Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-06-03
PAUL HYLES'S REWARD.

the platform at Edgefeld Junction, and none
Of those who waited for the branch train cared
and the fame from the fire Frightened the room
better and shone out upon the bleak fields
around with more cheerful glow than the blaze
After be had done this he hanged his arms
across his chest, and then he, too, went into his
room in company with Q number of lamps and
10 heed, and drawing a song-book from his
rocket, at once became absorbed In Its perusal.
There was one exception only to those who
was a Young man, Of perhaps live and twenty ss
years Of age, who, spite OF the chilly evening,
walked thoughtfully and slowly up and down
the long, bare platform. He was q tall, healthy
looking young fellow, clad in rough pilot coat,
low-cTOWned felt hat, and he had An air, alto
gether, as OF a workman, or-slthough to many
lessly, unfavorsble ideas-an omnibus con-
ductor. No pretensions then, to the character
Of q "swell" had this, our first actor, and no
waitiDg-Toom window wonderingly did watch,
would have taken him for gentleman. In due
time the branch train drew up to the platform,
and the young man took his seat, with others,
in seeond-class carriage. He preserved the
same grave, almost sullen tacituruity which
lad previously characterized him, and on ar
irving at the little town which formed the ter
minus Of the branch, strobe away, without ex-
changing more than q nod with several persons
who recognized and greeted him.
In few minutes he had reached the further
side Of tire town, where some Struggling cottages
Stretched out into the country, sl beyond being
void and black, indeed, but for one or two fee.
Die Lights shining from the little windows, It
a. gate which opened upon the road, and hes
itated few minutes ere he entered the garden,
ct last the gate SWING back, and he passed
through Instead Of knocking at the door, he
went scftly 10 the window, and although the
blind was down tried 70 catch a glimpse of the
interior OF the room, At the sides Of the case
mtnt- In this he was foiled; and from that, or
some other cause, a heavy frown was on his
face. which was indeed hard, plain sort of face,
not NJ adapted TO carry stern expression. Ashe
stood there, step was heard in the road; at the
noise he turned quickly round and then the lit
tie gate cTeaked again There was only Just
light enough to see female hgure enter the
garden, although 10 the new conner the young
man was distinctly visible, standing rs he did
just before the lighted window.
.. Is that you, Alice?'' he said In a low tone.
Yes, Paul. dear" replied a very pleasing
voice. 81 hurried round to the station after
had been to the Crown but found the train
Lad come in.p
AS she finished, the young m.n put his arm
tenderly around her and kissed her. The girl
Sighed as she did so, as though the act had
seemed, in place Of speech, to convey some
SAD TBtelh gence; and then, lifting a primitive
Latch, she opened the house door and they en-
tered. Without the Intervention OF any passage
or lobby, they stepped into a small, square
room, brick noored and walls covered with the
commonest paper-evdently poor room, but
very clean and trim; large, old-fashioned
eisht-ds clock the only article most approach
ing 70 luxury in IL; few common china figures
on the mantle-piece, and a few prints were, ex-
ceptiDg row Of f0ver-pots, It's only ornaments
At large deal table q woman, about fifty
years age, was ironing, and the piles OF white
Iewly-iroDed articles OF apparel which lay near
her showed she was ironing for profit. She was
so ike the girl who now entered, that stranger
need hardly have waited for the latter to call
her mother to guess their relationship.
Wei, Mrs. Purley," said the young man,
" am here, as said should be-"
See you are Paul. said the ironer, pans
ing 10 take the offered hand; sand I never
thought, 1 am sure, should be sorry to see
"It IL all over, then?s asked the girl. WIN
Lad looked wistfully from one 10 the other.
Yes, Alice" replied the young man, seating
himself and placing his hat on the dresser be-
am dismissed; and don't think the character
they would give me would do me much good"
The girl made no further remark, but hustled
about, while she emptled from q basket some
small packets OF groceries which she had
brought In; she then made mp the collars, cuffs,
etc, which were Just ironed, into parcels 70 go
away but tear after tear ran slowly down her
Cheeks while her face was turned from her
sweetheart, who went on 10 tell them more fully
the incidents they had already heard by letter.
and commonplace, as nearly all the real trials
and even agonies Of LIE are when We come to
put them into words. All were poor, very poor.
Alice and her mother supported themselves by
laundry-work and ironing. Paul Hyles had
been Alce's sweetheart for years. and she was
ready TO marry him whenever he asked her.
could prepare q ho ne at least az good as her
own to take her 10; but In that poor part Of the
country, where labOrers completed for work at
eight OF nine shill 70 week, even that was
difficult, for Paul was OF no particular trade.
TIE vicar OF the town had taken notice or the
s'slwsrt young fellow, and OF his pretty sweet
heart, the latter indeed having special friends
In the half dozen daughters Of the good clergy
man. Through the wears influence Paul OBJ
tsined place az carman In the large ware
whittier full Of hope and golden visions, he had
gone. His Alice was 10 marry him when be had
saved twenty-poun6s, which be hoped 70 do In .
girls VIII DO, had a'sts ned from every indul-
Rsnce, however HviALeyery expense, how
ever small, and rose earlsr AMI worked later,
70 obtain the simple outrt which formed her
ambition. But all was crushed nov. Paul had
been unlucky enough to offend one OF the prin-
pal clerks, nephew OF one Of the partners IN
tns nrm, and nothips be could DO was right The
him IN his post little while; but eventually the
il-vill Of his Superior was too strong, and vet
anls III wi vii p prose nom vary triing cause. IL
when abused wrongfuliy; he fearieesly and
fully vindicated himseh, and showed he vas
the clerk and future partner, never forgave
him At last pa.kAge Of some value vas
missed, and without imputins dishonesty, the
lOes was attributed 70 he cAfeleamess Of Paul
and he was dismissed with, - he owned, q
Character which would do him bat little good.
As Pail nnished his ineloqneDt narrative, ne
ended WITH heavy west-coantry oath OF 70
veDge II ever time served His hearers vept 81
lently, but did not check him Nov, unless
these two chose 70 marry, and live In the
sQualid poverty that most Of their class around
them lived in, and made MP their minds 10
reckon on poor-house assistance every winter
N part Of their ineoI ,, u seemed e though
they could never settlt.
lSey had long and SD talk that evening,
and il was plsin that nothing better, at the very
oarsice. than laboring &C the "oii mills" the
only thing Ike q mandatory near, could be
done. II happily even % much oouia be
achieved
So tine went on, and Paul worked a. Ia
hcTer, and dressed and looked a. lsoorer,
willie POOR Alice grew psler and thinner, for i
rs Lard, IN that quiet little town TO earn enough
Il, rey 10 supply even the scanty wants OF her
Se : and her mother, and bone was nearly gone
nov. From one great and common evil, how
evet, she Was sPered-her lover did not drink.
Summer came and went, and autumn, and
with the close Of October came the rumor that
m al mills xould sAoxtea handS: and Paul