Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-07-01
TEE MIDNIGHT TRAIN.

TIE MIDNIGHT TRAIN.
| "But Uncle Royal, 1 am certain he
will reform, said Hero Lewis. "He has
promised me-"
Uncle Lewis looked down with sort
Of mild, sublime pity from the height
of his six feet two, upon his pretty
niece, as he stroked her silky hair softly.
"My poor Hero" he said, "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 from a
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"
"He has promised" pleaded the girl,
her eyes shining like blue wistful tears
"Uncle, ought / not give him another
chance ="
He shook his head.
"My common sense, Hero, says no. -"
81 hate common sense" flash ed out
Hero.
"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 thro ugh the
golden waving of the ears of ripening
rye, her blue ribbons futtering 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
we'll, if she will wreck herself l can t
help it."
"Do you except Harry Tonight"
Miss Erminla Lewis was what the
world irrevcren.ly terms an 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, scarlet shawl
thrown across her shoulders.
'He said he would come" was the
half hesitating answer.
ut is getting late and cold," said
Erminia. "Better come into the fire.
You know as we'll as l do that your
throat is not strong"
"1ll come in a minute" said Hero.
"They were telling me down at the
Corners this afternoon said Erminia,
speaking with an effort, ''that the rail-
road company are going to discharge
him from their employ"
Hero turned sharply around.
ITO discharge him For what 2
"For habitual intoxication. They
say it is not safe to employ man who
who is not always himself"
at is SANDER, cried out Hero
holly. at is the work of some base
william who wants to post himself"
every probably" said Erminia
sadly. Only, Hero-dont 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 tell
me, Erminia 2"
81 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 mo Ermi-
MIA"
| And Erminia, comprehending that
at times solitude is the best medicine
b j.
for diseased mind, said nothing more
and closing the easement, sat down to
her needle-woork, by the light OF q
lamp.
i At eleven o'clock punctually, she
went to bed, after having ascertained
by peep through the window, that
Hero was still! leaning on the gete, all
; alone in the autumn darkness, with red
leaves raining down around her, and
the melancholy cry Of an owl in the
distant woods lending All additional
tinge of mournfulness TO the night and
the stiffness.
sShell come in when she is ready,
thought Erminia 81 don't like to
assert any authority over her when she
is in one Of these moods
No sooner had Hero perceive, by thu