Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-05-31
TRAVELLERS ON TWO ROADS

IRA TELLERS on TWO ROADS.
The train for Pittsburgh was little late
that afternoon. In the drawing room car
rows of tired people specuated on the chances
of getting in before dark, or gaped monot-
onously behind huge newspapers. Indeed,
these newspapers were so numerous, so un-
compromising so religiously spread open to
the last rustling fold, so much more conspic-
uous THAI the insignificant heads behind them
that 1t might be supposed every body bound
for Pittsburgh had constitutional objection
to being looked at.
There was one seat mt the farther end of the
car unprotected by any such screen. and its
occupant-a lady of rather uncertain age
belonged neither to the spectators nor the
gapers. She was lying back in the chair, her
eyes wide open, in spite of many vigorous ef-
forts to shut them. The face might be n
young face, but, seen with that light, and with
the dust of travel upon it, it looked old
There were dark rings under her eyes a
weary, tremulous motion of the lids. Her
mouth was the only beautiful feature in her
face. 1t was very sensitive, and curved like
a bow
letter lay in her lap, directed to Miss
Margaret Rowe. She held it open in her fin
gers and now and then read parts of it with
an air as if the contents were not sufficiently
amusing to make it worth reading all at once
At last she sheathed it in its envelope, and
again leaned back in her chair, with an ex-
preston of semi-despeation.
Its of no USE" she solioquizcd my
eyes won't stay shut unless / tie my hand
kerchief over them Suppose l growl little
by way of change? There is such a noise it
won't be heard. Nothing would short of
the last trump. And it is such relief to
hear ones own voice! ~
Thereupon issued a series of singular sounds
not exactly groans, not exactly grunts, but
having hybrid character between the two.
They were very subdued indeed caught
and drowned by the noise of the train almost
before they We're out of her mouth Miss
Rowe appeared to find them n relief, to Judge
by her comical smile. They were very regu-
lar also, and, batting little touch of exasper-
alton, not at all calculated to alarm n timid
person.
She varied the performance once by hum
ming tune to herself but this was not so
satisfactory.
TOO resigned altogether" she murmured,
knitting her forehead, and relapsing into the
growing state again.
Suddenly something touched her from be-
hind. The concert ceased abruptly. She
jumped n little, and then settled back into
her chair as if it were nothing in the world
that concerned her.
Il was sure that seat was empty" she
thought with much veXation. 1T was when
l got in. Somebody must have taken it after
the train started, and did not hear him."
Somebody evidently had done so. and not
only that, but was evidently of very charta-
BILE, not to say persistent disposition. The
touch came again on her shoulder; simulta-
neously the wheeling round of n chair, and
the appearance at her side of her neighbor
from the rear.
II beg your pardon, madam, but | am
afraid you are i'll.
Not at all, replied madam, with auda-
cious disregard of truth, glancing up to see
what manner of man it was that spoke
A brown face, brown eyes brown hair
every thing brown about him. seemingly, ex-
cept his coat and every thing-hair, coat,
and all-closely cut, closely guarded, as if
Ftheir owner had no mind that they should re-
veal any thing about him man who seemed
to express in subtitle way that it pleased him
to puzzle other people.
Margaret was instantly interested, and grew
ten times as Indifferent as before.
Not at all, " she repeated, calmly, survey
ing the intruder
Then the-the groans heard were doubt
less remarkable spiritual manifestation y
A slight twitching round the corners of her
mouth. oh l had II headache, l believe.
1t can't be helped"
II beg your pardon again, but it can be
helped"
She opened her eyes at this confident re-
mark, but would not ask him what he meant.
Il am DIR. Ritchie" he went on-"Dr.
Richie of Pittsburgh. 1t is not likely you
ever heard of me before. But you can iden-
tify me easily when you get to Pittsburgh if
you care to take the trouble. Meanwhile |
carry my weapons round with me, and l have
some medicine here that will cure your head
ache"
Il have heard of Dr. Ritchie," answered
Margaret adding, perversely, Il don't know
whether | ever heard of you, Sir, or not"
'As much MS to say you don't know wheth-
er am Dr. Ritchie or not"
You may be-you may not. How can
tell.
Il don't know how, l am sure. It doesn't
matter, either"
Miss Rowe thought it did matter, ns she
watched him fuinbling among the bottles in
the old black valise. At last he came upon
one suited to his mind, extracted from anoth-
er corner n small drinking glass, and delber-
ately proceeded to pour ont the liquid.
Does the man really suppose 1 am going
to drink it = thought Margaret.
As if he had been cairvoyant, DIR. Ritchie
looked up and remarked, coolly, Now you
are going to drink this; but first, if you like,
/ will call the attention of some of your fell
low-passengers to the circumstance, so that
you may be under their protection the rest of
the way"
No :" exclaimed Margaret raising herself.
He really looked for the moment as if he was
going to do what he said As soon as she
spoke he let the mask fall again, and gleam
of satisfied fun looked out of his eyes.
'What made you say that You did not
mean it Z" said Miss Rowe, as petulantly as if
he had been a ten years acquaintance instead
of n ten minutes And, besides-that is an
opiate, is it not?-opiates will not stop my
headaches. l have tried them; in fact |
have tried every thing"
This is not an opiate, and it will cure your
headache-that is, if you give it a fair chance,
Your mind must be diverted from pain to
other things"
THAT is easier said than done, What is
going to divert my mindE"
Il am goingto talk to you"
Indeed :"
The indeed" was so expressive that first
DR. Ritchie laughed, and then Miss Rowe
laughed too. He sat for a few minutes idly
twirling the glass in his fingers. Every now
and then the sun fell upon it then flash of
light would dart into some remote part of the
car, and the nervous passenger upon whom 1t
CHANGED to fall would start like one of the
little hammers in a piano when key is
struck.
II see you are not yet sure am what l
pretend 10 be-"
''No."
but you don't find that headache very en-