Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-10-11

The special train swept by, but
hardly saw tiny eyes, my whole sole,
were fastened on the figure of a man
who just then came down the green
bank which was at some distance. /
pressed my face to the glass. Which
way would he take? He stood up for
moment, and then'slowly, lazily saun-
tered towards me. The glass was up
my only hope was that he would pass
close and see me, for / was past calling
or moving now. noted every trifing
| detail of his figure and dress he was
a tall, broad-shouldered gentleman,
dressed in light gray young, and with
long, golden beard even the carna.
tion in his button-hole l observed, and
the strength and careless ease of his
figure as he lounged along. He stopped
to whistle to his dogs, and then again
strolled on, idly twirling his cane.
l do not know what kind of face was
pressed to the glass on my side-it was
a wild and scared one, l am sure but
in another minute pair of great merry
blue eyes carelessly glanced up in pass.
ing, and were startled into earnestness
by the eyes they encountered the
whistle sounded, but, even as it did, O
strong hand was on the door-handle
the door was wrenched open, the train
moved on-he was beside me, 1 was
safe
don't know what happened then.
My deliverer says that I cried, and held
one of his hands tight in both of mine
but that don't believe. In the first
place, we had never been introduced
and, in the second, two of his fingers
are about as much as my two hands car
contain at once. [ know, when / grew
calmer, that I found him taking care OF
me, and that 1 didn't dislike it as much
as one might have expected. I don't
remember how I told him all sup.
pose the turnip and knife, which still
lay on the seat, helped me little but
L do know that he told me "not to be
frightened, for he would not throw the
scoundrel from the window, as he de.
served"-and that he looked so fierce
and SO strong that I could quite imagine
it was habit of his to throw scoun.
drels from windows, and that he rather
liked it. What he did was to take the
creature by the collar, and force him
down on his knees, in spite of his
piteous protestations that che never
meant to hurt the lady-it was only Q
lark he would not have done it for 0
ten-pun note, not if he had known"
Hold your tongue. Swallow this,
and think yourself lucky to escape siz
months on the treadmill. For the lady's
cakn T will not Y,rooao,1ta no., ool T,1'
not break every bone in your body, as
should like to do, as it might annoy hel
to see it done. But you'll eat this, tc
the last morsel-mud and all I should
say it is not the only dirt you will have
to swallow in your life Down with it =
And when the last atom had disap
peared, my deliverer, with parting
shake, flung the creature into corner
where he lay till the train stopped, anC
turned to ''take care" of me again.
almost shrank from the stern face
to which / now raised my eyes, but i
softened in moment, and I lay back il
q corner and rested silently and thank
fully, while he interposed his broad
shoulders between me and the othel
end of the carriage, till the train agail
stopped, and 1 saw aunt Margery'i
dear old face on the platform.
am sure she wondered at the eager
ness of my clasp, and at my face, which
felt was still white and scared.
made little motion towards my deliv
erer, but could not speak word. III,
said few words and gave his card t.
my aunt, who accepted it and the stu
alton as graciously as she does every
thing, and looked rather anxious to ge
me safely to the carriage and home, ant
in five minutes we were driving away.
",What did he do for you, darling ?"
"Oh he was so strong and SO goot
to me-and he made him eat the who'll
turnip, auntie %
'"The whole turnip You are ill, Pol
ly. Come, we won't talk or think of i
now."
And she quieted and petted me, evi
IDENTIFY thinking that 1 had lost my wits
until I was lying on the sofa in he
drawing-room, able to tell her all.
Well, that was my first and only at
tempt at taking care of myself"
never want to do so again. Tom take
care of me now-of course, you under
stand that it was he who came to m,
deliverance. Aunt wrote to him tina
very evening, and my father came dow
from London next morning on purpos
to thank him; then Tom called, and S,
and so-the end of my story, or, per
haps, should say the real beginnin,
of it, is that am his wife now.
At first did think it pity that m,
husband should be only "Tom," whel
| had always intended to marry at leas
three syllables, as I am merely Pol
ly;" but now I think Tom the mos
charming name in the world, and woul,
not change it.
l have only one thing more to tell
The old lady with the disagreeabl
bonnet is Toms aunt. I am writin,
this in her house, which is Just what
had fancied it, and she is one of tn
dearest and kindest old women in Eng
land.
"Una has found her Lion," sh
says.
I don't think I am much like Una
but Tom is a darling old Lion, with hi
tawny beard and splendid strength, o.
which his wife loves to lean. I hea
him calling Polly |" from the lawn
where he lies, lazily putting his ciga
under the cedar; and, as he can grow o
on occasions, if I keep his maiest.
waiting too long, I had better go.
Coming, Lion. London Maqa
zine.