Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-04-29


that was great deal better off than he
i was. When he had paid all his ex-
penses he was hardly fifty shillings to
the good. IF it had been guineas instead
of shillings he thought he might be
tempted to perpetrate matrimony on the
strength of it.
T In order to get to my "place," as we
laughingly called it, down in the shires,
it was necessary that l should go up
| from our cathedral city to London, and
then 60 down into the country by an
| other line. bennington was very long
| way from the railway. At this time our
railway system was still young, but even
| at the present time, though there are
four or five railways in this neighbor-
hood, none come within four or five
| miles of bennington. l was to 90 down
to Manningham Road Station, which was
ten miles from the market town of Man
| ningham itself, and then the village of
bennington was five miles on the other
side of Manningham.
1t was late in September afternoon
| when came to Manningham Road Sta
ton. The station itself was in little
| village, but it ambitiously preferred tax
ing its title from the market town, which
was many miles off. The arrangement
was that I should be met by one of the
Wilmslows in their trap, which should
take me and my belongings over to Dom
nington. Everything was taken out,
but, unfortunately, the Wilmslows' con-
veyance had not arrived. The porter
knew them very well, and said they were
sure to be there before very long. 1t
was a long way to come, and they might
have business at Manningham. So after
waiting rather long time left my lug
gage on the platform, where the porter
assured me it would be quite safe, and
took a stroll about the village-a very
little one, but presenting two remarka-
BILE features. The churchyard was very
much timbered, almost grove-like in
character, and with an avenue of fine
branching elms. Moreover, the church.
doors were unlocked, with every appear
ance of that being the normal state of
things, and the church was gently filled
with dim suffusion of religious light. l
paced that avenue, and sat quietly in
that church, and my eyelids being heavy
with little wholesome crying, it is just
possible admit this confidentially-
that / may have slumbered for a few
minutes in a most comfortable large
square pew, which gratefully recall to
the present day. At last the thought oc-
CURED to me that might in my turn be
keeping the Wilmslows waiting at the sta
ton, and so somewhat hurriedly re-
traced my steps.
When got once more upon the plat
form noticed with dismay that my lug
gage had vanished.
swell, porter said, "what about
my luggage' Isuppose you have put it
in the cloak-room?''
''Eh, miss, be that you?" said the
porter. "Who'd have thought of seeing
you here"
"But where's my luggagee" an
swered, "and wonder how long shall
have to watt
"The luggage. miss-why, Mr.. Wins
lows got it. He are not been out of
the station-yard six minutes"
"Gone, and without me!'' 1 exclaimed,
perfectly thunder-struck.
"Why, miss, he came and asked after
you. I said you had left your luggage
here, but how it was my belief that you
had walked on because he had KEEP you
SO long waiting. Whereupon his man
whisked up your luggage and they start
ed off after YOU"
/ was in absolute despair, and asked
if he could by short cut get to any
point where he could attract their atten-
ton by shouting or waving handker-
chief. At our place at home it was pos
sible to resort to a move of this kind;
but the railway porter only grinned, and
explained that it was quite impossible.
Then, having caused me this inconven-
fence and annoyance, the fellow touched
his cap, and Internationally expected
tip.
1 was in a great quandary. What
low would return after he had gone q
be overtaken. Perhaps it would be best,
after all, to hire fly and 60 after him.
1t would be annoying to spend one of
my few precious soverei gins; and it would
be also annoying to meet MI. Wilmslow
as l had started This part of the ques
ton was speedily set at rest by the por-
ter informing me that it was impossible
to hire anything. No fly was to be OBJ
tanned nearer than Manningham; SO
determined to walk. if necessary, to
Manningham itself, and hire from there.
We Leslie girls were strong, and had
done my ten miles walk often before
to-day. But it would be much pleas
anter to be picked up, and persuaded
myself that it was this which was going
to happen. l did not know that a few
miles before you came to Manningham
there was a road which left the town on
the left, and went on to bennington,
saving three-quarters of a mile. 1t aft
erward TRANSFERRED that Mr.. Wilmslow, |
with man natural stupidity, took this |
by-road, supposing that every one must |
needs know the road which he knew
best himself. If a girl had been driving |
she would have had more sense. Il
So walked on, solitary damsel,
along that mterminable country road. 1
walked in good spirits, and am always
delighted when first see new prospect
unfolding before me. But had some
what miscalculated my physical strength.
1t is one thing to walk out in the fresh
morning, and another thing to make a
forced journey after the mornings work
is done. 1 got quite angry with myself
for feeling tired almost on the outset of
my walk. I felt that should be very