West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-08-03
THE INSIDE PASSENGER.

wonder If the coach is never com
ing" said Rachel Hall. .t.-t
he thermometer was nearly at zero
snow and slect were eddying through
the air, and the last vestige of DAYLIGHT
was fast fading out of the wintrv sky
and Rachel Hall, walking up and
down, up and down the dismal waiting
room of the little country inn, where the
train had left her, was beginning. like
Marianna in the Moated Grange, to
grow weary"
Is the coach often rs late as this?"
said she to the iandlady motherly-
looking woman, with cherry cheeks and
stitfiy-starched lace cap border, who
was stOning raisins for minee pies with
sort of dull diligence -, g. 49,
Well, no, miss, not often. Butthe
weather ag'in IL now. Slippery roads
and sleet like so many pins and needles,
10 hardy miss, on both men and horses"
And she stirred the fire and lighted
lamp, while Rachel once more resumed
her monotonous promenade up and down
the long room. For she had deal TO
think of, and in this stage of enforced
idlenes9 her mind seemed TO grow prefer
naturally active.
She was a slight, dark-eyed girl of six
or seven-and- twenty, with clear pale
skin, her hair growing low ON her fore
head, and deep dimple growing in the
very center OF her chin-not pretty, but
singuiarly attractive. And she was go
ing to a little village up among the
mountains TO take the place of assistant,
teacher in an establishment that went
by the euphonious title ofS st. Adelgitha's
Academy
st. Adelgitha's Academy was dreary
and desolate place, and the salary was
by no means large ,tut Rachel Hall had
learned what it wds to be homeless and
penniess in the streets of city.
She had given music lessons, she had
made wax flowers, She had stood behind
counter from dayhght to dark, she
had even applied, in yair, for a situation
as waitress IA aTestauJapt. - r...,,--r-
AndJust as She Was making up her
mind TO starve quietly TO death came
this offer, extendeds-tllr0,Igh the inHas,
ence OF anold Pro5essor who hadiknown
her once ana Rachel HaIr had grasped
at 1T as a dying man grasps at a straw
muAt1 succced,p she told iberseFf
over and over ~ will succeed, If |
have 20 SIT up all night long to Keen nv
self well in advance of the pupils.b orc
For Rachel had as brave a heart beat
the heroine % q novel instead of
poor little working school-teacher
As these thoughts crossed through
her mind there was the crushing of
wheels without, and the coach rumbled
into view, its lamps shining luridly
through the storm and darkness like the
eyes of some antediluvian monster.
The landlady opened the door.
Now, miss, if you're ready" said
She And, half-blinded by the contrast
between the lighted room and the sleetv
gloom of the road, Rachel hurried out
Are there any other inside passen-
gers" she asked, trying to peer into
the pitchy darkness Of the stage-coach
as the driver stood by the open door
tOuly one, miss, said he, with grin
for Geneva Heights And ne won't
trouble you, ] guess. Look lively, if
you please, miss We're half an hour
behind now"
Cannot ] have light inside here Y7
said Rachel, seating herself rather re-
luctantly among the cushions of the
back seat.
We've lighted il twice, miss" said
the driver, twice the wind has blown
it out And besides that, miss, IL ain't
altogether safe what with the straw, the
leather linin' and ALL
With this the Jebu once more climbed
up on his airy height where a taciturn
companion sat slapping his hands across
his chest to keep himself warm, and
poor Rachel sank shuddering back into
the musty-smelling recess Of the coach.
rather wondering that her fellow trav.
eler, whose figure she could dimly dis.
Germ i'm the other corner, spoke no word
of comment or greeting.
To be sure she was q stranger. but WAS
there not always q sort of Freemasonry
Of courtesy between travelers2
No doubt he is sour old misan.
thropeW W said She Co herself.
And she sat very quiet, for fear she
should disturb him.
Presently, however, the silence began
to grow almost appalling.
! will speak thought Rachel and,
with q preliminary clearing Of the
throat she began, "Thie is q terribly
rough road SIR"
There was no answer.
He didn't hear me" she thougbt.