Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-18
Gales aud Sketehes.
IN HIS CARE.

"Oh no, do not mind anything if can
only reach Aunt Clarence in time. Time
seems to me now the only thing that's of
anv value" ~
So Zadee, with many anxious iniunc.
tons, and with many lingering good
byes,' was placed in the charge of Theo-
| dore Maxwell. on journey by express
| train from New York to D., an obscure
station somewhere between Buffalo and
Niagara Fails.
Theodore Maxwell gave keen, sharp
glance at the young stranger one of his
| habilual sharp glances, made up of scru-
| tinv. distrust, and expectant inquiry-a
glance such as we might expect detect.
i've, with correct photograph Of GRIM
inal lodged in his pocket. to give to a face
| that bore some CLEAN of resemblance to
| the fatal picture. Not at all the sort of
survey that Zaidee was accustomed to re-
ceive. Indeed, she was pretty enough
and fresh enough in youths rosy exuber-
| ance to live in charmed atmosphere of
glances. She was passing through that
enchanted period when every gaze is an
admirng one, every stare compliment,
every resting and re-resting of observant
eyes an Involuntary homage or benedic-
ton.
81 hope shall not trouble you too much"
said Zaidee, shrinking from the cold, hard,
and, as she thought, perfectly unwilling,
| adoption of guardianship. with something
| more than sense of wounded vanity-a
sense of womanish claim upon manly
chivalry deiranded of its rights.
81 hope not" said Theodore Maxwell,
dryly. II think not" he added, more
gently. as the girl turned, with sudden
soft and yet wild appeal In her violet eyes
-Zaidee Horton really had violet eyes
a sudden wild appealing. as if to say, ''If
you are not going to he good to me, and
fear you are not, pray let me escape oh.
let me escape; oh, let me escape instant
| " !"
Escape' There was no time for that now
The alarum of dispatch had already driv-
| en- her brother from the car to the depot
platform, where he stood wstfully gaz-
ing after "little Zaidee," had pushed the
car from the platform to the avenue rail,
and thence, with presently a speed that
broobed no compromise, had urged the
train rrevocably into the onward rush of
things that are to be. No escape now, lit
tie Zaidee
81 am in his care" she thought. "and
wish he were some one else-any one else
for l do not like him. Certainly he
| shall not be troubled by me-"
She nestled close into her corner, took
at once the wayfaring book from her trav-
cling satchel. and began to read, or be-
gan to pretend TO read, for she could not
see the words: her eyes had filed with
tears.
The nest of affection is so warm, the
strange air of the "wide world" is so cold,
tenderness and praise are so endearing
and comforting, indifference is so repel-
ling; and Zaidee, of all girls, loved to be
warmly cared for. and gently, devoutly
| treated No wonder her eyes filled with
tears and her little heart ached with the
pang-the new pang to her--of homesck-
ness. She had never left home before,
and this stranger bv her side seemed to
her the impersonation of strangeness, in
| difference, coldness-that Goodness with
a will in it" of which she had read, trem-
bling. in the pathetic stories of wanderers.
No wonder she could not see the words OF
her book. Several miles OF her Journey
were passed before the print cleared.
Theodore Maxwell was by this time
reading too, a journal of some kind, with
pages of curious diagrams. Zaidee Just
saw it. and the learned appearance of the
book and the studious attitude of the read
er had a soothing effect upon her agitation.
Then she looked out upon the landscape,
and that too comforted her. 1t was one
of those wide stretches of marsh lands
traversed by tiny brooks that look so calm
" as the sunshine glints over them, and
here and there wild birds hover among
the reeds. She returned now to her read
ing with some relish, and forgot to shrink
from her companion as if he we're branch
of the deadly upas-tree. And so they
|
tunnel.
Now tunnel at night, when the car
lamps are lighted. is not an appalling
episode of travel but at midday to rush
from the clear light into an abyss of dark
ness side by side with living beings, some
of whom may be MONSTERS to have the
sensitive sense of sound shattered By un-
earthly thunders; to strain the startled
leyesight vaiDly for a glimpse of outlet;
one loop of sunny air in the horrid arch
way: and so to blindly rush, or be rushed
rather, through the bowels of the earth
minute after minute, and no possible hope
of stopping. no possible hope of taking
wing upward and out OF it-this to a nov
ice gifted with busy imagination and un-
blunted by oft-repeated experience is an
adventure about as near the penance of
being driven through passage of purga-
tory as innocent virtue is capable of. To
Zaidee it was an interval of terror; moth
ing but direct pride kept her from reach
ing with trembling hands the strong arm
of her companion. and clinging with
closed eyes to the vague sense of protec-
ton that comes to childish femininity in
the assuring touch of the manly broad
cloth.
When, finally. the cars emerged into
clear daylight Zaidee. white as ghost,
was found sitting bolt-upright. with eyes
fixed on her deadly upas in abject implor-
ing and as he looked directly at her. he
gave response Immediately.
"Quiie long tunnel" said Theodore
Maxwell.
Eternal ~ gasped Zaidee.
"A fine piece of masonry" said he.
"Like the descent in averne' of Dante, '
said Zadee.
do you read Dante Pn he asked. quick
ly. "And do you love him too ? He is one ol
my favorite authors his genius makes the
IContinusd on fourth pags.J