Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-10-13
ROMANCE IN A RAILWAY CAR.
BY JUSTIN x'cARrHY.


M JUSTIN MCCARTHY.
Two young barristers travelling from
London TO Liverpool, took their seats on
evening In first class carriage OF the Nv
O'Clock express at the Euston Square sta
tons station known, ] venture 70 think
to every American who has ever invaded
the old country. There were only twf
other seats occupied la the compartment
entered by the two young men. Two la
dies-at least, q lady and her naid-were
the other occupants. The lady WAS young
and pale and pretty; the maid was fresh
blooming, round-eyed north country girl
the moment she spoke word her &C
cent made II plain tn one Of the two cd.
vocatee, himself from the lakeland OF
Northern England, that the girl came from
dear old Cumberland. Two gentlemen,
one apparently the young lady's father,
attended her to the carriage door, and
waited at the door until the train actually
moved off, They both, especially the one
who seemed TO exercise parental authori-
ty over the young lady, kept necessarily
casting expectsnt, eager, suspicious eyes
about the platform, 80 II they looked for
or drs AIDED the arrival OF somebody.
These little facts the two barristers, &C.
customed TO note small things and con.
struct them into evidence, observed al.
most unconsciously, and by the sheer
force of habit.
The older man, whom both the youths
learned in law assumed TO be the father OF
the departing young lady, At last nodded
significantly 10 the other, and said, In q
low tone: 1t Is al right, Cunningham,
He IL not here. Thank Heaven
"He can't come now" said the other.
ut would not have much mattered
even If he had" the elder observed. He
should not have exchanged word with
her-not one word But I'm glad TO CO
cape scenes and tears and confusion, for
all that"
The lady in the carriage had heard
nothing OF this She sat ct the farther side
OF her compartment. Doubtless what
was aaid would never have been spoken
had she been near enough to hear IL. One
Of our lawyer friends, however, did hear
tin fact, he could not help himself; he
had no choice but to hear.
The elder OF the two speakers had
taken a farewell Of tho girl when he put
her into the carriage-that is, he kissed
her very coldly, and said good-by, and
added few whispered words, which
seemed TO be something In the nature OF
q caution or menace. Now, as the train
moved of, he only nodded farewell. He
had formally handsome face, regular,
cold and harsh, with thin lips and very
white teeth.
The train then went on, and very soon
whirled through the pleasant suburbs OF
that side Of London, and away into the
open country. The young lady seemed
very melancholy and absorbed. She re.
piled gracefully to few civilities and at-
tcntions offered by the two barristers, but
was evidently not much inclined TO any
manner OF conversation. She exchanged
. few words every now and then with her
maid, but for the most part remained d.
emit. h
It was growing TO DO late In autumn
and dusk soon began TO come on. The
evening was soft and beautiful; the face
of the country looked tender and poetic
with oil It's sutumn&l charm and melan.
Choly grace around 1t.
Our two friends talked together on
many subjects, at first In q low tone, then
a. the young lady appeared to be asleep
or wholly absorbed in her own thoughts
they began to speak . little more freely
and loudly. Something or other, perhaps
the gray poetic sadness Of the evening
oct them talking Of the old world ghosts
tho dear, delightful, torturing, hair lift
ing, blood chilling spectres who used x
haunt our childhood. They actually be
gan telling each other ghost stories, ant
did mot observe the shuddering terror o.
the Cumberland lass, who could hardly
ht still In her seat, 20 great was her inter
ct, excitement and superstitiOus dread
II don't know" said one Of the two
young men, Lewis Rossmore by name
Awhy railways should be supposed To
have necessarily banished ghosts. ! can
quite imagine ghost making hts appear.
ance In this very train, for instance"
"Can you" replied Fred Sargent. 81
confess l can't; but think you North
men, near tho Hcottish border, have more
imagination than we prosaic cockneys."
AZ the same time ho happened to glanc'
1t the young lady In the corner, and he,
pale, sad face seemed ghostlike enough II
the gray evening light Sargent though
for moment of the legend Of the com
pany who at one evening telling ghos
stories until ct last the turn cana TO apAl'
young lady, who had been silent oil tn
time, and who now, when asked TO con
tribute her share TO the entertainment
aid, In { low, tonelcss voice, II have nj
ghost story to tell, but am ghost my
Selfp and 20 yanlshed. ag
"Yes,p pursued Lewis Rossmore; 81
can eadly imagine II and think It could
be done With rather fine effect Lool
A>~> 0nvmout tako q vsCta NJ this d3on