Connecticut western news., 1879-12-10
A Christmas Adventure.

cold. The down train from London, due at Bristol at $50, had just come 1n crowded with passengers, and the arri- val platform was scene of indescriba- ble confusion. Excited passengers rushed hither and thither seeking their own special property amid the piles of luggage that lay scattered around and wearied and worried ladies sought vain s ly among the crowd for 8 disengaged porter to convey their bags and boxes safely to cab. Active youths and stal- wart men who could carry their own inn pediments were best off and among those who did so was 8 tall, bronzed, brown bearded man, who wore his..coat- collar buttoned up closely round his throat, and his deer-stalker pressed down over his eyes. His travel-worn portmanteau was large and heavy, but he seemed to think nothing of it's weight, nd, swinging S in his hand, strode out of the station.
 q Cab, sir P cried an urchin. eager for penny.
 No; an omnibus will do for me, !" returned the gentleman, passing on to where the Redland omnibus was drawn up, and cold though it was, he at once mounted to the box, and took his seat beside the driver.
 All this time lady was waiting pa- tiently at the farther end of the plat form. Seeing the hustle and confusion that reigned around she had managed, by dint of little exertion, to drag her modest tin trunk out of the melee but having done 50 she could do no more, and now stood beside it waiting until one of the porters should be able to at- tend to her. She.-was plainly dressed gentlewoman, with fine gray eyes and a pale tired face, apparently about thirty years of age. She had been pretty once, but time and trouble had stolen away the bloom of youth; and though her features were gool, she could scarce S ly be described as pretty now. To- night she was cold and weary, and stood passively waiting until some one should come to her assistance.
 Presently porter approached.
 Want cab, miss?" he asked civilly.
 "Yes. Will you please to carry this box ?''
 The man picked it up and walked of, followed by the lady.
 S3 great had been the demand for cabs flat evening that by this time there was but one te be seen outside the station, and that one had inst arrived with 8 fare. The horse was steaming and the driver looked surly.
 Where do you want to go ?' he asked the lady grufdy.
 " To Stoke Bishop" she replied.
 ss Where there ?"
 'ssI will tell you when we get there, , returned Miss Lyon, not very vel pleased with the mans manner.
 The driver muttered something tc ; himself, banged the tin trunk down or the roof of the cab and drove off in { 5 buff.
 ssI wish there had been another cab, thought Laurette Lyon, uneasily, al ? she leaned back in her seat. "I don' like this driver at all. I wonder if ht is drunk. I hope MT. Mansfield will bt at home when reach Tivoli. I VII ask him to pay him for me-"
 In the meantime the cab was pro gressing as rapidly through the crowded slippery streets as could reasonably bt expected, and Laurette began to lool about her. Eight years had passed since she had visited Bristol, unde circumstances very different from tn present. Then her father had been he companion; they had stayed at fashionable hotel and money had bee1 plentiful. Now she was an orphan lonely, hard-working goveruess, going to spend Christmas with an old school friend who had been recently married Laurette did not like Christmas. IT. her it was time haunted with sac memories. Every year as Christina Eve came round the picture of certain Christmas Eve long ago rose up befor, 5 her eyes. She could see it all. Tn, pretty drawing-room, lighted only b, the hickering fire, in the roomy olt house at Blackheath; and Herber Lindsay's earnest face as he asked he to be his wife. How happy they wer that evening and how eager Herbert hat