The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-12-28
The Midnight Train.
WHAT A WOMAN CAN DO.

But, Uncle Royal, 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
six feet two, upon his pretty niece, as he
softly strokcd her silken hair.
"Mv poor Hero" he said, "wbat 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 blow,
II hardly know what other word is ap'
plicabe to him, Hero. And, child, I'D
rather see you in your grave than married
to man who drinks"
"He has promised" pleaded tho girl
her eyes shining like blue wistful tears
But, Uncle, .onght l not give him on
other chance ?"
He hook his head.
"My common sense, Hero, says no."
81 hate common sense" flashed out
Hero People always talk about COM
mon 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 through the golden
waving of the ears of fast ripcning rye,
her blue ribbons Auttcring like pcnnons in
the breeze.
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 iri evercnIly calls an old maid, but
she was quite young enough at heart to
sympathize with the love affair of her
sister, fifteen years her junior, to whom
she had always stood in the place Of a
mother, and she, too, had soft spot in
her heart for handsome, dissipated Harry
Rivers She spoke from the window,
while Hero was leaning over the gate, a
scarlet shawl thrown over her shoulders.
ale said he would come" was the half
hesitating answer.
ut is getting late," said Erminia.
Better come into the house. You know
as well as do that your throat is not
strong"
I'll come in minute" ssid Hero,
They were telling me down at the
Corners this afternoon" said Erminia,
speaking with an effort 'that the rail.
road company is going to discharge him
from its employ
Hero turned sharply round.
ITO discharge him For what ?"
"For habiual intoxication. They say
it is not safe to employ mau who-who
is not always himself"
"lt is a SANDER" cried Hero, hotly.
1t is the work Of some base villain who
wants he post himself"
Very 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"
Have you only evil tidiings to tell me,
Erminia ?"
81 would that they were good for your
sake, sister. But the air is growing chill;
We shall have rain. Had you not better
come in ?"
"By and by. Don't tease me, Ermi-
nia,"
And Erminia. conp-ehending that at
times solitude is the best medicine for a
diseased mind, said nsthing more, and
closing the easement sat down to her
needle work, by the light of a lamp.
At eleven o'clock, punctually, she went
to bed, after having learned by a peep
through the window, that Hero was still
leaning on tie gate, all alone In the au.
tumn darkness, with red leaves raining
down around her, and the melancholy cry
Of an owl in the distant woods lending an
additional tinge Of mournfulness to the
night and the stiffness. =,
s.HLo'u come in when she gets 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 perceived by the
appearance of the light from her sisters
window, that Erminia had sought her
pillow, than softly gliding out of the gate,
she hurried down the road with the scar.
let shawl drawn tightly over her head.
If will not be deceived and put off,
she murmured to herself II will 90 Out
myself and see whether he is to be trusted
or not"
The Miners Arms, at the corner Of the
three roads, was all lighted when she
approached it, and from wide open case
ment she could hear tho loud shouts Of the
drunken song, the clink Of glasses and thC
harsh sound of besotted laug ghter. Ant
lifting trail of scarlet leaved woodbin,
which formed natural curtain to one o
the windows, Hero Lewis pceped in.
With a sinking heart, chill sensation
of despair, she saw Harry Rivers rise
staggering to his feet. with brimmin,
glass in his band,a and propose some hic
coughing toast which was received wit!
noisy applause by the riotous assemblage
Hero did not wait to hear more Drop
ping the woodbines, once more she hur
ried away, with a white, set face.
"God help mo God be merciful t
me !" she murmured "for the idol whom
worshipped has fallen to the ground.
Just at that moment the far. of whist
, of train smote through the silence @
} the night-a sudden ghastly possibilit
took possession of Hero's heart.
t "The midnight express J" she mutteI
, ed to herself, sand he drunk at the ba
room"
Hurrying down steep ravine, needles
t of scratching bricrs and cruelty pinchin
Q thorns that rent her dress and drew bloc
, from her tender flesh, she sprang like
wild deer down the declivity, scarcel
even pausing for breath, till she ha
reached the iron track in the valley bc
q low, where a side rail marked the inte
secting course of little freight road th'
u led aWav 10 the north. At six ever