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

the "cad's" hideous face close to mine
such a wicked leeriug face
Take off that veil miss I'm sure a
whiff of fresh air will do you good.
This carriage is awful muggy"-that
was the creatures very expression
"muggy !" Besides, it's desperate
bad for your eyes to read through that
speckled stuff"
Without replying, L bent my head
lower over my book, but the letters
getting confused, and my heart was
beating with fright.
Poor little thing Deaf, is she p
and he took the seat opposite and lean
ed across, so that 1 had to shrink into
my corner to avoid his touch. Poor
little Una needed her lion now.
"Bad for the eyes, miss, and such
sinners as yours are too good to be
wasted on that stupid book. Give a
fellow peep at them.
And a great red hand advanced to-
wards my veil.
could only cover into my corner
with great cry of terror-one helpless
call on "Uncle," knowing the while
how far away he was, and how uncon-
scious of his poor little Polly's
trouble.
In putting up his hand to my veil,
the man touched me, and the touch,
slight as it was, reused fury of anger
such as L had never felt before, and 1
hope never to feel again; it gave me
back my voice.
"You shall not How dare you /!
You must not touch me-uncle will kill
you !"
The man laughed at my puny rage.
"Kill me for taking care of you If
he does not wish others to fill his place,
he should look after you better, and
not let you out alone. You had better
be civil, or -"
He drew out large clasp knife as he
spoke, and began deliberately to open
it, looking at me all the while. 1t was
come at last I should never, never see
home again One flash of thought,
which seemed in q second to take in all
my past, with it's little discontents,
naughtiness, and great happiness-my
aunt's anguish when she found me ly-
ing dead uncle's opening of the tele-
gram which would bring the news
the darkened home, the broken hearts
which would surely carry till they died
the remembrance of the dreadful fate
of their wilful, but oh their loving
darling-all this occurred so wildly to
me that, with great cry for help to
Heaven, fell at the mans feet, and en-
treated him not to kill me.
"Kill you I thought it was your
uncle who was to kill me ! Bless your
little heart, I am going to take care of
you. You look pale. Now, didn't you
come off in too great a hurry to have
time for breakfast? Have bit of
luncheon "-stooping to take a black
bag from under the seat. 'I always go
about provided with something good
I'm a soft-hearted boy, I am, and never
see fine young woman suffer, if L can
help it. Peck bit now-do; you have
hungry look"
What should I-must I-do? I sat
up, and said as steadily as I could,
choking back the tears-for I would not
cry before him:
ST am not hungry I will not eat.
Do not speak to me any more. You
must not-I am lady,"
GA lady! I know that. Do you
think I'd be SO good to you if you were
not? I know lady when I see her
and a hungry lady, tool knew you
was. Come, peck a bit. Don't be
bashful."
By this time he had unlocked the
bag, and taken from it-yes, it may ap-
pear improbable, but, OIL 1t is dread
full true-a turnip-a great unboiled
turnip-a turnip still covered with the
soil of the field from which the wretch
had taken it! He began to scrape and
pare it while I looked on.
Was he mad would try to please
him, and do as he wished, and then
perhaps he would not hurt me. I should
soon be with aunt now, and at that
thought I felt the tears coming again,
but opened my eyes widely, and bit my
lips hard-the tears must not fall. /
crushed them back, and sat watching
my companion till, having peeled the
turnip to his satisfaction, he cut off q
thick slice and handed it to me. Raw
turnip! And touched by those fingers
"Come, take it, my beauty-a peach
ripe and downy as your own cheek.
Peaches is dear, too, this season but
give noheed to that. If SO be as find a
pretty girl to eat 'em, I don't grudge the
money. Come, peck away or do you
want me to feed you? No, you shan I
have it without Thank you. After all
my trouble, that amt manners" with
q significant look at the knife.
"Thank you'll" said, eagerly. ]
took the slice of turnip-and began to
eat it-yes, I ate it all, every mouthful
making me feel more i'll. Another
slice was offered, I took it and began
to eat, but my throat seemed to be
closing-I could not swallow.
"Come, finish it. Good, isn't it
The ladies are always fond of a bit of
fruit. Don't be bashful-I've some
thing here for you to wash it down.
Nothing like drop of brandy to make
it agree with you" and he touched the
neck of black bottle which stuck out
of his pocket.
What would become of me2 had
once seen dreadful woman for few
moments at home-a new cook she was
who was, oh so frightful. Nurse
told me she had taken brandy and was
drunk. I had thought her mad. If he
had made me drink it, and if, when
Aunt Margery found me, but no.
this would not do; he might kill me
first. I went on eating the turnip, and
all the while / prayed earnestly fol
rescue. Was my prayer answered
The train began to slacken its speed
it stopped; but there was no station in
sight. / think it was sliding or some.
thing of that kind.