The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-22

nioation would be forwarded to Lincolnshire
in due course.
And now | reach portion Of my narrative
where il is necessary for me TO observe the
utmost exactness of detail, in order to gain
oredence for what l shall have to state. My
packing was finished at 4'30; q cab then con-
veyed me and my portmanteau and hat-box
to the Great Northern Terminus. The train
starting at five was, as / knew, express to
Peterborough, net stopping on the
way; IL ultimately reached Lincoln, the
station nearest my destination, at nine that
night.
There were not many passengers by that
train. noticed this myself, and it was con-
frmed by the guard with whom l got into
conversation, and who was kind enough to
offer me a compartment to myself, in case
preferred it. | did prefer it, as l had some
papers wished to look over going down, and
the guard showed me into frst-class car
riage (No. 2S7), and locked the door to secure
me against intrusion. AS soon as we were
fairly out of the terminus took the bundle of
papers have mentioned from my pocket, de-
teTmined to make the utmost of the rapidly
fading light; for though the carriage lamps
were lit, they were not pleasant to read by.
The oscillation Of the carriage, as the train
ounded along at express speed, was irritating;
Mt in spite of it | soon managed to get alb
sorbed in my work For some twenty or thirty
miles / read on and on, making myself master
of the details Of somewhat intricate case
which had been submitted to my Judgment.
Then a very natural thing happened. My
mind reverted to the event Of the morning,
suppose, and suddenly the name OF Agnes
Rathgrave began to intrude itself into my
reading. The words mixed themselves up in
an odd fashion with the writing before my
eyes--gleamed and flashed there with such
vividness that began to lose myself in idle
speculstions about this unknown girl. Was
she pretty, interesting in manner, loving in
disposition These and similar questions
were bewilderipg me, when l was suddenly
startled by sound as Of deep groan close to
my ear.
Though l believed myself alone in the car
riage, ! looked up sharply. Daylight was
waning; but the lamps had in consequence
frightened, and had no difficulty in seeing
about me with the utmost clearness.
Imagine my astonishment, then, when, on
raising my eyes, / discovered that was not
the sole occupant of the compartment
UnquestiOnably, il was shared by COM
panion. The seat next but one to my own was
occupied by a lady, who sat gazing intently
out of the farther window. There could be no
doubt about her being there, yet l felt certain
that she had not entered the carriage at Kings
cross, and it was quite impossible that she
could have entered it since, while we were
tearing along at express speed. My flesh orspt,
and l felt lifting of my hair as looked at
her. yet did look at her very intently, so
intently that l can recall every minute par
ticular OF her appearance and attire.
She was, so far as / can Judge, not more
than twenty years of age, petite in figure, with
small, delioately- shaped hands and feet. AS
she wore black veil shiny with bugles down
to her mouth, the upper part of her face was
hidden, but the lower portion was most deli
cately turned. Mouth and chin were beauti-
full so was a little shell-like ear, of which
caught sight. But what struck me most for
chilly was the snowy Wilderness of the COM
plexion; there was no flush in it; even the lips
were bloodless The lady's dress was plain to
simplicity. She wore black -and-white check
silk, the skirt quite plain, and short velvet
mantle. Her bonnet was also of velvet, with
cluster of pansies in it over the left temple.
! saw no jewelry. My attention was specially
drawn to nay companions hands, from their
unusual smallness and the exactness with
which her gloves fitted. Moreover, she had a
popularity OF the left hand she kept it tightly
clinched, and l presently saw that her object
in doing so was to retain fast hold of a crum-
pied fragment of paper; but the apparent tena-
city of grip might, l decided, be unconscious,
as she was clearly much self-absorbed.
Can say that as gazed at my companion
experienced a sense of terror No; it hardly
amounted to that, especially after the first
shock of discovering that she was there. How
she had come there certainly puzzled me.
It was most singular that after what had
passed the guard should have admitted her.
1t was more singular still, that he should have
been able to do SO without my knowledge. On
the other hand, there she was, sitting bodily
before my eyes, as real and tangible as the
carriage itself.
Beginning to smile at nay own alarm, pre-
sently mustered up courage enough to address
the lady. Bending forward, inquired whether
she wanted the window down?
could hardly hear my own voice; but she
heard it, and turning towards me, smiled gra-
ciously. Her lips also moved, and as she
placed her right hand on the window-strap at
the same moment, l understood her to answer
me in the affirmative. SO bowed, leant back
in my seat, and tried to resume my reading.
In this was only partially successful. My
eyes were constantly wandering towards my
companion, who was again watching the fading
landscape through her veil, while speculated
on the mystery OF her being there.
81 will speak to the guard at Peterborough"
mentally determined.
AS did so our speed began to slacken, and,
looking out, saw that We were close upon
the old town. The express stage of our jour
ney was near its end. The beautiful facade of
the cathedral was already in view. Within a
few minutes we were entering the station.
The platform was on my side the carriage (the
reverse had been the case in starting at Kings
oross); and as the place was shouted out,
mingled with the cry of "tickets % noticed
that my companion turned her face my way.
"YOu get out here ?'' inquired.
She inclined her head.
/ put my hand out to open the door for her.
W lOpKpn "a mn naYNff fIa a.nl