoN SOCIETY"
SOMETHING TO MY ADVANT TAGE
CONCLUDED.

SAINT as his smile, hut regret to say not
for the first time.
was wondering why he should regret it,
when he seemed to read my thoughts, and
continued, "Thcrc IL such pleasure In the
freshness of the first time. London seemed
such grand place to me when ! saw it first
and now by familiarity its magnificencc is
sadly lesscned.'
Ihad been brought up in the idea that il was
not proper for a young girl to enter into con-
versation with stranger, gentleman, who
hadnot been introduced to her, whose name
and station she wasignorant Yet that cir
cumstanccs altered cases had heard also
was not the presence of these two old ladies a
sufficient safeguard: They would check
me il they considered was not acting pro-
pcrly, and thought should like to speak
to the young man, who was looking towards
me, and who had spoken 80 pleasantly. So
/ ventured, with some timidity, to tell him
what l had before told the ladies', that ii was
not only my first visit to London, but that 1t
was the first time that | had ever been on
the railroad. "And / like it so much,"I
concluded, And the ladies' did not check
mt, hut, on the contrary, looked quite
pleased with me, and with tho young man,
too, as he smilingly answered me-,
''Indeed. And | have known more of
railroads than Of anything besides all my
life; for my father is an engineer employed
in their construction, and am learning the
same business. And then he told us where
was his home, and how he was now going
to spend fortnights holiday with an uncle
and cousins in the metropolis. And more
pleasant conversation followed, until about
an hour later, one of the ladies said to me-
my sister and are now nearly arrived
ut the end of our journey, We get out at
-, am quite sorry to say good by, but,
she added, addressing the young gentleman,
II think we may trust you to.take care of
her.
He looked pleased, as he bowed, and
said, ''rhank you,-indeed you may, mad
am"
Then the train stopped, and the ladies got
out, with kind good byes, and we two were
alone in the carriage together. My conf
pani0n's manner was even more respectful
than before. No matter what we talked
about-subjects did not fail us, and our tete-
a-tetc ran on pleasantly and uninterrupted
ly, till the train stopped again, and an old
gentleman with very stern, cross face took
his seat in our carriage He took out a
newspaper Immediately. We dropped our
voices almost to Il whisper, that we might
not disturb his reading, yet l noticed that
he often glanced at us over the corners of his
paper, and that when he did 80 his face was
sterner than ever, and seemed intended to
reprove us. But we did not much heed his
reproval we had done no wrong and felt
no repentance Besides, who made him II
ruler over us?
Presently the train stopped at Readisg.
"Only thirty miles to London now," said
my companion he said it in a tone of re-
grct, as if he would be sorry when the jour
ney came to an end. Perhaps my face told
him was sorry too for did feel sorry in
my hearts there was no impatience there to
meet tho short, stout, red-fAced cousin in the
gray coat, who would be waiting for me at
Paddington and us for that :. something to
my advantage" could not clutch it on the
instant, however impatient might be.
The railway porter was now looking at
our tickets, what was the matter that he
should eye me so suspiciously?
my tickets all right 2" said, in tone
of some little resentment. The man laugh
ed impertinently.
''Quite right" he replied, ''apd it strikes
me I've about found the right ticket too"
He closed tho door again and disappeared
What did he mean? looked inquiringly at
!, my two travelling companions; the young
one appeared as much surprised, and a good
: deal more indignant than myself, the elder
. neither surprised nor indignant, only very
grave and severe. There had been time to
4 look at all the tickets, why was not the
d train going on? had hardly began to be
/. puzzled by the new wonder, when the door
of our carriage was again thrown open, and
, the same porter showed himself this time
). with two companions, evidently railway
officials also, of higher rank than himself.
d 81 fear am under the necessity of stop
= ping your journey, young lady," one of
d them said to me. " Will you be good enough
l. to alight9" ?"
y "But why?" l asked, in utter amaze
ment. 81 wish to so to London. am
II expected there"
. "No doubt, was the cool reply; sbut it
: is my duty to prevent it,"
His duty How could that be? had,
e indeed, had no previous experience in rail-
r way travelling, but ! could not think pas
a sengers were liable to be stopped without
being told the reason why, at any moment,
! against their will
n must be dreaming, surely, or this could
: not be civilized England. The proceeding
}. was uncommonly-lik what had imagined
of a set of lawless banditti, thought did not
think bandit would talk about his duty
!, his royal will and pleasure, rather it would
Il be. This man hypocrite into the bargain.
!. - must repeat my request that you will
u leave the carriage he went on, seeing that
/ did not move; Hthe train cannot be kept
u waiting any longer; some of the passengers
are already very impatient"
f. :" Al least you VIII tell the young lady
your reason for this strange behavior" said
,f the young gentleman, he had told me his
st name before this, and will call him Mr..
Meredith, Indignation would no lon-
ger let him be silent.
= 81 have very little doubt you know as
!. well as she does herself, the wretch laughed
!. in reply. "Comc, now, this won't do, he
n added as we both professed our utter igno-
:, : rance, and he took letter from his pocket
" and gave it to Mr.. Meredith.
/. My curiosity was not to be restrained;
looked over his shoulder, and this was what
10 read:-
"A hundred pounds reward Whereas,
lg young lady, aged 20, of prepossessing
appearance, height 5 feet inches, dark
le hoir nd fa