The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-17

nearer, asking MS he came. | leaned
out, and, MS the man stood opposite me,
almost snatclied what 1 rightly guessed
to be telegram out Of his hands.
"Yesl" 1 answered, tiny name is
Douglas, Open the door, please, and
take out my things"
Little fool that 1 was! Why did not
carefully read the telegram first ? I only
glanced at the commencement of the
message: " An coming Iy ncrt train. +"
When all my things were taken out Of
tho carriage, (as for tho heavy luggage,
| forgot TINT entirely, when tho train
had begun to move-in fact, when IL
was too late-I read tho remainder of
the telegram, which ran thus: "Wait
for mo at Paddington."
1t was only tho presence OF numerous
passengers and porters on the platform
TINT prevented me, there and then, from
bursting into tears. l restrained myself,
and the bitterness was the more bitter.
What was to be done? When did the
next train pass through Didcot? In
about IN hour. OF course it stopped
"No that's the fast train through
only stops at Swindon and Reading, F"
was the consoling answer / received TO
my inquiries. 1 could not leave Didcot
for nearly two hours. Atthis I retired
to the waiting.room, and, sitting down
in dark corner, gave way. ! couldn't
help it. This was my marriage day.
And my darling was not with me. Per.
haps 1 should never sec him again.
Perhaps there would be nm accident.
Pcrhaps-perhaps-and my fears came
airesh and I sat in my misery, feeling
utterly lost and forsakcn /; and as differ
cnt creature from the happy bride oi
n few short hours ago rs could possibly
be conceived.
Presently porter came in to light
the gus. II was quito dark by this time.
I asked him to call me when tho express
was coming. The man eyed me ms II he
suspected contemplated suicide. /
satisfied neither his surmiscs nor sus.
picions. 1 would have IN eager gaze at
the train MS it passed perhaps l might
get glimpse Of my darling.
The time went slowly by, and sat
flerccly staring at the fire through my
tears. At last the porter called me.
Now, Miss l"-!uiss again !-"the
express is coming"
1 rushed out. Itook up my position
where n miserable lamp Gust sickly
glare-the best in the station-on the
line where tho train must pass. On it
came-thc two grcat red lamps on tho
engine shining like giant's eyes in tho
night. Ibent eagerly forward, in spite
OF the warnings Of tho suspicious por-
ter, who seemed determined to keep an
eye on me. Ono by one tho lighted
carriages went by. Not there Not
there Not there Quicker than it
takes to describe this, tho last carriage
whizzed by. And there, against the
window, / saw my dnrling's profile, He
was staring straight before him, moodily
perusing tho hat-rack. At least, this
was my impression, from this moment
ary glimpse Igot. or course he didnot
SEQ mo, his poor, loving, foolish little
wife, standing on the bleak Didcot plat
form, in the darkening night. He could
not know her with sinking heart l got
back TO the dingy waiting.room, back to
my chair and my tears. And this was
my wedding dayl
It was about eight o'clock. I stood
on the Paddington platform. The weary
waiting was at length over. l should
take cab to our hotel, and find my
darling. When 1 came to take out my
traps, 1 found my trayeling-bag was
missing. I must have left it ut Didcot.
And all my keys and money were in it |
After en1less trouble, | found the
guard in charge OF the down.train, which
was Just on the point Of starting. l
gave him instructions, and he promised
me my bag, il it was to be found, carly
the next morning. Having given the
name OF my hotel, and q substantial
assistance to his memory, 1 stood
absently watching the departing train,
while porter put my things in n cab /;
when there, in n first-class carriage, in
tho act OF Wrapping himself in rug,
was Fred, going back in search Of his
lost little wife
Erred Fred |" I screamed, regard.
less Of appearances and with out.
stretched hands I rushed towards the
carriage window. My foot slipped, my
head seemed to be whirling round, and
1 fell. A snrging noise thundered in
my ears, and then voice said =
"Well, little darling what's tho mat
ter ?"
" Where arc we I gaspcd. .t
"Close to Paddington,P laughed
Fred. q Feel better after YOU, map,
s So | had only been asleep and dream
ing