Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-04-16

that fear 30 incur 80 much expense :"
and then she turned away and quietly
resumed her old seat.
! returned 10 my wiie's side.
Was her communication q state Sc
crotP " said she.
" Certainly not. She seems afraid Of
hacks, or drivers, or something, really
do not know what; only she begged me
10 take her to the hotel In a street car. "
! felt an invincible repugnance 10 letting
my wife know the true reason Of the re-
quest.
We reached the city by ten O'Clock,
and telling my protegee TO keep close 10
us, gave my arm TO Mrs. Witherton,
and looked around for car as soon as
we got out Of the depot 10 carry us up
to our destination. had Just signaled
one, and turned 10 my party TO get them
in, when caught sight Of my wife step
ping into comfortable carriage.
"Why, my DEAR" / exclaimed, 81
thought you were going with u.s." The
driver was waiting so that was natu-
rally needless Of my phraseology. Was
1t not dacided that we should take a
carP''
al really am not quite certain Of
whom you are speaking, Mr.. Wither-
ton, whenyou say we, " she answered (;
but /, for one, do not care to tramp to
that vulgar conveyance over my kid
boots In snow and slush. You may do
as you please"
"might," certainly, any one
might -" who did not care to count the
cost; but sage experience had taught
me a great deal. However, could not,
and would not even If could, have
left that lovely young creature alone at
night in a strange city; 50 l turned
away and stopped another car, and
handed her in.
Seen now in the full light Of the brill
liant gas jets, as we passed along, she
certainly was lovely, with a clearness
and freshness Of coloring and bright
ness in her full hazel eyes and white
even teeth. It is true that there was a
lack Of expression, and an absence of all
that would be suggestive of intelligence
or quick cOmprehensiveness but / con-
fess that only thought Of this years
afterward. give an opinion, as 1 have
always considered myself Judge oi
feminine beauty, although circumstan-
ces may not have permitted me TO prove
my taste.
We reached our destination at my
old headquarters, the New York Hotel
almost as soon as my wife did, whose
skirts saw turning the corner of the
second story staircase as we entered
(this was before elevators became a ne.
Cessity), and then l turned TO my com.
panion to learn her wishes.
She was gazing wondenngly and ap.
prehensively around her, evidently
thinking of many things l could moi
fathom, but she gave me no clew just
then to her anxieties.
"You need not feel any uneasiness, y
said. This place is almost like home
to me, and l can make any arrange.
ments for you that you desire. Are
you afraid of being alone tonight, fol
If you are will ask my wife" But
here my courage failed.
" Not at all frightened" she said,
but / should like an inexpensive room
somewhere. 1 would not mind where
they put me-"
IL will attend to that. And now
will you have some supperP Perhaps
after your cold journey"
"No, no, 1 thank you, = she answered,
hastily. 81 would like to go at once to
bed"
secured her a room, and gallantly
went up five flights of stairs to show her
the way. At the Threshold she stop.
ped.
"I am very much obliged to you,'
she said. "You have been very kind
Can depend upon you to arrange thai
/ shall be called at seven tomorrow
morning, as l am told the train leave.
at eight; and will you settle my bill
and repay yourself what owe, you? .
Her beautiful dark hair had fallen dowr
and hung around her, and she looked
so gentle and lovely that l determined
to do my duty by her in spite of-any
bodyl
"There will be time enough for that, >
1 said, putting her thin little purse bacl
into her hand. ." l will come up and cal
you myself early tomorrow morning
and arrange every thing for you. l vii
also take you to the station, and see yol
started safely on your journey" Sht
gave me little bow and sweet smile
"Indeed, small be most happy to de
so, p" / added, with spirit, and then thl
door closed.
And then / also remembered that
did not even know where Mrs. Wither
ton had domiciled herself, and 81
prowled around on the different floors
interviewing the stray chamber-maids
met with very unsatisfactory results
as to what room had been assigned to
tall, stout lady in an iron-gray Ulster
and at last l descended to the Office anC
found her number.
l tapped at her door, waited mo
ment 70 whisper close to the key-hole
''It is only me, my DEAR" and theI
walked in. Mrs. Witherton was seateC
before a comfortable fire, still in he
Ulster (for I had forgotten that thl
keys of her trunk were in my pocket
so she had been unable to get at hei
dressing wrapper). Her feet werC
thrust into pair of knitted Polish boots
generally used for snow-boots Qor he
slippers also were in my overcoat a
that moment) Her front curls wert
"put up " for the night Cfor bangs wer,
at that time 0ut, and corscrews tii) anC
though she had fragrant supper o
| broiled oysters on toast and a glass O.
ale on a waiter before her, she did no
appear happy.
Now of all Mrs. WIS moods thu
satirical was the one I most abhorred
My skin is naturally soft, but it weulC
curl up into goose-hesh under such in
Fiction, and one glance sufiiced to show
me the nature Of her humor at tina
moment.
"Why, - she cried, "where is She
the lovely waif and strayP How die
you manage to tear yourself awayP
was quite sure that you would so settlt
matters that she should have share o
our room, and 1 have been looking
around to gauge its capabilities. Tha
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