The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-08-14

NAa NHIl NSl Eihh hhh NU"Sf ASa
Everything was as strange and bewildering
to her. rs you might suppose It would be
10 one who had imagined that London had
but single railway terminus. found heI
luggage, and saw it duly labeled. helped
her TO search for her aunt, and made inqui'
ries after that lady of all the available
officials, but without result. Then per-
suaded my charge to take some refresh
ment, and by that time the ticket-windows
were opened.
80 dearn she cried, turning dreadfully
pale, | never thought of that; have nc
money
Now it happened, for a wonder, that
there was a crisp new tive-pOund note in
my pocket-book. What could do but
enlist it in the cause7
'0h, thank you-what should have
done but for your great kindness Y she
said, when the guard had banged the car
riage door to. Please, where is papa to
send the five poundsf
gave her my card; she held out her
hand to be shaken; there was,a shrill
whistle, a putting, roar, and OF the two
human straws which had been caught for q
moment in an eddy of lfe's stream, one
was swept away again by the current,
while the other-well the other found he
was late for dinner, and SO determined to
have cut out Of the joint ut his club, and
then turn into the pit Of some theatre at
halE-price.
walked back to the west end, and
passing the top OF the Ilaymarket, my at
tentiOn was arrested by certain words
which heard Mt the entrance Of the coach
office stationed there.
You are the man who comes up with the
three O'Clock omnibus from Acton, and to
whom spoke about that young ladyp
Yes, ma'am.'
well, you have been there, and return
ed since7'
Yes, ma'am; and made inquiries, as
you told me. They've all left Roseyllc
Cottage, and the servant in charge said as
a young lady did come up by our bus.
'And yet you did not observe herr
well, ma'am, we did not take up at the
door, you see, and as there we're several
young ladies got in and out, could not
pick her exactly
But il she came By the three o'clock
omnibus, how was 1t that | did not find
her in when the train arriyedp
Cant say, Pm sure, ma'am.'
WAS the young lady going by the Irish
mail y asked, pushing up to the elderly
lady, who seemed to be In state Of great
distress. E
'Yes, sir; o ycsr and she turned to me
eagerly.
'Then think ,ln tell you how you
missed her, said |. you told her to meet
you at Regent Circus, did you not7 Well,
She rot out at the other Regent Circus, by
Oxford street, while you waited for her at
this. But do not be alarmed; | saw her
ofby the Irish mail myself
As | suspected, this was the aunt, who
had made the identical blunder suggested /;
and now had second distressed female
on my hands, not so interesting as the
other, and coming at n more inc0nvenient
season. The last joint would be out Of the
room If ! delayed long; so gave her as
concise an account Of what had happened
aS possible, pleaded business Of the utmost
Importance, which really felt dinner to
be, and hurried away like a cat from a
schoolboy.
In few days, ] received letter from
Major Duckling. acknowledging my great
kindness to bis daughter, hoping to have
the pleasure Of thanking me in person, and
enclosing the five pounds he owed me. |
wrote back, saying that the money had
come safely, that it had been an honor and
bliss to be Of use TO Miss Duckling, and
that would certainly look in II happened
to be passing.
A year afterwards some house property
was left me at Cobblcston, and bad to go
and look after it. II you happen to be
thinking Of paying visit to that spot, take
my advice and don't. This sounds disin
tercsted, but the fact Is have found a
lunatic to purchase those four desolate
tenements, and am therefore free to con-
fess that they are situated in British
Sahara. There are about twenty houses in
the place, built in single row, with very
good road in front. Beyond the road is
shingle, and beyond the shingle is the sea,
which has retired as far az it could from
the place, leaving miles of margin. Shingle,
indeed, is the prevailing characteristic Of
Cobble>ton. There are no cliffs or rocks ;
to right, to left, in front, there Is nothing
but shingle, wcarying the eyes, and wear
ing out the boots. When, after terribly
long tramp, every step of which threatens
dislocatiOn Of the ankles, you at last get to
the sal sca.wayes, you find them repeat
ing nothing but 'Sb-sh-shinglep
This barren desolation makes the place
admirably adapted for rifle practice, which
is perhaps the reason why a depot battal-
ion Is stationed in isolated barracks in the
neighborhood. The recruits are kept out
of mischief, and they are taught to shoot
You may see squads Of them plunging about
in the shifty soil at 'judging.distancc'
drill and il the Horse Guards, or tue
War Office, or whoeycr's business It Is,
does not provide them with plenty ofboots
free of charge, all | can say is, it's crying
shame. But surely the visitor can walk
inland, and so reach the downs7 He can;
the farmers have n fashion Of using fish
manure in those parts, but il he likes that
sort of odor, the custom will not annoy him.
Personally, very much prefer asalWtida.
The visitor, then, with delicate nose,
corns, and constitution requiring excr-
else, would be wise in keeping to the road.
If he turned to the left, and walked
straight on hc would come, at the end Of
n couple Of miles, to martelle tower, and
then, two miles again further on, to por-
tadlc, where is a small harbor with occa-
sional yachts in It, good hotel, billiard
room-in word a Civilization. II he
turned to the right, ten minutes walk
would bring him to the barracks.
II was on the second day of nv arrival