Litchfield enquirer., 1879-09-25
From Harper's Magazine.l # THE REVOLUTION IN THE LIFE OF MIR. BALINGALL.

The afternoon had been fine, but when young Mr. Balingall stepped out of Miss Vancourt's drawing room, he found that black drift had blown across the moon, the air had chilled, and drops of rain were falling slow and cold, as if the low-hanging clouds were fringed with melting cicles He drew on his gloves, but toned his great-cOat over a pink flower, and walked fast, with his head bent slightly to the wind It was nearing midnight, and the streets were almost deserted Turning cor ner, he came rather suddenly on two people, man and a woman, who were talking earnestly together Barely glancing at them, he gave the inside of the walk, and was about to pass them by, when the WOman-a mere glrl- raised her hand and stopped him.
 "Will you be so kind" sald she, with an exquisite gentleness, ''as to direct us to car riasc stand? We are strangers in the city, and are somewhat hurried, wishing to take the Southern train"
 Her voice shook a little as she ended, and before MT. Balingall could reply, her compan- ion-a young man with handsome, lrreso- lute face-burst out in q tone of excessive agl- taton: ''Dont you do it, Sir-don't you do 1t. She is going to KilDuck, where the yellow fe- yer is raging Twenty-Five new cases yester- day-frost month off. am responsible to her family. She will die; she can't help dy- ing"
 II beg of you not to make ascene," said the girl sharply. Then to Mir. Balingall: ''Sir, 1 am compelled to go. It is matter of life and death This is entirely my own affair. 1 am of age This gentleman promised to take me to the station. We have been walking about for more than an hour He pretended to lose his way, and know he has purposely misled me- You are stranger but if you have heart in your bosom"-and she made pas sionate gesture twill you not help me ?" "Her deatE will be on your head, " cried the young man. ''Don't dare to give up to her. She is not with her mother, and she IS out of her wits with trouble.
 To thls moment Mir. Balingall had not spok- en. He had looked from one to the other of the strange pair. The man, flushed, trighten-- ed, with an air of deprecation rather than or authority; the girl quiet, pale, and cold but for her angrlly burning eyes. She was muf1ed from head to foot in some dark-looKlng stuH' veil was wound lightly round her small hat, and pushed up just above square, delicate dark brows They stood near gas-light and these details stamped themselves half unconsciously on Mr. Balingalls mind and memory.
 "Oh, my God l" she cried, ''while we stand here the time passes, and the Southern train leaves at midnight She turned her great angry eyes upon her companion. "1 will never forgive you while my reason lasts, she said, Eff 1 do not get off. How many times must tell you that this is no affair of yours What are you to me?"
 'Your brothers will hold me responsible" he said half sullenly.
 "My brothers shall not hold you responsible. made my will this morning, and 1t exoner- ates you and every other human being. act for myself No one has right to oppose me- you least of all I shall kill myself if do not go. How dare you keep me with your inane talk? You coward Because you are afraid of fever yourself, you think every one else ought to be. And you tried to deceive me, pretending you could not find carriage. It is shame. You may leave me. I will trust myself to this stranger. Will you take me to the station There is no time to lose."
 She poured out the quick sentences in low but passionately angry voice. It struck MT. Balingall that the extreme gentleness of her first address to him had been that of a violent repression.
 He found his voice and bowed profoundly "There is a cab stand not three squares away" he said Eff you will permit me, l will con- duct you to it."
 Her escort interposed ''Since the young lady will have her way" he said, not without dignity, II will attend her. There is no need of troubling you, Sir"
 ''I do not trust him" she repeated. ''Come with us, if you please"
 They started off, the girl almost leading with quick, long steps. She would not take the arm of either young man, but walked be- tween them in silence so magnetic that the whole air seemed to vibrate with her paln The rain was falling faster now Around the lamp pests were little circles of light, and each interval of gloom. as they passed from one to fhnrc ,nd last MT. Balingall felt himself in dream where all is unreal and nothing natural. The only words that would have come to his lips had he spoken, would have been II did not think a woman could take such long steps,"
 As they neared the cab stand the girls con- oanion made one more effort. "For Gods sake, Miss Idal--" he began, impetuously.
 .'Do not call out my name on the street, if you please" said she, ''and do not speak to me again. 1 can't bear it"
 He shrugged his shoulders and was silent, while she made her own bargain with the cab- man, promising him double fee should he reach the station in time. MT. Balingall Obeyed her motion, and followed her into the carriage. No one spoke during the short drive. The girl leaned back and closed her eyes. It seemed to him almost a dishonorable thing to watch her, but as the carriage rolled in and out of the light he could not for his life restrain an eager glance at the cold young face opposite. Was she always so white? Or was it the effect of all that black about her head and shoulders And was it the little black hat, tipped low over her brow, that made those deep shadows under her reddened eyelids The face was clean cut, with short sensitive nose, and wide full mouth, now drawn to straight line of endurance. Her form was of large and noble proportions. Her gloved hands were crossed in front of her, and now and then they trembled slightly. F.
 Arriving at the station, MT. Balingall stood with the young lady in the waiting room, while her friend hurried off to buy her ticket
 ''He would play me false now if he could" said she, nervously. ''He had promised to without carriage, saying he had hoped to make me change my mind. insisted on go-. ing out with him, and he pretended to be so unfamiliar with the streets that he couldn't find cab stand. One days delay might have made me t, o late And the minutes ore ce'a- turfes /" she cried in tone that pierced her hearers heart. -.------~-
 s'I am glad was able to serve you," he said. -
 The ticket was secured, and the three has tened to the train. Entering the Southern bound sleeping car, an oppressive odor of car bolic acid assailed them. To MT. Balingall the strong sickly smell brought sudden horror "a realization of poisoned air, and the foul ness that disinfectants fight. He looked at the poor young girl so strangely met, and pity, like wave, surged over his soul. He trem- bled to think of the result of her wild courage.
 Only few passengers were in the cara | little band of nurses and doctors, Catholic priest reading his prayers. They all looked curiously at the party who joined them. And l the conductor, when he found that only the pirl WAS to % under his guidance into the land of peril, said to her. friend might, 'sYoung lady, have you had the fever ?" .,sa.- .- "No" she said. r. .... .-.--
 'Then I wish I could put you off my 1 train.'' -...-.. ......-..
 ':Good-by, Miss Idal," said the young man who had aided her so unwillingly 7'You have had your own way all your life, and might have known you would get the better of me. I know I shall never see you again, and feel that I am to blame." He broke down, and put his hand to his eyes,
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