The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-06-07
ROMANCE ON A RAIL WAY.


the evening in "a first class carriage of
the five o'clock express train at the
Euston Square station known,
venture to think, TO every American
who 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 a
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
il 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 II
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 III law assumed to be the father
OF the departing young lady, at last
nodded significantly 10 the other, and
said in a low tone 1T is all right,
Cunningham. He is not here. Thank
Heavenr.
=" lie 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 aword 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 10 hear it.
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 good.b bye, and
added few whispering words, which
seemed TO be something in the nature
Of caution or menance. Now, as the
train moved off, he only nodded fare
well. He had a formally handsome
face, regular, cold and harsh, with thin
lips and very white teeth.
The train went on and soon whrled
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 a few civilities and atten.
tions 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-
NAMED silent.
twas 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 ii.
Our two friend 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-chlling spec.
tors who used to haunt our childhood.
They actually began 10 tell each other
ghost stories, and aid not observe the
shuddering terror Of the Cumberland
lass, who could hardly sit still in her seat,
40 great was her interest, excitement
and superstitious dread.
- don't know" said one of the two
young men, Lewis Rossmore by name.
why railway should be supposed to
have necessarily banished ghosts. | can
quite imagine a ghost making his ap.
pearance in this very train, for in.
stance"
Can you," replied Fred Sargent. Il
confess ! cant; but think you North.
men, near the Scottish border, have
more Imagination than we prosaic cock
neys."
At the same time he happened to
glan ce at the young lady in the corner,
and Ter pale, sad face seemed ghost-like
enough in the gray evening light.
Sargent thought for moment OF the
legend of the company who sat one
evening telling ghostl stories until at last
the turn came to pale young lazy who
had been silent all the time, and now
when invited to contribute her share to
the entertainment, said, in a low tone.
les voice, " have no ghost story to tell,
but | am ghost myself' and so
vanished.
Yes pursued Lewis Rossmore, &" I
can easily imagine it and | think it
can be done with rather fine effect.
Look here, Sargent take a note OF this
idea, and make something OF it for one
of the magazines. The people are trav-
cling along in railway, the express,
and have just passed one of the only
stopping places. Behold, rs the train
is rushing at fullspeed across the open
country, fifty miles an hour, and the
evening is growing dark, like this, they
suddenly perceive that one of the seats