Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-02-10
stlttt Storp.
WHY MRS. HERBERT LOVED
MASONRY.
By MRS ADELE HAzLErT.

Ticket. ma'am,H said the conductor.
YES, sir, in one mOment;" aud Mrs.
Herbert sought in her pocket Tor her
I pOr,monaie. in which she had deposited
the article in question. But it had mys
teriOusly disappeared. aud the lady rose
hastily and cast rapid. searching glance
under and about her seat.
20. sir, have lost my ticket. and not
only that, but my money and checks lol
my baggage"
The conductor was = young man who
had been bu. few weeks upon the road
in his present capacity; and felt himself
greatly elevated in his position. lie
prided himself in his ability TO detect
any person in any attempt to evade pay
ing the regular fare. and had earnestly
wished that an opportunity might offer
which would enable hin To prove his
superior powers OF penetration. and the
ease with which he could detect impcsi
lion. Here, then, was case Just suited
TO lis mind; and he watched Mrs Her
bert With cold, SC. c.ulinizing. suspicious
eye, While she was searching SO eagerly
Ior The missing ticket. With still extend
ell hand he said:
Il must have your fare. madam
but, sir, have no money; cannot
pay yoa.T
"lIow far do you wish 10 gos" he
asked.
II am on my way to Boston, where |
reside. have been visiting relatives in
Wisconsin,
We'll, you can go no father on this
train unless you can pay your laie."
A bright thought! occurred to Mrs
Herbert. Il will place my watch in
your keeping,T she said; when reach
Detroit | will pawn it for money to pur
sue my journey. My husband will send
Tor aud redeem it,
That will do" said the conductor.
Il have no authority to do 50 from the
railroad company, but may, upon my own
responsibility
But Mrs. Herbert's embarrassment WAS
not to be relieved SO readily as she hoped.
Searching for her watch. that also was
not 10 be found.
"Oh. what shall do?" she said. her
face growing very pale My watch is
gone too, must have been robbed in
Chicago"
"You can cave the train at the next
station, he saii quickly and decidedly :;
that's what you can DO"
The whistle sounded down brakes,
and The conductor stepped out on The
platform OF the car. Mrs. Herbert looked
around her. There were few passen.
gers in the cal. some were reading. some
( looking out OF the windows on the town
they were just entering. No one seemed
to have heard the conversation between
the conductor and herself, or at least TO
have become interested in her bel alt.
The train stopped; the conductor
aPpearedf and taking her shawl and
travelling basket IRON The rack above bel
head, bade her follow him. la ten min
utes more the train had gone, and Mrs.
Hersert sat alone in The L-depot, trying
to decide upon the course best to pursue.
She had no money to defray her expenses
at hotel; she had nothing with which
to pay haekman for taking her to one /;
bul after a few minutes reflection. she
resolved to inquire for the residence OF
the clergyman of that church ol which
she WAS herself member. and ask him,
in the name OF Christian charity, and
Gindness, to give her home until she
could send Telegram 10 her husband
and he could furnish her with means to
pursue her journey.
Inquiring oil the ticket agent the name
OF the clergym she hoped to find, and
being politely directed to his house, she