Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-03-08

luly. was Wy ing W oAdh0 Ou Tue
horrible possibility that faced me, ma
king my heart beat almost to suffoca-
ton.
But this dreadful possibility grew
stronger every minute. sat down
and grasped my head between my
hands.
20 God better | had died, groan-
ed |, than that! it is his doing !;
and if he hasn't stuck at forgery-lor
it's no better-heII leave no stone
unturned till she marrieS him.
But when at last was able to think
more calmly over it, I knew that Lucy
would keep true to me living or dead
l leave you to judge the state of
mind in which | made tie voyage
home. | want to get on to the time
when | found myself at Paddington
railway station in Z first class carriage
l got in at once to escape the sight of
the happy, bright faces abousshe.
slipped a fee into the guards hand as
he let me in. Let me have this place
to myself
Well, sir, I'll do my best; but you
see being Christmas Eve, we're fallish
already, and at Reading wen most
likely find plenty Of passengers.
| was in such a mood that il seem
ed to me if any cheerful fellow trav-
eler tried to make me talk, I should
pitch him out Of the window. Worry
had added itself to my other tormeats
worry planted by Capt. Trker's
last words:
After all, you may reach hone be-
fore Mrs. O8wold gets your letter.
Mrs. Paget said her daughter talked
Of leaving Bristol
1t was not cold for the time Of the
year, and had drawn up the window
on my right hand. Oace ! thought of
closing it, as a protection against in
trusion; but we had passed Reading.
and | began to think that | was safe.
4 know that this train only stops
. once or twice more, so | shall take nv
chance.
Two more stations, and still 10 at
tempt at intrusion.
That guards a good tellow-Im
all right now I said, for ut the last
station there had been several people
on the platform waiting az We came
up. Ipulled up the window. wrap
ped my rug closer, and nestled myself
iEto my corner. In an hour or 50 /
should know what fate had in store
for me-what kind OF Christmas
this would prove to Lucy and to me.
But as pictured her sweet face aud
the love | had SO often seen ii her
darling eyes, | wondered at my own
self torment, and determined that all
would be we'll.
1t is not always one enjoys a roye.
rie when it goes on. but | was reali-
zing the happiness Of this oae intense
ly, when the traia stopped again
By Jove. | thought wed done with
these stoppages. l suppose l made a
mistake-or is anything tile matter 3?
l looked out. No; we are stop
ping, all in a regular course, at some
country station. There was about
one gas lamp and one sleepy looking
porter with a portmanteau. As look
ed, saw the owner OF the portman-
teau-a tall big man-coming cut Of
the booking Office, and making direct
ly for my carriage.
I'm glad | pulled up the window.
l threw myself back into my corner
and shut my eyes, in the hope that my
pleasant meditation would go on
But it had dissolved. | felt troubled
-restless-just as if some evil were
about to happen.
The carriage door opened. Room
here, sir and mufied up passenger
got in, and made his way to the faI
end of the carriage.
His hat was drawn down over Li,
eyes and his coat collar was drawn
up to his ears, so that in the dim light
it was not possible 10 see his face
but | felt sure it was the tall man
/ had seen coming out Of the booking
Office.
l IcIosed my eyes with a sort Of grun
and settled myself sulkiIy ia my cor
ner.
'Coulound him! he shan't get any
fellowship out of me-. But my cor
ner had grown uncomfortable. wa:
idgety. began to think how strang,
it was to be shut up thus alone in thu
dark, for an hour or more with a MAJ
whose face | had not seen.
In echo to my thoughts. the lamI
overhead shot up brilliant flame
( This cheered me. | looked round a
my companion.
Do you know that strange overmas
tering sensation which seizes you OF
the brink of discovery sort of sec
ond sight that holds You breathle8
: -paralyzed almOst-while memor,
is putting together and rubbing brigh
links Of the forgotten past.
At the parsonage, when we had al
t sat round the fire together, | had see
r light fash out in precisely the sam
= way in diamond. Aud I remember
too, that Ralph Pembridge, the owl
. er of the diamond in question. bad
e way of holding his hand dropping, jus
!. as my fellow traveller now held tn
= hand | was looking at.
e / remembered that Lucy had ofte
Y laughed about this habit of Pembrids
e e's, and said that it was a part of hi
purse proud nature, that he must pal
Y ade even his rings to attract attentio
,. to his wealth.
0 had a singuIarly keen pleasure 6
that moment in recalling Lucy's merr
laugh at the expense Of Ralph Pen
bridge, and what seemed al abSur
r fancy came into my head-this migl
e be Pembridge himself going home fc
J. Christmas.
e | leaned forward and looked at bin
e His height and size tailed exactl
but this dropping, crouched attitnc
!, was quite unlike the erect, self sati
e fed Bristol man.
IS I suppose he had been looking
s. me from under his hat, but, while
still speculated, he raised his head 8u
1t denly and our eyes met.
y 1t was Ralph Pembridge. And, no