The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21
THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS.
A ThrllllnE Sketch.

A Thrilling sketch.
Dick Archer was the station agent,
and as there was little to do, the place,
just suited him, rs lie wns fond Of fish.
ing and hunting. Besides Dick, there
were a porter and boy The porter
was quiet, lethargic man, the son ol
ono OF his lordship's woodmen /: and /
don't know how the station would have
got on at all, little as there was to do, il
it hadn't been for the boy. That boy
was perfect treasure. I never saw any
boy like him for energy and tlrmness. :
Ono day Dick came and told me
tliat there was to be aparty up at the
Hall, n sort Of upper servants party.
AT fifteen minutes after midnight the
up express passed through ut full speed,
and it was Dicks duty to be at the sta.
ton to see the line all clear. Half an
hour before the express came q goods
train usually, but it rarely stopped. 0m
siding was not long enough for it to
ahnnt into, and il there wasn,ta truck
to leave, tran on TO Greatford, prin-
opal station on the line, where ii stunt
ed for the express to pass. After those
two trains had gono by there wls nothing
more for the station niaster to do.
l did not care to go, but went to
please Dick.
Near the Hall was tho Burfortl Arms
inn. The landlord had very pretty
daughter, too, Ellen Lanforl, and in his
quiet way Dick was very fond of her.
Between ourselves, I liked her too, and
Thought about her more than I should
have cared to acknowledge.
lwas rather sorry for Dick, because
i could see the girl didn't care for him.
She was really n nice girl, assure you,
well brought up md educated, and there
was charm about her Tint seemed to
entangle ono whether one would or not.
However, i wasn't going to interfere with
Dick; it would have been a pretty re.
turn for his hospitality to have cut him
ont on his own ground, even il I'd Ind a
chance Of doing it.
Ifancied that Dick Ind made up his
mind to bring things to crisis this par.
ticular night. He'd got himself up very
spruce in dress suit and embroidered
shirt, and altogether looked very well.
Tho Lanfords were going up to the Hall
in one Of their own flies, and were to
take Dick with them so we walked up
to tho Burford Arms together. There
stood the fly waiting at tho door, and
MI. Lanford, dressed in a blue coat and
brass buttons, capacious white silk waist
coat, silk stockings, and shorts.
"Where's Ellen /" said Dick.
"0h, y said Mr.. Lanford, "she's got
n bad cold, and won't come! Jump in,
Mr.. Archer"
Dick's face fell, and he hesitated as Il
he'd mind to say he wouldn't go either;
but he couldn't exactly do it, and he
crawled into the fly and went Off with
old Lnnford, as woe:begone as Il he were
going to execution.
Istood in tho porch Of tho Burford
Arms, not thinking Of going in, when oil
Of q sudden the Thought came into my
head TINT Ellen had done this on pur.
pose. Dick had made such o fuss about
this party and her going to it that she
had come to the same conclusion as my.
sell, and had made up her mind TINT he
was going to puta certain question to
her That very night, Now her not going
meant that she didn't want the question
asked. I can't describe what thrill
went through mo as thought Of that.
The coast was clear. Dicks chance was
gone. Was there a chance for met
Was I doing sneaking thing
wondered, rs ! opened the door quietly
and walked in. As I went down the
matted passage my heart went loudly
pita-pat, 1 Ind como to a resolve on tho
instant, and every faculty l had was
working hard to justify it. Here was
girl whom hadn't known for more than
fortnight in q position in which OF
choice / should not hive looked for a
. wife, and yet knew TINT I must needs
I go on. I had set my face TINT way, and
there was no turning it. .lsff.
/ The result Of itwas that before I left
the inn I had told Ellen that I loved her,
and had received her assurance that she
loved. ne in return, and was most
happy.
le1L tlle lIll huu Mhhhsu W tue httt-
ton. Dick was there, not having ut
tended the party. IA
"Dick, III said, plunging at once into
tho middle Of the subject-"Dick, would
you be surprised to hear that I was en-
gagged to be married."
It was tho parailine lamp over his head,
no doubt, that threw such o yellow
sinister glare into Dicks face as he slowly
raised his eyes from the paper before
him.
married, ehl Who is the fortunate fair,
] wondesip i N
{. was rather relieved to find that Dick
was taking 1t thus lightly, md I went
on: 81 have proposed 10 Ellen Lanford
tonight, and abe has accepted me. II
Two interfered in any way with you,
Dick, Tn sorry; I didn't intend to,
but ~
/" Interfered with me n interrupted
Dick, with q sort Of sneer. "What on
earth should make you think thatl I
may have hirted % little with her, but