Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-06-19

Burdened with muff, music and satchel,
sometimes in the road. sometimes out
of it, half-blinded, thoroughly chilled,
Angie stumbled bravely on towards the
depot, a half mile away. When she
reached its shadowy portals, which she
had nearly passed in the obscurity, she
found the door fast. Where was every
bodyp Was Oxbow dead and in its
winding-sheet and unmatched by even
solitary taper? Brushing the snow
from the step, Angie began to lay down
her bundles. But hark! was that a foot
step? No, it was only the nervous
buzzing in her ears! And if some one
had been coming, what then? Was it
not high season, if the train were ever
to startp She hoped she was not cow
ard! But she was! For presently, hear
ing the footsteps again-and now they
were not far behind her-she darted
away along the glimme1ing highway
and finally took shelter in a door-yard,
crouching under a friendly lilac while
time shivered by on frozen wings. Once
the man drew near her hiding place, and
she held her breath till he passed, turned
and repassed, with long, impatient
strides. A pretty situation this, truly,
for Squire Converse s stenderly-nurtured
as she contrasted herself with Sidney
Alden, peacefully sleeping, dreaming
perhaps of his loved Bertha.
After what might have been the lapse
of ages, the shrek of the engine rent
the air. 1t was the usual reveille of
the railroad workmen, but Angie be-
Geved it the signal for the starting of
the train. Hurrying to the depot and
past the handful of men gathered upon
the platform, she climbed the dark pas
senger car and let herself in. o, the
comfort of being once more under a
roof! With benumbed fingers she CROPPED
her way to a seat, and then shrank back
terrified as her hand touched the shoul-
der of man.
"Angiep Angie Conversep Is it you
at last?" cried familiar voice.
"Sydney Alden! You here? How
you frightened mer' calculated Angie,
very near Mysteries.
"Now, Miss Converse, will you have
the goodness to tell me what all this
meansp' asked the young man, impa.
tiently, seating her beside him.
Il had things to finish for the festi-
val. Did 1 wake you?''
"No. 1t was current of air from the
north pole. Finding the street door
ajar and the hat tree rifled of your be-
longings, naturally investigated fur
ther. have been hunting for you these
two hours"
srm sorry I disturbed you. You
should have gone to sleep again.
s'Cool, like the atmosphere! So you
fancy I could have composed myself for
another nap knowing you were wander
ing alone in the night? You insult my
humanityr'
"rm sorry disturbed you," she re-
peated, like child reciting its lesson.
..I suppose can take hint as well
as the average fellow" pursued Sidney
hotly. "You needn't have left my
fathers house at three o'clock of win
ter morning to convince me of your in
difference. Such an extreme measure
was quite unnecessary, l assure you. -
"You don't understand. l."
"I'm not complete idiot, Miss Con-
verse. I do understand that you
wouldn't have me making love to you
that you decampad in the night watches
to dodge proposal. And now ask
you this it sensible or expedienJ
to risk your health in this outrageous
manner? Why couldn't you have said
frankly that you didn't want to ride
with me? If you had intimated that
YOU wished to avoid further confden-
tial interviews, 1 should-wen, admit
I should have been awfully cut up-but
1 shouldn't have had cause to complain.
Instead of dealing honestly with me,
you simply remarked that you didn't
like to appropriate my time and l was
simple enough to believe that you meant
just as you said. Thought you refused my
escort merely because you had scruples
about taking me from the rehearsal -
Rehearsal?'
You consider me very stupid, no
doubt; but knowing as I did that you
were interested in the festival and in
the progress of the farce was it anna e
ing that
tsWhat farce?"
"Why, the farce! 'The Model Hus,
band As I was saying, I knew you
were aware Bertha and I were hurried
in committing our parts, and 1 natural
ly inferred"
Nobody told me there was to be a
farcer'
"Possible? Didn't you hear Zet jok-
ing Bertha and me about our tender
re1ationsp Well, that is neither here
nor there. IL
81 thought you-and Miss Huntress
were actually engaged" murmured
Angie, furtiyely cropping for her pocket
handkerchief.
.Cousin Bertha engaged to mep You
precious little blunderer!" cried Sidney,
in a tone of sudden relief. tsShe's to
figure as my wife in the farce, that's all;
afterwards I shall resign her to he1
rightful bridegroom, who'll marry he1
in March,
Utter silence, broken at last by an
embarrassed cough from Sidney.
ssYou must have fine opinion of q
fellow, Angie, to suppose I'd be inter.
ested in another young lady. You can't
help know ing years ago elected you. .
go, if you're going to talk politics
before breakfast, too
81 won't be put off this way forever
Angie. think the lady of my election
might at least grant me hearing, wher
she knows how long have loved herr
"She's wretched candidater'
ssShe's adorable! The point is. is she
my very owna May claim her?'
"You're sure you want her?'
didn't come down to Maine solely
for herP''
"Foolish boy!" replied Angie, softly
"Well, since you've really elected her
she'd better .stand,' as the politicians
say. That is if you can stand it with
her." she added, saucily.
What matter that a sleepy brakema,
blundered in at that moment with
lantern and kindlings! The election
was over, and for once in the annals o
history both parties were satisfied
Penn Shirley, IN Good Company.
Strikes in France.