Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-02-09
PERILS OF TRAVELLING ALONE.
How an UnsOphisticated Girl Escaped
Virtue Observation-Disclosures in the
Hour of Need.
From the st. Louis Tribune.

Hour of Need.
From the st. Louis Tribune.
few days ago, a young, handsome, but
unsophlst1cated girl, whose years could
not have numbered more than fifteen
left her place in an Illinois village to 90 to
her friends, who are represented to be res
idents of Martinsburg, in this State. The
poor girl had little knowledge of the ways
of the world, and the trip was to her one
traught with much danger. Coming by
the Illinois Central Railroad to Vandalia,
she there took the western bound train for
this city. But ere she had been long on
the cars of the st Louis, Vandalia & Terre
Haute Road, she discovered that she had
lost the greater part of the money with
which she had lett her late place of abode.
Here was distress enough for the unfortu-
nate girl. Among strangers, approaching
a great city, which to her imagination, was
filed with all that is evil, she could not
restrain her tears when contemplating the
dreary prospect before her.
Besides this young girl, the same train
bore two other characters in its West
ward flight, who were destined to play
their parts in the little drama of first
experience III travelling by an unprotected
female. just when the clouds of appre-
est, the young girl was approached by a
bland and pleasant looking Young man.
He was going TO st. Louis he said, and
fro.n thence he would take the cars for the
interior. The confding young lady, III the
innocence of her nature, unfolded to him
the story Of her adventures the misfor-
tunes she had met with; the present dis
tress she was enduring; her fears of the
great sinful city she was compelled to pass
through; her anxiety to hurry right
through, and have a speedy trip to the
home of the loved ones and the great need
sbe felt for an acquaintance or friend, to
whom she might look for assistance and
counsel, in her present circumstances. She
told him of her destination, and how much
she longed to arrive there and be among
her friends. It was singular, the young
man said but he was going to Martinsburg
too, and would take great pleasure in rem
dering her any assistance in his power
Of course the inexperienced young lady
surrendered at once. -..f .-. ..+
But there was an elderly lady who had
been noting the little scene, and carefully
watching the developments. She took
some interest in the young GIRL but held
her own counsels. Arrived at East ST.
Louis. the elderly lady approached the
young girl, and pleasantly remarked: 81
am going to the P House, and as it is
pleasant place, suppose you accompany
me there" The young lady assented. The
party took the same omnibus, and in due
time were deposited on Fourth street in
front of the p House. The bland
young man was assiduous, polite, and ex-
ceedingty sympathetic IN his attentions to
the beautiful country damsel. The train
on the n. M. r. r. did not leave fol
several hours. The girl was in very
great distress. She only had money
enough to purchase ticket
to the station at, or near which
resided her friends, and could not pay g
| hotel bill. Again the young man proposed
to come to her relief He had rooms, he
said, and proposed that she should accom-
/ pany him. This proposition she forum
| ately did not accept until she could see ant
converse with the kind lady who had spol1
en- to her when she left the cars. The lady
was found; the matter spoken about, an(
tho benevolent lady took prompt aaeaaure
! to thwart the mechanations OF the blanc
rascal. She paid the hotel bill for he
! young portege, took care to secure her
! ticket, and accompanied the otherwis
! friendIess one to the depot Of the Nortl
| Missouri Railroad, saw her safely On boart
/ the cars. and waited until the huge Iocomo
| tive, with its nerves of steel and breath o
| flame, had dashed away and become los
in the distance, bearing the form
of one whom she had saved from
an awful fate to her home.