Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-25

in q smoking carriage, and they are all safs
nov. Quick, out with you; there Is oniy'ons
"Don't talk-out with Harry; there's just one
chance. III pull you through now"
Frank collected his traps, and the two lovers
dren. They were in despair. and they succumb-
ed at once to the stronger win and final resolve
of Tresham. A moment more, and they were
last truck load Of iusease Ssd just ds1ted down
the platform; the last arrival of scared looking
passengers hurried through the already closing
a
last ticket nipped. the last door slammed, the
white flag waved; the bell rang, the train gave
sluggish jolt forward, then c0nquering rapid
ly the rfs inertio, gradually gathered itself up,
and painted on with its usual untiring vigor,
wrapped In clouds Of its own victorious breath.
"And what good Is this now, that We have
doie it?" said Frank, dOleful enough. "Here we
are In the same train with Harry's father and
mother, who are pursuing US" He spoke low,
for there was guard in the carriage reading q
''what curious carriage this is, Frank, II
Is not like any have seen BEFORE" said Har-
riet. "Why, it's three sides glass, like q coupe
in 2 diligence! Why did you bring us here,
Ned? 1 know by that look of your eyes you
had some meaning in it. See how he is laugh
Frank looked, and shook of his dependency,
and his eyes frightened.
"Why, this is a slip carriage. :" he cried.
The guard looked up over his paper, caught
some impression of the group, and said to the
eyes, ma'am, this is slip carriage; we slip
at Dunsford."
"There's no danger, is there?"
Changer, miss none in the world; you'll go
of as easy as slipping a greyhound"
IS! see # all, Ned; and your the best fellow
In the world !" cried Frank taking both of
factor; it's all right we shall be free, and Oh the
road to London in half an hour"
'Such a lark when they found that you had
stolen away" said Tresham. Cad, it was
like kennel starting for q fOx-hunt! Every
one was bowed out. Out came the horses, on
We pelted; but, by JOve, If We did not miss the
track, after all Consulting which way you
ferent notions; but the dragon was too much for
me, she stuck to London and Gretna; and I'll
be hanged if the old boy, Harry, did not go i'm
for an express train! t4O, by George! and We
"when do they let US 60? / feel quite fright
ened, said Harriet, clinging to Franks arm As
If they were were gong TO be blown from gun.
who, from front window which he had open
ed, had been accommodating the swaying train
in front, like sportsman waiting for shot
Whiz! went the telegraph posts. They were
going tEirty-eight miles an hour; banks in
golden glow with gorze, white slopes Of nodding
daisies; then some chalk cliffs, clump of frs,
across line of low meadows where tho red
brown COWS lay deep in the grass in luxurious
ease.
The guard opens the window.
"That's the signal for king speed, gents, :"
said the smart guard, now hauling at a huge
chain and band that were hooked below the
window; ''dOn't you feel ii slacken?"
All this time he kept dragging at the chain as
If the train was huge greyhound he was going
to slip at deer.
Tell me when it is going" said Harriet,
closing her eyes.
1.-TWO minutes, miss"
The guard pulled and tugged at the chain as
II he had hooked a huge fish and was playing it ,
trying to tire it out All at once he gave a
60 the hook. Whiz-z-z! Away, like bullet
from gun, as If indeed he had pulled trigger
and discharged the train at Dunsford; away
With rush and whir of freedom the train
swayed before the locker on, the next it had
grown smaller; smaller now, smaller, speck-
out OF sight! EDWARDS, but slowly after it,
though the speed seemed scarcely to slacken
the slip carriage swept along the rails; till, a
little before DunsfOrd, its motive power gradu-
ally lessened. Eventually worn out, and Jolt
ing down to the speed Of q mere market-cart
the carriage glided into Dunsford station as
quietly as II it had been driven by an old far
mer, and drawn by sober old pony.
The slip carriage had saved them Great was
the delight of Harriet when she found herself
safe, and loud the gratitude OF Frank. fresh
am, by judicious telegram to Carlisle, ex-
planning that he had been accidentally left be-
hind station where he had got out to get a
glass of sherry, brought the worthy bat not
train.
Immediately on which, Frank and Harry who
had been stopping at the house of a married
friend OF Tresham's, slipped off to Gretna. and
were there quietly marred-thanks to the clev-
er use Of a slip carriage. The Blenerhassets
were soon reconciled to their new sOn-in-law,
who is always pronounced likely to be made the
next associate OF that generous and receptive
body the Royal Academy.4 Belgravia.