The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-03-30
THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN.

i am certain he Will reform. lie has
promised me-"
Uncle Lewis looked down with sort
of mild, sublime pity from the height of
six feet two upon his pretty neice, as he
stroked her silky hair softly.
"My poor Hero, what is the word of q
drunkard worth ?" he said.
"Oh, Uncle, don't use that cruel word.
Don't call him a drunkardp cried the
girl, shrinking back as from a blow.
"I 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 stars.
" Uncle. ought not to give him another
chance?"
He shook his head.
"My common sense, Hero, says no."
"I have common sense" flashed 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 through the
golden, waving ears of ripening rye, her
blue ribbons tiuttering like pennons in
the breeze.
Uncle Royal looked after her with a
countenance of misgiving.
"Like all other girls" he said, she
wants her own way. Well, if she will
wreck herself, ! can't help it,"
"Do you expect Harry to-night?"
~ n tot fha
world irreverently terms an old maid,
but she was quite young enough at heart
to sympathize in the love affairs of her
sister, fifteen years her junior, to whom
she had always stood in the place of a
mother, and she, too, had spot in her
heart for handsome, dissipated Harry
Rivers. She spoke from the window,
while Hero was leaning over the gate, q
light scarlet shawl thrown over her
shoulders.
"He said he would come," was the
half hesitating answer.
"It is getting late and cold," said Err
minia. "Better come in to the fire. You
know as well as do that your throat
isn't strong"
"Ill 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. "To
discharge him what for ?"
For habitual intoxication. They
say it is not safe thing to employ man
who-who is not always himself"
1t is a SANDER" cried out Hero hotly.
1t is the work of some base villain who
wants the post himself"
every probably" 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 things to tell me,
Erminia?"
II would that they were good, for
your sake, sister. But the air is growing
chill; we shall have rain. Had you not
better come inT
"By and by. Do not tease me, Err
minia."
And Erminia, comprehending that at
times solitude is the best medicine for a
mind diseased, said nothing 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 ascertained by
a peep through the window that Hero
was still leaning on the gate, all alone in
the darkness, with red leaves raining
down around her, and the melancholy
cry of an owl in the distant woods lend
ing an additional tinge of mournfulness
to the night and the stiffness.
"Sbe will come in when she is ready"
thought Erminia. "I do not like to as
sert my authority over her when she is
in one of these moods"
No sooner did Hero perceive by the
disappearance of the light from her sis
ter's window that Erminia had sought
her pillow. than, softly gliding through
the gate, she hurried down the road with
the scarlet shawl drawn tightly over her
head.
"I will not be deceived and put off"
che said to herself. 81 will find out for
myself whether he is to be trusted or
not"
The Miners Arms, at the corner of
three roads, was alight as she approached
1t, and from the wide, open easement she
could hear the uproarious chorus of song,
the clinking of glasses and the harsh
sound of besotted laughter. And lifting
trail of scarlet-leaved woodbine which
formed natural curtain to one of the
windows Hero Lewis peeped in.
With sinking heart and chilled sem
sation of despair she saw Harry Rivers
rise, staggering 10 his feet, with brim-
ming glass in his hand, and propose some
hiccoughing toast, which was received
with noisy applause by The riotous as
semblage. Hero did not wait 10 hear
more. Dropping the woodbine once
more she hurried away with white, set