New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-21
THE HANCOCK SECRET.
BY E. LYNN lI..rON.

BIZ +. LINN 1$-.TON.
She was mystery to her fellow travellers
in the third class. She was evidently &C
customed to the first, by the instructive
movement she made for the strap by the
window; she was as evidently unaccus
toned to hard work, by the wilderness and
smallness of her hand !; for she drew of hel
glove inadyertently-a light kid glove
soiled certainly. but of perfect cut and
qualfy-and showed her small, fair hand
with marks round her fingers as if they had
the habit of rings. She wore large water
proof cloak, to the efEectuai concealment OF
her dress, which, however, cracked and
rustled underneath like silk, and che had
the unmistakable air Of q high-bred lady I;
and though her face was 80 concealed by q
thick Shetland vail there was no telling
what her features were like, yet she was
certainly young, and everything about her
she was an anomaly; her whole manner
and style differing SO strangely from the
place in which she found herself and from
the companions consequent.
Presently the train slackened, then stop
ped ct Three Lanes Station, and the anom-
ally was observed to shrink further back in
her corner, and to hold her head bent a lit
tie down. On the platform was fOotman
in green and gOld-the Hancock livery
- -
some-lo0king man, both scanning the train
as it passed. Outside the station was car
riage with pair of bays, the like Of which
are NOT often seen.
There's Hancock's bays" said q rough
farmer lad seated opposite to the anomaly.
"Belike my lady's coming down." re-
turned his father, to whom he had spoken
II zee her 60 up yesterday"
Az he said this, the footman, running
along the line, turned his eyes into the car
riage, and nodded supercili0usly to Hodge;
and Hodge and his son pulled their fore
locks and said, "Good morning, sir" quite
respectfully.
II the anomaly had not worn so thick
veil, Hodge would have seen her smile.
My lady doesn't seem to have come, Sir
John, then said the gorgeous creature in
answered, quietly.
$50 1t seems; come to meet the next
train, !" as if he really did not care much
about the matter. But in his own heart he
was Tuning savagely: blaming her for not
telegraphing if she had been prevented
coming; blaming her for stupidity, care
lessness, indifference and all manner of evil
things, a. men do when they are angry,
and before they can vent their wrath on
the offending head.
Meanwhile the train went on. At the
next station it dropped Hodge and his son,
and about five miles further stopped at an
magnificent little station, where only third
class trains did stop; and here the anomaly
alighted, and made her way across some
fields to q small cottage set at the entrance
to . by lane-a pretty little place, with
rustic porch covered with roses and honey
suckles, and q trim garden full Of old
fashioned flowers. The anomaly pushed
open the wicket gate, and went up the
paved walk and through the porch into the
inner room, where an elderly woman sat
watching sick child.
"Well, Goody, and how is he to-day ~
she asked, below her breath.
"Ah! my lady, I thought you would
come. He's as bad, poor lamb, as he can
minute, as you might say"
"Poor little fellow ~ said the lady, ten
DERBY. "Ah! he is i'll, poor darling!" And
tears were in her eyes as she sat down by |
the bedside and softly touched the wasted,
feverish hand.
"The doctor says as how he can not last |
Tho night through if some change don't |
take place soon to-day" said the old wo-
man. "You feel sure, my lady, don't you,
~ how have done my bestp she added, /
anxiously.
"Your best. Goody! of course, l do. Have
We not trusted you, and don't we know
you, dear old soul ~ The lady spoke with
lender afecti0nateness as she laid her hand |
on the old woman's shoulder.
ssAnd Miss Annabella, do she feel salts
led in her mind :"
The pale face into whichthe woman was
cooking so anxiously flushed. II am sure
she does" she answered. "Make your mind
easy on that; my sister is as well content
with you as l. And now must 90. You
will write and let us know how he goes on.
# he does not live, it will not be for want
Of care. We must accept what ensues pa
tently. You will want money, in any case,
and have brought some. And now good
BY, Goody. God bless thee, little one," she
added. STOPPING down and kissing the
chlid's unconscious face; and with a strange
saw the boy could not live), human com
passion and the relaxing of a heavy social
burden warning together IN her mind. she
passed Out OF the cottage, and took her wav
back across the fields to the little station
again, just in time for the up train.
This time she entered first-class car.
rage. She got in, enveloped in her water
proof and masked in her Shetland veil. still
N anomaly: At Three Lanes she got out.
'adiant IN SILK attire, and with an uncov.
red face, confessedly Lady Hancock.
she was greeted with respectful bows and
lat-touchings by the station-naster and
"Sir John was here by the last down
rain, looking for you, my lady," said the
II am go sorry! I fell asleep by the way,
md 80 missed the station" said my lady,
imply, looking divinely lovely as she low
red her eyes and blushed.
For my Lady was not great adept at
cling stories, and generally managed to be
'etrayed by her bushes.
The station master stared, but said moth
ng. He and the footman, and Sir John,
90, for that matter, had looked into every
lrst class carriage carefully, and had seen
70 Lady Hancock, awake or asleep; but
ny lady's little games were not his affairs;
ne made half military salute and looked
. II ne believed her. Presently the hall
"You need not say that I have made this
mistake" said Lady Hancock, hurriedlv.
Sir John IL nervous about nv travelling
lone, and he would not like it if he thoughf
could make such q blunder, / win 90
CROSS the line, and will you keep the ser.
ant here till the London train has come
np O'0
It cost the poor lady something to weave j
p this little network Of falsehood and pre-
edcee, but more was at stake than the mere
erbal truth of the moment; and if she was
slsifying facts, 1T was not to do harm to | ,
ny one, but to do good, and to shield the |
affering. With which specious reasoning
he strove to content her soul, and sue.
eeded but i'll.
When the train stopped, she slipped out
the little waiting room, and stood on the
latform close to an open carriage, just as
le footman came busting across; and Just,
70, as her maid alighted
"Lor my LADY," said the maid, II have
cen in ever such . way about you! l
'oked till the train began to move, and l :