Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-11-20
THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

"But, Uncle Royal, I am certain he
will reform" said Hero Lewis. "He
has promised me"
Uncle Lewis looked down with a
sort Of mild, sublime pity from the
height of his six feet two, upon his
pretty neice, as he stroked her silky
hair softly.
"My poor Hero" said he, "what is
the word of drunkard worth?'
."Oh, uncle, don't use that cruel
word. Don't call him a drunkard?"
cried the girl, shrinking back as if
from blow.
81 hardly know what other word
is applicable to him, Hero. No, he
will never reform. And, child, I'd
rather see you in your grave than
married to man who drinks"
ole has promised" pleaded the
girl, her eyes shining like blue wist-
full stars. "Uncle ought l not to
give him another chancc?"
He shook his head:
"My common sense, Hero, says,
No"
81 hate common sense" flashed
out Noble.
"People always talk about common
sense when they mean to be cold and
hard and cruel. l love Harry Rivers,
and mean to marry him, in spite OF
the carping, sneering world.;'
And Hero went away through the
golden waving of the ears of ripening
rye, her blue ribbons fluttering like
pennons in the breeze.
Uncle Royal looked after her with
a countenance of misgiving.
"Like all other girls" he said "she
is determined to have her own way.
Well, if she will wreck herself,
can't help it,
do you expect Harry to-night?''
Miss Erminia Lewis was what the
world irrevercntly terms al old maid,
but she was quite young enough at
heart to sympathize in the love affairs
of the sister fifteen years her junior,
to whom she had always stood in the
place of mother, and she too had a
soft spot in her heart for handsome,
dissipated Harry Rivers. She spoke
from the window, while Hero was
leaning over the gate, a light scarlet
shawl thrown across her shoulders.
"He said he would come," was the
halfhesitating answer.
''It is getting lats and cold" said
Erminla. "Better come in to the
fire. You know as well as l do that
your throat isn't strong"
cpl come in a minute" said Hero
"They were telling me down at the
Corners this afternoon" said Erminia
speaking with an effort, "that the
railroad company are going to dis
charge him from their employ"
Hero turned sharply around. etc
discharge him? What for?
"For habitual intoxication. They
say it is not safe thing to employ q
man who-who is not always him
self"
cit is a SANDER" cried out Hero
hotly. ''It is the work of some base
villain who wants the post HIMSELF
Every probable," said Erminia
sadly. "Only, Hero-don't be vexed
with me, darling-but they say Harry
has fallen in with that set of men
from the mines, and is getting into
worse habits than ever!"
Hero turned her face away.
"Have you only evil tidings to tel
me, Erminia?"
II would that they were good, fol
your sake, sister. But the air is grow
ing chill; we shall have rain. Had
you not better come in?"
"By-and-by. Don't tease me, Er
minia."
And Erminia, comprehending thai
at times solitude is the best medicine
for mind diseased, said nothing
more, and closing the easement, sa
down to her needlc-work, by the light
Of q lamp.
At eleven o'clock, punctually, sht
went to bed, after having ascertained
by a peep through the window, tha
Hero was still leaning on the gate
and alone in the autumn darkness
with red leaves raining down aroun(
her, and the melancholy cry of al
owl in the distant woods lending al
additional tinge of mournfulness t.
the night and the stiffness.
"She'll come in when she is ready
thought Ermina. 81 don't like to as
sert any authority over her when sh'
is in one of those moods"
No sooner did Hero perceive, b.
the disappearance of the light from
her sisters window, that Ermini;
had sought her pillow, then, softl.
gliding through the gate, she hurried
down the road with the scarlet shaw
drawn tightly over her head.
81 will not be deceived and pu
off," she murmured to herself. i"
will find out for myself whether he i
to be trusted or not.'
The Miners Arms, at the corner 0
three roads, was all alight as she ap
preached it, and from the wide opcl
easements she could hear the uproal
ious chorus of drinking song, tn
clink of glasses, and that harsh soun'
of besotted laughter. And, lifting
, trail of scarlet-leaved woodbinc
which formed natural curtain t
one of the windows, Hero Levi
} peeped in.