Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-07-25
THROUGH PASSENGERS.

THROUGH PASSENGERS.
''Where are you going, Dick ?"
'sBack to chat with my through pas
sengers." 3s-
And Dick Davis, the conductor, lief
the mail car, and entered the through
coach attached to the train. ~ "a
Closing the door, he walked straight
to an old man seated in the centre O
. the car. His hair and beard were al
white as snow, bat there were no crows
4 feet on his forehead nor wrinkles on his
cheeks: HIS eyes flashed with the light
of lusty manhood, though his hair woule
indicate that he had crossed the bounda
ries of threescore years. l.-s-.
He smiled when the pleasant-facet
conductor dropped into the seat before
him, and leaning forward, made re.
mark in a low tone of voice. This
remark caused DAVIS to raise his head
and gaze at the beautiful face Of the
girl who slept in the seat behind the
white-bearded passenger. ..t,ss
''She sleeps like child" the conduc-
tor said, admiring the face, and wishing
perhaps that he could enjoy such a
slumber.
''She always sleeps that way" res
pended the passenger, with smile :
land when she wakes she is as fresh as
a rose"
Your daughter has company see, "
observed Davis, glancing at the remain
der of the car, who appeared to be
sleeping soundly, 80. .-..5ra .
Eyes; are they going through ~
"Oh, yes none but through passen-
gers are admitted to this coach. They
are not communicative fellow-travelers,
should say" l..
They are not" replied the old man.
"Mr. Davis, do not like my travelling
companions" and the speakers voice
| was lowered.
! The conductor looked surprised.
''Wlll you explain, Mr.. Radcliff ?"
A short time previous to the present
conversation the conductor and his pas
senger had exchanged names, and were
thus enabled to call each other properly.
81 can scarcely explain" was the
passengers reply. 'sThere is man in
the fourth seat from the stove whom,
unaccountably, 1 do not like. He boar
ded the train at Romney, and I have
caught him looking askance at myself
and Mabel. Then the follow who APP
pears to be asleep three seats behind
him on the opposite side Of the aisle has
been guilty Of the same thing, and I
believe there is connection between
the parties. I do not want you to think
that fear them. Never in my life,
and I have passed through the wild
tribes of the Amazonian valley,
haye I feared man. Over three
lies the only jewel to which I cling"
and he nodded toward the slumbering
girl. s'She IS the sole creature through
whose veins runs my blood, and you
must know that she IS dear to me-" 10
Certainly, Mr.. Radcliff," said Davis.
"Your entire solicitude is for her."
/ EXACTLY !" es,.s4 Is. a1-.
'sDo you know those TWO fellows ?"
Il do not never saw them before in
all my life." eaa eaa31 SAB
Conductor Davis thought a moment.
yourself and daughter can avoid
them by taking up quarters in the for
ward car. / assure you that you will
not be regarded as intruders, and that
the accommodations will not lack COM
1 fort.o
But the passenger gently declined
the conductors offer, and said that he
would finish his journey in the coach he
had been placed in for that purpose.
After few more words Davis left
the coach and passed into the express
car, where he soon appeared to forget
his passengers in a conversation with
the messenger.
The door had hardly closed on the
conductors form when the man nearest
the stove showed signs of animation
He turned his head and looked up the
dimly lighted aisle, not forgetting to let
his eyes rest on the old traveller and his
daughter. He was a handsome man,
about thlrtyive years Of age, and above
bis luxuriant crop Of silky, auburn
whiskers shone a pair Of mild blue
eyes. ss-'ll
Not one man in hundred would have
chosen him for rascal. az
He was well, almost fiashily, dressed;
there was handsome diamond pin on
his bosom. and a crested ring on his
hand. H9 sff5 sH lt
Allowing his gaze to return down
the aisle, he fixed it upon another man
who appeared to be sleeping, short
distance from him. This man was
quite young !; his eyes were heavy, and
the only hirsute appendage on his face
was long-haired moustache that droop-
ed over his mouth. ass
The two men exchanged looks which
told that they were not travellers acci-
dentally thrown together, but men who
were well acquainted with each other.