Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-06
JANE FAIRBANKS HER0ISN.
A Story Of Thanksgiving Eve.

Last Thanksgiving eve, sat in the little
farnassus thester, with sense of conscious
virtue peryading every fibre of my being be-
cause was there with Paul LenoX, dram attic
critic, listening to intensely classic Al tragedy,
instead CT AZ the Temp, where 1 secretly lOnged
TO be, and gazing al seventy-hye scantlly-Tobed
fatriss, singing ont of tune and standing on one
loot IN perfect unison. yawned for the sixty
third time during the wait between the fourth
and nth acts. and wondered what kept LenOx
awake, when was startled by deep sigh from
that usually quiet person.
she's very lovely" said he, dropping his
opera glass and turning away his eyes from y
lary IN a private box. at whom he had bees at
ntIvely staring. - wonder ID she remembers
where she was, Thanksgiving eve, i've years
sgO2n
prompteT's bell rang, and Lemon knit his crit-
cal bTOws and became strictly attentive to the
exits and entrances, the infections and gestures
Of the minor actors whO were TO the best OF their
ability befogging the luster of the ''stars"
genius by cloud of piteous bluRders. Not be-
ing critic myself. and not having any Tespon-
sibiiity in regard to the formation of public
opinion, entirely neglected the play and de-
voted myself TO gazing assiduOusly at the lady
who had effected the miracle of enchanting the
attention of wOman-hating Paul Lenox, and of
forcing a complimentary adjective from lips
Htsle used TO praise of the fair sex. She was as
he had said. lovely, and, looking at the clear
cut, handsome face, and remembering LenoN's
last words, tried TO ind in its lines some sug-
ges;ion that would reveal to me the mystery
concealed in his last words. Where had she
queTied, mentally; but neither the proud, seDsi-
tive mouth, nor the frank, fearless eyes told
any tales whispered the question to LenoX.
receiving only a savage look for my pains, and
renewed my questioning gaze, continuing il
until the green curtain descended, when / at
tacked Linn with eager questions on the sub
ject,
he, shortly. "c0me back TO the Office and wait
tli I've written up this thing then III talk; now
want to think
SO / went down to the Office OF the Morning
Trumpet and sat in an atmosphere of cigar and
pipe smoke, and listened TO an immense amount
OF editorial cyniCiSm on every subject in the
universe. CuTioUsly at variance with the enthu-
slastic leaders in process Of evolution, and then
found myself walking up town with LenOS and
hearing the story OF Jane Fairbanks Thanks
giving eve adventure.
The night before the Thanksgiving of 1867,
said LenOI, Jane Fairbanks found herself in the
woods With boy, and, to the best OF her know
ledge and belief, five miles from any human
hahiiatiOn. The causes of this rather uncOm-
iOrtshe position were feminine obsinacy and
several railroads.
Twelve hours before, she was at Pine Grove
Academy, safe and happy; but suddenly in
sY1red with a wish 10 eat her thanksgiving din.
ner at home, she had left that scholastic retire
ment, and committed herself, without any
escort. TO the tender meTcies OF the railway sys-
TEN OF America. which. she says, consists prin-
eipaly OF branches and functions aud is Differed
by hends who necessarily sh,iek, Change
cars. - As well a. can be ascertained By 4 care
fUl collation. OF her account and sin " Railway
Guides which fatty contradict each other in
every particular, she made only i've mistakes
in seven hours travelling, which reflects great
credit upon her GOODNESS, but AZ ! o'clock she
found herself eleven miles from home, standing
on the platform OF lonesome little railway sta
tion, and looking at fast tieeting "eNpress,"
which she had iOndly fAncied was an ''accOmO-
datiOn,n and by means Of which she had meant
20 complete her hOmewsrd journey.
- don't care she said, dedautly. TO the sta
ton m aster, who had kindly. but feebly, waved
tag in vain eDdeavOr to attract the attention
of the conductor of the express, who, guessing
the state OF affairs, had made deT.siye gestures,
and refused TO pause.
