North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-04-08
A Romance In the Cars.
pY bella FRINGE.

| t BY BELLA FExNc7.
There was ringing of the engine bell
q shouting Of i" All aboard" and away
went the train. The air inside was heavy;
l raised window and looked our.
1t was beautiful morning, though bit.
terly cold. The sun, clear and bright,
was shining in the eastern horizon, throw.
ing its golden beams aslant the pure white
snow, whose every crystal seemed to be q
tiny star. There had been light iall Of
sno~ in the earlier part Of the preceding
night, and now the tall, white-robed trees
shimmered in the morning sunlight look.
ing, as we sped past them, cold, grand and
beautiful, while the frost-diamonds danced
hither and thither, mingling with the blue
smoke that curled about the car. " =.
"Shut down that cold window growl.
ed a rough voice near me, awaking me
with start from my pleasant morning
dream.
With a sigh, turned from the contem.
plation of the scene. and closed the win.
dow, when, observing / had done so, the
individual with the rough voice, curled
himself up for another nap.
looked about the car. Most of the
passengers were in the land of dreams, OF
trying to get there. Only one woman,
beside myself, sat upright, and she occupi.
ed the seat just back of my own. She
had sat there all n. i.ht-rigid and immo.
vable, looking, with her cold, white face,
very much like statue.
She was young in years, for she had
certainly not seen more than twenty FIVE,
but her face bore the marks of deep an.
guish, and her eyes had stony, dead ex-
preston that was painful to notice.
She interested me strongly. Indeed, l
had done nothing all night long, except
thinking Of her, weaving all sorts Of 70.
mances about her, yet still unsatisfed.
AS yet had not spoken to her. Now !
determined to do so.
1T is beautiful morning." I said
turning toward her.
"Is it ?' she returned. 81 had not no.
.iced."
She did not look up, and saw that her
answer was merely mechanical. l tried
again.
"It is rSry cold, though" she replied,
with shudd.r ...E
"Yes, cold, very cold ~
81 like the southern climate much bet
ter than this" vsntuled again.
"Do you?" she Gueri.d,, but said no
no more.
Silenced, but not satisfied, I turned to a
book and tried to read, but could mako
no sense out of it, and so put it aside.
was soon dreaming again, or weaving
another romance in which the pale, dark
haired lady was my heroine.
From this, the shrill whistle OF the en-
gine aroused me. l again looked out we
had switched off at small station and
were waiting coming train.
We did not have to wait long however.
It soon came putting by, and we moved in
the opposite direction.
Just then the door opened and tall,
handsome, middle-aged man entered the
car.
!, perhaps, should not have noticed him
particularly, had not the pale lady behind
me given convulsive gasp and then drop
her head upon the back of my seat, as
though trying to hide from some one.
The man did not advance, but stood try
ing to scan every face, glancing from ono
to another, with q disappointed expression
as though he searched in vain for whom
he wished to find. At last his eyes fell |
on the bowed figure behind me. He look
ed second time and then started forward,
pausing at her side.
Ella," he said, sis it you ?'
She neither moved nor spoke, and he,
to avoid notice, sank into seat beside
her. For moment he sat quite sill, and
than he said
Ella, for heavens sake speak to me-"
She raised her head now, but said only
two words
swell, Edward p
"Why did you leave me, Ella ~ There
was little Of reproach in the tone.
Why did l ?" Oh, Edward, you know
as we'll as that duty bade me do it,"
"Duty Fiddle-sticks !''
He spoke impatiently. She made no
Presently he said again:
at is no use, Ella. There is not cave
in this world SO deep but would descend
10 its depths in search of you no place
80 remote, but would trace you out. You
only battle against fate, my little girl"
He spoke kindly, drawing her head to-
wards him while he did SO.
"You look tired, Ella," he continued. /
81 am tired" she returned. every
.ired, very tired p
Her head was resting on his breast now
md :scould SEQ that tears tremtled ON
The lashes, though her eyes were closed.
The engine whistled again, the train
,eased its motion, and the conductor called
,ut "SprinR Dale" II was the place of
my destination, and though I regretted
eavinr at this interest;n o.nnint 7 VA.