The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-10-15


loud voice, few carriages from mine,
asking;
"Is there any lady named Douglas2"
L could hardly restrain myself from
bursting out of the carriage. He came
nearer, asking as he came. leaned out,
and, rs the man stood opposite me, al
most snatched what rightly guessed to
be telegram, out of his hands.
"Yesl" / answered explaining, "my
name is Douglas. Open the door, please,
and take out my things"
Little fool that / was! Why did | not
carefully read the telegram firstl l only
glanced ut the commencement of the
message: "Am coming by neat train"
When all my things were taken out of
the carriage Gas for the heavy luggage,
forgot that entirely, when the train had
begun to mOve-in fact, when it was too
late-I read the remainder of the teie-
gram, which read thus: d" Wait for me
at PdddingtOn.
1t was only the presence of numerous
passengers and porters on the platform
that prevented me, there and then, from
bursting into tears. restrained myself,
and the bitterness was the more bitter.
What was TO be done! When did the
next train pass through Didcot? In
about an hour. OF course il stoppedl
"No, that's the fast train through-only
stops ut Swindom and Reading" was the
consoling answer L received TO my in
quiries. L could not leave Didcot for
nearly two hours. At this i retired TO
the waitingroom, and sitting down in a
dark corner, gave way. couldn't help
1t. This was my marriage day. And
my darling was not with me. Perhaps
| should never see him again. Perhaps
there would be an accident. Perhaps
perhaps-and my fears came afresh; and
L sat in my misery, feeling utterly lost
| and forsaxen; and as different creature
from the happy bride of few short
hours ago as could possibly be con-
ceived.
Presently a porter came in TO light the
gas. 1t was quite dark by this time. l
asked him to call me when the express
was coming The man eyed me as If he
suspected contemplated suicide. | sat
isfied neither his surmises nor suspi-
cions. would have an eager gaze Mt
the train as it passed perhaps L might
get glimpse of my darling.
The time went slowly by, and sat
tiercely staring ut the fire through my
tears. At last the porter called me.
Now, miss miss again =" the
express is coming.
rushed out. took up my position
where a miserable lamp cast sickly
glare-the best in the station-on the
line where the train must pass. On it
Nme-the two great red lamps on the
engine shining like giants eyes in the
night L bent eagerly forward, in spite
of the warnings of the suspicious por-
ter, who seemed determined to keep an
eye on me. One 10y one the lighted car
riages went by. Not there Not there
I Quicker than 1t takes to describe this,
the last carriage whizzed by. And
there, against the window, | saw my
darling's profile. He was staring straight
before him, moodily perusing the hat
rack. At least, this WAS my impression
from the momentary glimpse l got. OF
course, he did not see me-his poor,
loving, foolish little wife-standing ON
the bleak, Didcot platform, in the dark
ening night. He could not know how,
with sinking heart, l got back to the
dingy waiting -room-back to my chair
and my tears. And this was my we'd
ding day!
1t was about eight o'clock. stood
on the Paddington platform. The
weary waiting was at length over. [
should take a cab TO our hotel, and find
my darling. When / came to take out
my traps, / found my traveling-b bag was
missing. / must nave left it at Didcot
And all my keys and money were in it
After endless trouble, L found the
guard i'll charge of the down. train, which
was just on the point of starting. ]
gave him instructions, and he promised
me my bag, if it was to be found, early
the next morning. Having given the
name of my hotel, and substantial as
sistance TO his memory, I stood absently
watching the departing train, while n
porter put my things in a cab. when
there, in first-class carriage, in the act
of wrapping himself in n rug was Fred,
going back In search of his lost little
wife
Erred, Fred" / screamed, regard
less of appearances and with out
stretched hands L rushed toward the
carriage window Ny foot slipped, my
head seemed to be whirling round, and
l fell. A surging noise Numbered in my
ears, and then voice said:
"Well, little darling, what's the mat
teri"
"Where are we 2" / gasped.
"Close to Paddington," laughed
Fred. "Feel better after your nap,
darlingg"
So L had only been asleep and dream