Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-02-01
A T

Glance at her as she entered the GER.
and more than one woman determined
that her next travelling dress should re-
semble the plain but dainty costume
that was rendered so attractive by the
grace and beauty OF the wearer.
There was one young man, however,
who resolved rot to add his quota to
the admiration so generally expressed,
thinking, or pretending to think, that
q girl that called forth observation must
be- forward Or coquettish; and q CO.
ouette, this young college graduate had
bitterly said, was beneath b notice of
all true-hearted men; with much en-
phasis on the word men. So when the
elderly gentleman who accompanied
her rose to bid her goodbye, he hard
ered his heart to the tender quaver in
her voice, and thought the moisture in
the large blue eyes q fine piece of
acting.
"Oh, l am so sorry Irving couldn't
come" she said, almost breaking down.
1sI do believe l should have given up
the Centennial if I had known" At
the mention of the name Irving, our
young graduate, Harold Seaton, did
raise his eyes from the newspaper, for
but a year since lie had nearly lost his
own life in saving that of his friend
Irving Van Courtlandt. "Never mind,
my DEAR" returned the old gentleman,
"It was most important that Irving
should remain to his case" "Oh, I
know, papa; but really the train is
moving" "Why, so it is! Well.
goodbye, my deari may your first
Journey be safe and happy" and the
old gentleman, visiblY affected, parted
from his daughter for the first time.
For a short, time after the leave-taking
the little girl, for she was nearly a
child, sat engaged in thought, but soon
frightened up and gazed from the Win
dow with ali the eagerness of q child.
Harold Seaton, who occupied b seat
right behind, saw much more than he
allowed, and at last, when in arranging
her bundles she was about to lift q heavy
bag to the rack above, he sprang for
ward to assist. her. IN his eaeerness,
he was quite unaware that n OF his
coat buttons became a~entangled in
the long bright curl that fell over
the back gfof,9 the seat, and was
about to reseat himself when a timid
scream of pain enlightened him. Vain
ly he tried to extricate it and himself
from the painful position; his nervous
fingers only rendered the matter more
hopeless; till finally, as a last resource,
he drew q knife from his pocket. "Oh,
don't cut Oft my hair said the young
lady, piteouslg. "Oh no., certainly not;
but il [ could get he button Off" ''Oh,
that is a bright idea; if you will lend
ME the knife l think / could cut it,"
Harold handed her the knife with q
feeling Of relief, but 10 his surprise the
young lady gazed upon his name, which
was engraved upon it, in the uttermost
astonishment. "Why, you must be
Irving's friend, Harold Seaton," she
exclaimed, "If you mean Irving Van
C~ourtlandt, I certainly am" 81 do,
he is my brother;" but recovering her.
self, the little hand began to work Wig
orously, and soon the young man stood
free, but acquainted with the sister of
his dearest friend. For years he had
heard from his roommate OF little
Alice, and often the two had read to-
gether the letters which always came
once a week; and this girl, ingenious
and innocent to a rare degree, he had
accused of coquetry. At the next sta
ton the cars began to fill so rapidly that
Alice requested Harold to seat him
self by her, to the chagrin of a red
nosed gentleman weighing some 200
pounds. "I wish father and mother
knew [ had an escort,' said
Alice, "and one too that we have all
been waiting to thank, so long; not
that we can ever thank you for saving
Irving" Don't speak Of it," return
ed Harold, 81 should have done the
same for any one, but it was a pleasure
to do it for him. but how is irving
L hear he is admitted to the bar ?' He
is well, and doing splendidly. Father
thinks he has q case of real Importance
on hand at present, and that is why [
am ~traveling like 3 woman's rights
lecturer, al al0ne.n After this the con-
the hours flew by Harold perceived that
beneath the childish exterior Alice pos
sessed quite adecided character, a keen
wit and a fair share of general intelli-
gence; but what is more rare for a
woman, q knowledge and seeming
taste for science. And this being Har-
ODDS passion nothing could have proved
a stronger attraction. Their three
days. journey passed delightfully."-,
bringing them safely to New York City,
where Alice was met by her aunt, d
stately parsonage, who proved gra-
cious to Harold, however, having known
of his family for years. After Il weeks
rest Alice and her aunt would visit the
Centennial, and Harold, who by that
time would have completed his bust
ness, accepted their invitation
to join their. We will pass by the week
in New York, although it formed a
bright episode in the lives of our young
people; but it will be sufficient to say
that when they met on the train bound
for Philadelphia it was as friends of
long standing instead OF acquaintance.
They had been out about two hours,
when an event took place that was des-
tined to bring them iRto closer intima-
cy. Perhaps when accidents take place,
those most nearly concerned are not
the Ones tina can give the clearest &C.