The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-01-19
THE POISON; . ] :. Of. .ASPS.

4 u I'c3 :, adCi., AdrPeTs Wseetys
THE ! POISON: 9 S / !; OF: . :.AsPs.
BY r1onrscr MAnRrAr (nRs. ROSS onuRoH).
-i:!:. .z,';.. 20 --: :; -.--,'. e.. n
"The poison Of asps is under their lips," p,
"a lie that is all le may be mest:with and fought
But Ill; i; Ass part i: harder matter to
.,'. :. ..-.1 ':-7srny,o,,.
ts. CHAPTER 1.
IT was an inclement evening in
Septemper-dark, damp, and dispirit-
ing; and red lamps Of the eight.o'clock
down-train from London were scarcely
discernibleAhrough the fog;zsst the )en-
giue, sportiug like an overdriven :: ami
NAL, rushed into the country station of
Fairmead aud drew up its line Of car:
riages beside, the paved uncovered plat
form which: glistened with fsstrde-
scending rain. ~: r. 49,. e.. -.
There were only four passengers for
Fairmead--a lady, slight and graceful,
even beneath the heavy wraps by
which she was envelopcd, who bore a
child upon her arm, and was closely
followed by Bengal native carrying
another :. and, as the little party found
themselves left upon the wet and lone
ly platform, she Che mistress) seemed
to peer vaguely. and fearfully into the
surrounding darkness, as: though un-
certain what to do next.
"Your tickets, if you please" sharp
ly demanded the voice of the ticket
collector, who seemed to think each
extra moment in, the rain an extra
grievance. .,*. g..
The lady started, thrust the tickets
into his hand, and, with her attendant,
| was about to pass the station. gate
when she stopped, looked around her
once or twice, and then, returning, ad-
| dressed the collector in low and ag.
itated voice: 1850 -,,,
"Where shall We find fy?"
The eigEt-o' clock down.traln was on
its way to thenext station by this time
and the railway officials finding that
the newcomers had brought no bag
gage with them, had saunterel back to
warmth and shelter. Inside the
wicket the Pickering lamps but served
to reveal the swimming condition o1
the platform : outside all was mud and
water and obscurity. Nothing could
have appeared more desolate aud mclan
oholy-notblng felt mere cold aud miser
able. ... ..,
"a fly, ma'am?" replied the ticket
taker. "Wby, you won't find Fair
mead ays standing out in such wealth
Ter as this. They're all fast locked ~
in their. coaoh-houses, I'll be bound
You won't see fly here tonight.
"But what are We to do ?" demanded
the lady, in voice Of perplexity, al
she turned her head toward the ma
tive servant at her heels. sLook a
these little children 1t is impossible
We can't walk; besides the distance i
too great"
i "Where may you be bound to
ma'an 2" said the collector. -: .:....
ITO Ash Grove-to Mrs. Beale's,'
/ returned the stranger in a sutduet
voice.
"Oh-to Ash Grove" responded
her colloquist. 'Then you must hav'
a carriage. Why that's better tha,
three miles away. Your plan, ma'am
will be to take the children into th,
waiting-room ; aud I'll send some ON
to turn a fly out Of THE GEORGE fo
you. They'll have one round in hal
an hour.
"Half an hour to wait p said th,
lady, turning, with sigh, to her ser
want and then, as tbough correcting
herself, she spoke some words to hin
in Hlndoostani; to which he brief,
answered.
i: "tArry?, shouted the tioket-collect.
Or to an invisible familiar, "rur
round to The George will yer, ani
tell them to turn out a one-'orse q;
soon ss they can, to take party o.
four up to Ash Grove. Don't lose nc
time-:he lady's in a 'urry;" apd
then; turning TO the lady herself, he
desired her to follow him, and led her t
the hrs'-ciass waltlng-room.
l.. It was small, bare uncomfortable
looking apartment, though it served
we'll enough for the requirements o!
Farimead. - 7:-<.- -
''1'm sorry there sin't no fire. said
the official, politely, as he ushered the
shivering party into it; "b, t it ISM
often as We, have any passengers bJ
this train, and, when We do they most
y goes on at once. You didn't think
now, of asking the ladies' at Ash Grove
to bespeak a fly. for you, I suppose
ma'am?' a. Il. It, =. FL ..z=*s..s i. I.
"Now was the nervous, half: :hesitat'
! ing answer. tsln3 fact, Mrs. Beal.
EaA 10 ssE7s3 80 80 s.ss.ss s..ss