Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-10-08
Selected gIlistrlIanu,
A JEALOUS FATHER.
A Nnilrond Adventure.

A JEALOUS FATHER.
A railroad Adventure.
'Katonah, shouted the brakeman, open
ing the car-door as the train passed before
q splendid little station on the Harlem rail-
road tt
do not know as should have particu- |
larly noticed that we stoppedat all, for ! had
'" been mapping it for some miles; but just as
Twas casting ON inquiring, sleepy look out
of the window, and settling myself for an
other siesta, my attention was attracted by
the entrance of a young lady, way-passen-
@ GER Who perceiving the car was well fill |
ed paused before me in evident embarrass- |
ment. 1iI ft-i ..l it-
scarcely wish the reader to infer from
'lea this that there was no vacant seats; on the
-' contrary, the chair occupied was sehshy
7.e.,, monopolized by my shawl and yalise, WHICH
had excluded many an occupant and 50 the
srs sf moment observed the car door open L
mentally resolved not to bulge anlnch; but
,,t.o- one glance at the newcomer changed my
mind t-ias t 20 ,.r %. .o
.,.i. She was a young lady of exceeding beauty,
..,,. dressedin the richand tasty style OF the
present fashion. Whether was her genteel
aspect or the soft melancholy of her dark
impressive eyes cannot say, but when sue
., ventured, almost timidly, to inquire II the
Z IN half-seat at nv side was engaged, gal
antly arose and proffered it to her at once
Il ~ Imust acknowledge felt somewhat fattered
by her preference for though young man,
,tt4ii. aud tolerably good looking, Ihad the sense
to perceive there were far better looking
.inien around, who, like me, might have
shared their chair with the handsome lady
GilG& stranger 1 fancied they envied me too, as
the fair girl sat plump down, and her dam
ty form nestled close to my side. t...
~ t.. II fear I.have disturbed you, said my
D'' companion, in low, sweet voice thatth
',,'r ell me with its soft cadence.
..A .. "Not at all Miss, rejoined with steTeo-
i-b 30 typed politeness. lam too happy to obhge
.r ~ i YOU
- She bowed and smiled in reply, and q
.sI'Y short pause ensued, as is usual upon such
sudden enaequaintanceship In the meantime
the train has started and we ratified swiftly |
through the fields and woods, now ldecked
Z ,.M in the lively tint offspring Theconductor
came in and went through his customary
ieH routine of examining the tickets. Ipereiev-
. ed hers was marked for New York, and after
p some hesitation said; OIL. las. 4
''You go to the city,
-r-is.l Eyes she replied with smile OF winning
. rs candor "sthat presume you have already
found out" Won - IC
" v II shall keep you company, then" OBJ
served pleasantly
''-i -,t THANK you, sir. II
There was slight dignity, thought in
her tone which repealed further familiarity; !
10. So as l am a very modest man, drew back a
and said nothing further On rushed the
y steam horse upon its iron railway One
more station has been passed, and | was /
fast relapsing into my former apathy when
my lady friend to my surprise leaned TO- I
wardm and whispered. 4
II am very timid on the cars. 4
s'Indeed said quite charmed with her J
abruptness "You surely are well accus- a
toned to travellingY r
Perfectly" she replied with some non 7
chalence; "but thatisnot it exactly. There >
are so many dreadful accidents on the rail- 4
road" e
"Dreadful indeed p echoed i
',And, added my companion with naiy- Z
etc. at is unpleasant to travel unattended .
usually have my brother Charlie with me. /
.. He is a splendid escort 4
'tIf YOU will allow me- said quite gal n
lantly, 81 will gladly occupy that position a
81 am much obliged to you, sir, replied 4
the young lady, with o grateful glance 1rom 8
her dark orbs, fyet am half frightened to
think am accepting the escort OF strang- I
er; not that fear you, sir; but alas Ihave /
Jealous father. Ii
"a Jealous father y repeated, somewhat !
& =. = puzzled and dsurprised. Ir
'Ah yes, sighed the young lady. 1T is {
my misfortuneswhile having wealth, health 1
and almost everything that the heart can 4
WISH to be under the control Ofa tyrannical
~. - old step-father, who treats me oftimes in 7
the most cruel manner debaTs me from the =
society Of our sex, shuts me upin the gloom !
te'e of my chamber, and treats me with pitiless
ngor if do as much as to speak to or look /
2 atGman." !
'iWhat monsterr / calculated with
face of melo- -lisamatic sympathy. II
7fa "rhat is th8reason "she continued, look ;
ing around her halffearfnlly as she spoke.
''that is the reason why am SO difhdent \
about entrustng myself to your care, but /
n did ito one condition" I
~ Name it." rejoined, charmed and de- /
~ lighted with the strange confidence the Il
young lady was reposing in.me Ic
"That you leave me the instant the cars 1
reach New York" , n
was so bewitched by the beauty and 4
charming insouctonee ofmy quondam friend
tbatI ceadily gave the required pledge. n
apparently quite relieved the young lady h
200 threw aside all reverse, and talked and chat q
Us ted with me in the most pleasant manner s
.,. possible. It is needless to say that in an h
hours time I had 50 far advanced in her q
good graces as to venture TO press her hand, q
,'r at and the sweet half coquettish smile that d
played around the corners of her cherry K
lips did not seem to disapprove of the lib 8
erty had taken. sf, .-i L,.,. "
-----'.Do YOU know said she as we sat chat q
ting tconEdently together, 'that liked Fl
'9E u your face the first time i saw it. "s,l p
'It was sympathetic onboth sides, then, / a,
l. whispered, drawing her 80 near that | a
could feel her hot breath fan my cheek n
'lt t.l AYES, She 1iurmered gently withdraw Il
iitoN ling herself from MY glowing embrace, for
tlr we had passed through the tunnel and
had taken "a lovers adyantageand snatched
hasty kiss. p .siuos
u, .itRfY6uIare naughty nian--the naught1est I'll
"a agr man ever saw she said in low and m
tremulous tone. s.If pa should be the te
train what would he say of such proceed al
u ihRsPI 9THA' spi ~ se al
,'NeSer fear, sweet creature, rejoined W
earnestly, "your cross old father is miles oI
r away, and let us improve the present OPP Ii
, portunity." ~ - 4 HV2 Ia
"Are You aFares she observed half mis- ci
ina chevioubly that there is another tunnel st
~ beyond great deal darker too, than, the w
one we have left p 80 re
II know il, said ], with tender glance al
-. CE'st py'hireusl3saa I'VE are drawing near la
i yfty hSts s-ss .s-,,aH u
Qh6e more 7 phcsd my arm around the la
waist Of the lady, and wrapped up In the is
gloom q the tpnnel, toobo sweet pledges pc
from hsf lips IT Mas very gratifying TO my Je
a vanity, All good-looking men are vain, mi