The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-11-21

'Nsf'N
to take. When she came to Harry's picture |
she placed 1t in her pocket saying to herself, |
softly, Perhaps it will be some company to |
me on my journey
Then she went down stairs, and, after bid |
ding Mrs. Austin fearful good-by, and
to return If she did not like her
new home, stepped into the the car .iage that
was to carry her to the depot, and was
gone.
When she reached the station she had her
baggage checked, procured her ticket, and
entering the car next to the rear, seated her.
self up to dismal thoughts. ....
Just one moment after gentleman with
his hat drawn far over his eyes came out OF
the depot, and looking carelessly at the car
which our heroine had just entered, and
then at the rear car and settled himself for
long journey.
If he had entered the other car what
might have happened
But this was only another of the strange
condolences that are happening all the time
although we do not always find them out.
May felt very lonely the next few days.
In the daytime she managed to interest her
self by watching her fellow.travelers or the
ever-varying landscape, but when night
came, and found her alone in some strange
hotel, she felt as if she was, indeed, alone
But, at last, she was nearing her destination
and by 8 o'clock in the evening would be in
the town which she imagined was to be her
future home She did not like the idea of
getting there in the evening, but felt too
anxious to get there to wait in the neighbor-
ing city until morning.
Her anxiety about travelling alone was in
a measure taken away, and she began to feel
something of the ease of an experienced
traveller, and when fatherly looking old
man, who had sat with her the last twenty
miles, asked her few questions, she answer
ed him freely, soon found out that he lived
only few miles beyond her own destination
and was we'll acquainted with many people
there. She asked him if he knew her aunt,
Mrs. Edwards, and he replied, oh, yes l
used to know her well-a nice woman she
was too-died very suddenly few weeks
ago of heart disease, / believe and then
suddenly starting up exclaimed Halo /!
there is the man have been looking for all
the way and snatchng his bag, started ip
full pursuit of a man who was just disappear
ing into the next car.
She did not faint or cry out as so many
would have done, but for few moments
felt perfectly numbed by the intelligence
What SHOULD she do now? There seemed
to be nothing left for her to do but to STOP
at the next station, twenty miles away, and
take the next train for home again and
mechanically she put her hands n her pock.
ct to take out her pocketbook to see how
much money she had left, when, as if hel
sorrow and dismay were not great enough
already, she discovered that there was ne
pocketbook there nothing but her picture
and handkerchief.
her seat, the floor and everv spot where il
could have dropped but in vain.
She remembered then that, in the Grove
at the station where she had last stopped fo
refreshments, she felt once as if somebody
was picking her pocket. but, putting dowr
her hand and feeling nothing, had conclud
ed that she was mistaken, and, having he
ticket in her travelling bag, had had no oc
What should she do ? There. she was, hun
dreds of miles from home, a stranger, home
less and penniless.
Would anybody believe her story if sh
told it to them?
She thought of Harry and the kind pro
lection that she would have if he were onl
there, and wept bitterly.
Then, pulling her veil tightly down owe
her face and leaning back in the corner @
the seat, she prayed earnestly, in her grea
despair, for death, and even as she praye
there was sudden crash and shock, and bt
fore she had time to think she was throw
violently from her seat and crowded tight
into living mass of humanity in an owe
turned car.
She could not move or see anything, ant
remembering her recent prayer, felt as if
were really to be answered immediatel.
The shrieks and groans around her were al
palling, but she made no sound and did nj
struggle or try to change her uncomfortab
position in the least.
She heard anxious friends inquiring (
each other if they were hurt, but she hs
no friends, and was silent.
Fortunately the lamps were put out, au
the chief danger of the inmates Of her Ct
seemed to be sutfocation.
At last egress was made, and such passe
; gers as had been able to make their escal
commenced to help out others, some of who
were so tightly packed in as to render it
very difficult operation.
At last it was Mays turn to be helped o
! and voice that sounded strangely familia
said 1fyou will take my hand, think
: can help you out now,' and in moment s.
d was out of the sitting car in the pure, fre
h air but she felt sick and faint, and Stage
}, ed when she tried to walk.
luS hiuu stiaheei, ocV'bb WIS i'ecu
: in his arms and carried her out of the co
fusion to little bank, where he placed b
y gently down on the soft grass saying, If y,
had friends in the cars that you would Ii
u me to find, but he stopped short, for Ma
certain now that it was his voice and no OF
Is er, flung aside her veil, and disclosed
C Harry Davenport the face that had haunt
!, him on his journey. 'May-Miss Ernest,
u it possible p he cried, in excited ton
o o How came you. here ? and without waiti
II for reply he knelt beside her, saying an
y ously, Are you hurt? Is there something
can do for you?
y No, am not hurt she replied, shudd
Fr ing violently, but | am in trouble,
AZ Davenport and need help
's And you shall have all the help tha
can give you,' he replied in low tones Il
p thrilled her heart with their kindness.