The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-02-26

what she ought to have had to wear.
Well, she is at rest now, and has gone
| where "all hearts are filed, anu l stay
where hearts are hollow"
| l close her eyes; lay her out In the
summer silk that should have graced
our wedding; take $75 that l have laid
away in the bank to buy her coffin and
pay the funeral expenses.
| About this time there comes legacy
of few hundred from an old uncle OF
ours. l send May off to school, with the
determination that she shall not be like
Sophia. l am left alone. do my own
work. 1 eat my solitary meals, salted
with lonely tears. have ceased to ever
| hope to hear from Fred. now.
| The June days come again, hot and
long. There is sunshine Without happi-
ness and stiffness without rest.
| [ look at the glass--I am all eyes; my
face is sharpening out, my collar-bones
protrude. am getting wispy and thin;
ESQ much for putting my trust in man.
| Old Sniper looked at me to-day, even
| kindly, and said:
| "Miss 10, you must have vacation a
| week or 80. This hot weather in the
country will do you good, and you can
work the better on your return." .sss=
So | thank him, thinking sadly that no
trip in the country can make me happy
now; that / am heir hencelorth only to
woman's undisputed legacy, tears, and
| longing alter the love aud appreciation
she Will never receive.
The big-hearted manager of the road,
who is acquainted with me, has given
me a pass to ST. Paul ana return.
care little which way go, and have Sc
ected this route because it passes
through the town where Fred. Lang ey
lives. Though l half despise hum lOr
his tickleness, still l have "a woman'5
curiosity to ride through his city, even
though | only catch d glimpse OF has
office windows.
| l get me a brown poplin travelling
dress. l hnd that old maids generally
have a brown poplin, ana the oluer tuey
get the more colors they wear, especial
Iy scarlet. l have always hated red. l
can not see my way clear, just yet, to
putting it on my bonnet, 50 get more
youthlul bunch of pale blush rosebuds
= lor my hat.
One hot, bright July day 1 setout on
my lonely trip; once seated in the
train by the open window, my spirits
, rise, for always did love to rIue Oh the
cars; there is a pleasant rush and eX
citement about them that pleases me;
7 we are flying, so last, SO fast, through
l white Towns, and over bridges, aud GU
into the vast Wisconsin prairles-A0i
; smooth and rolling, like those ol Illinois
> and Iowa, but rough and jagged, full o
> rocks anu ragged thickeLs, wIth little
cabins set down here and There like
, birds nests in the grass; focks O
= ragged children troop out OF these anC
F., stare at The passengers-the dear LITTLE
= dirty creatures! What an inventory they
y take of my Milwaukee bonnet and my
Il dusty sui! Here is II field all sJarret
? with swamp-lllieS, scarlet loDelias ant
wild asters. How long to get out anC
gather them.
l see by the towns on my ticket, and
> know by the warning Whls Tie, that We
are within mile OF Fred's home. The
big manufacturing town is already il
sight; the sand and saWduSt and Goa
smoke is flying. or course 1 have my
head and shoulders out of the window
and, win my eyes and mouth full Ol Gin
ders, am gaping wildly about me.
Tue train CRATES, jars ana stops. The
usual amount OF WON. with boxes
budgets and parasols bundle off the
: train. The Teachers Association Ii
helu here this week, and a Tribe OF WO
: men get oil also, teacher written all
over them, from their ugly hats to theil
: ugly SHOES.
Can L believe my eyes? Who is i
. steps up ana shakes hands with two .
! The lankGsi, most WizeAed old-maldest
, OF them all but my darling Fred. with &
smile as sweet as the morning.; takes
: their satchels and snawls, and turns u
the lady who is with him, whom L KNOW
:, by the elegance OF her dress and Ger
5 tam high Jred sweetness about her, il
his SISTER. The Oldest old maid SAYS:
: $50 KIND in you, Mr.. Langley, TO NEE
Us! We should. have been quIGe bewil
deled in this big place. SO good in yol
: to lake SO much trouble!'
. "No trouble-most happyV but b,
says it rather languidiy.
lie glances up aL my window, and il
. spite of cinders and SCOT, my caYeu-il
!, bonnet, my hair all flying, and IN,
cheeks burning like live coal, he know
me, and drops the satchets.
.tIake the shaWls Il moment, sis.,n
> hear him say, and in another second HI
is on the train, leaning over my seat
. with my hand held tightly i'll his, a5kin,
Il me dOZ IL questions i'll IL breath.
II am going to ST. Paul." is ali hay,
y time to answer; and he whispers, 600,
. by, Mignon; l will see you again - AM
j. ne is off The cars as tAe bell begins t,
i ring.
!, catch one more glimpse OF him, a
:, the train moves off, helping his sister
y and tine old maids with their satchels
: and their ankles like aX.helV5s, into TIN
carriage; l see him take the front sea
- beside the one with the re,
Il poppies in her bonnet, touc
! the reins and the horses are of
7 like birds. How envy that old maid
. though she has wart Oh her nose
= and looks like last years mullen
p | stalk!
S Something gets into my throat AM
d chukes me, and refuse the orange TIL
l.; man in the next seat with The big beart
j. offers me. Something chokes me all TIL
way TO ST. Paul.
e 1t may be The green peach hay
e eaten; but l think IL was that old maid
y Why did let hun speak to me s,
= fami!iarly, and call me "Mignon," hi
II ola name for me? Why did not pul
d my hand away?
/ busy myself with such thoughts al
l. these until we have crossed the buun
S dary line, and have entered Minnesota
II here the scenery gets wilder and wilder
y the broad Mississippi winds lazIl,
1t along at the loot Its tall bluffs, witt
trees top Jling uncomforGaDly along thel
= steep sides; clUse TO the car Windows
e great walls of rock rise, oh, so higl
& I'D in the air! The train balances
d dizzily along like rope walker owe