II don't care she repeated "a he smiled
feebly and deprecatiHgly, and then, irritated by
his silence, which seemed to insinuate slight
contempt OF the ability OF woman TO understand
railroads said.
ON walk it,
e It's rather far-for a Iady"s9 the station
master. gently; land you'll be afraid; and
he added, officially, you mustn't walk on the
track"
1t int too far for me =" said she lortily. land
I stsn't walk on the track; shall walk beside
IL. And I'm not afraid a. least / .har't be IL
III y0u can lend me a boys
90 Well" said the station master, looking
about, a. If he Kept boy In each pigeon-hole
OF his desk. and the stock had unaccountably
disappeared when most needed, al haven't
any, Just now; but there's JOHNNY Tweed. He
would Ike the job, and his mother will like to
Rave him kept out OF mischief Tor one hi CHIT
As 1t appeared, upon questioning, that
Johnny Tweed was about fourteen years old,
very strong OF his age, and otherwise well
adapted 20 protect solitary female on a night
pilgrimage along a railroad track, Miss Fair
banks decided 10 engage his services for that
purpose and AZ O'Clock she and johnny left
the little station and walked of b-Syciv, fol
lowed by caution nom the station master to
look ont for the 10 O'Clock express, which was
Jhe Only t-ain that they would meet.
The lady rather liked The adventure. The
air was clear and cold, she was young and
strong, and loved the exercise OF walking, and
her companion, after his bOyish bashfuiness
was dissipated, was entertaining to au unex
ptcted degree. She found herself amused aud
HaNU o 80,
and, school teacher though she was, she could
not help sympathIZing With his wicked little
plans for circumventiDg the pedagOgIs 10 whose
unfortunate lot ir fell 10 sub1ae the ambition of
the youthful Tweed in regard % base ball, pa
gilism and skating, aud turn 1t into the peace
ful paths OF geometry, ancient history aud
Latin. 9 wish | taught IN a boys school,"
thought Miss Fairbanks. % girls are dres1tuiiy
tame, and in listening 10 the epic OF JOAnny's
contests, the time passed 80 swiftly that she
could hardly believe her ewes when they reached
the little station which stood half way bet Ween
her starting point and her destination. The
building was closed and dark, and Johnny, who
careialiy inspected the interior through three
different widows, reported that the ''stingy
OH thing hal pat out his fire.
Wei, what OF it, ASKED Miss Fairbanks,
eoOny
Wei. ii he hadn't said .Iohuny, =. I'd have
gone IN and got warm know = windOw that
he always leaves unlocked. and the door only
1SsteDS with a night-latch, and We would have
had Jolly rest. But the minute the last
commOdatiOn goes by, Old Hicks discOnnects his
atL wires, anu puts out MS nre, ana goes
home, AID II your rich aunt was dying, and
they wanted 10 telegraph TO you from the city
20 come and Set Jour name down in her will,
they couldn't 10 Il. Come along"
Miss Jane came, and for the next mile they
walked in silence, Johnny sulky with regret for
the rest OF which he had been defrau Jed, and
Mss Fairbanks, who was gradually growing
weary, although she would rather have died
than acknowledge ii, entertaining some slight
Nervousness regarding that down express, al
though II was not due for three hours 1t might
come little early, she thought, and whiz
round curve with a greedy shrek and rush
over them and leave only what the papers
would call "their mangled corpses." She
dIeamily imagined the accounts OF the affair in
those same papers and the family CONVEX sations
over the 'manged corpses," and wondered
Shat the offieiating clergyman would lind to
Say about the body Of dear brother and sister
departed. IL the body should be in several frsg-
mentsi and then she sbiversd and was con
tcious Of feeling OF relief when johnny inter-
~ what's thsf?''
Mis- sirbands looked forward. At the point
~ shich she stood, the road ran through deep
cutting, ana about hundred rods before her
was curve 80 short that in the dim twilight IL