The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-06-07
ROMANCE on A RAILWAY.


London TO Liverpool took their seats il
the evening in a first class carriage O
the FIVE o'clock express train at thu
Euston Square Station-as station known
venture to think, to every American
VINO has ever invaded the old country
There were only two other seats occu
pied in the compartment entered by the
two young men. Two ladies-at least g
lady and her maid-were the other oc.
cupants. The lady was young, pale and
pretty; the maid was fresh, blooming,
round-eyed, north country girl the mo
ment she spoke word her accent made
it plain to one of the two advocates
himself from the lakeland of Northern
England-that the girl came from dear
old Cumberland. Two gentlemen, one
apparently the young lady's father, at.
tended her to the carriage door, and
waited at the door till the train actually
moved off. They both, especially the
enc who seemed to exercise parental au.
thority over the young lady, kept in
cessantly casting expecting, eager, sus-
picious eyes upon the platform, as if
they looked for or dreaded the arrival
OF somebody. These little facts the two
barristers, accustomed to note small
things and construct them into evidence,
observed almost unconsciously, and
by sheer force of habit.
The old man, whom both the youths
learned in law, assumed to be the father
OF the departing young lady, at last
nodded significantly to the other, and
said in low tone: at is all right,
sv~v h. l. Il
Heavenr.
He can't come now" said the other.
at would not have much mat.
tered even if he did," the elder OBJ
served. He should not have ex.
changed word with her-not one word!
But am glad to escape scenes and tears
and confusion for all that"
The lady in the carriage had heard
nothing Of this. She sat at the further
end OF the compartment. Doubtless
what was said would never have been
spoken were she near enough to hear Il.
One of our lawyer friends, however. did
hear tin fact he could not help him.
self he had no choice but to hear.
The eldest of the two had taken a
farewell of the girl when he put her
into the carriage, that is, he kissed her
very coldly, and said goodbye, and
added few whispering words, which
seemed to be something in the nature
OF caution or menance. Now, as the
train moved of, he only nodded fare.
we'll. He had formally handsome
face, regular, cold and harsh, with thin
lips and very white teeth.
The train went on and 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 replied |
gracefully to few civilities and atten.
tons 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 re.
manned silent.
IL was growing too late in the autumn,
and dusk soon began to come on. The
evening was soft and beautiful the face
OF the country looked tender and poetic,
with all its autumnal charm and melan.
choly grace around it.
Our two friends talked together on
many subjects at first in low tone
then, as the young lady appeared to be
asleep, or wholly absorbed in her own
thoughts, they began 10 speak more
freely and loudly. Something or other.
perhaps the gray, poetic sadness of the
evening, set them talking of the old
world ghosts-the dear delightful, tor
turing, hair-lifting, blood-chilling spec
tors who used to haunt our childhood.
They actually began to tell each other
ghost stories, and did not observe the
numbering terror of the Cumberland
lass, who could hardly sit still in her seat.
30 great was her interest, EXETER ent
and supersttious dread.
don't know" said one of the two
loung men, Lewis Rossmore by name,
why a railway should be supposed to
have necessarily banished ghosts. I can
quite imagine a ghost making his an.
oearance in this very train, for in.
tance."
Can you" replied Fred Sargent. 81
confess | cart; but think you North.
men, near the Scottish border, have
more imagination than we prosaic cock.
,eys."
At the same time he happened to I
'lance at the young lady in the corner,
md her pale, sad face seemed ghostlike
'nough in the gray evening light. {
argent thought for a moment of the {
e, end Of the company who sat one {
,vening telling ghostsstories until at last
ne turn came to pale young lady who
lad been silent all the time, and now Q
vhen invited to contribute her share to
ne entertainment, said, in low tone.
Vnian l ho~ - |