The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-19

when I came to Manningham Road Sta
tion. The station itself was in little
village, but it ambitiously preferred TAX
ing its title from the market town,
which was many miles of. The arrange
ment was that should be met by one Of
the Wilmslows in their trap, which
should take me and my belongings over
to bennington.
Everything was taken out, but, unfor-
tunately, the Wilmslows' conveyance
had not arrived. The porter knew them
very well, and said that they were sure
10 be there before very long. 1t was a
long way to come, and they might have
business in Manningham. So after wait
ing rather long time l left my luggage
on The platform, where the porter as
sured me it would be quite safe, and took
stroll about the vilIage-a very little
one, but presenting two remarkable fea-
lures. 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 appearance OF that
being the normal state of things, and
the church was gently filed with a dim
suffusion of religious light
paced that avenue, and sat quietly
in that church, and my eyelids being
heavy with little wholesome crying, il
is just pcssible--I admit this confiden-
tially-that l may have slumbered for a
few minutes in most comfortable large
square pew, which gratefully recall to
the present day. At last the thought
occurred to me that I might in my turn
be keeping the Wilmslows waiting at the
station, and so somewhat hurriedly re-
traced my steps. .....
When I got once more upon the plat
form l noticed with dismay that my lug
gage had vanished.
"Well. porter" said, "what about
my luggagef Isuppose you have put it
in the cloak-roomw ..
"Eh, miss, be that you?' said the por-
ter. who'd have thought of seeing you
here"
But where's my luggage" answer.
ed, land wonder how long ! shall have
to wait"
"The luggage, miss-why, Mr.. Wins.
lows got it. He are not been out the
station yard six minutes"
"Gone, and without me-" exclaimed,
perfectly thunderstruck. ~
"Why, Miss, he came and asked after
you. | 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"
l was in absolute despair and asked if
he could by short cut get to any point
where he could attract their attention by
shouting or waving a handkerchief. At
our place at home it was possible to re-
sort to move Of this kind; but the rail
way porter only grinned, and explained
that it was quite impossible. Then, hav-
ing caused me this inconvenience and an
noyance, the fellow touched his cap, and
unconscionably expected tip. -v
l was in great quandary. What
would it be best to do2 Surely Mr..
Wilmslow would return after he had
gone few miles, and found that I was
not to be overtaken. Perhaps it would
be best, after all, to hire fly and 90
after him. It would be annoying to
spend one Of few precious sovereigns;
and it would be also annoying to meet
Mr.. Wilmslow returning to meet me,
perhaps as soon as I had started. This
part Of the question was speedily set at
rest by the porter informing me that it
was impossible to hire anything. No
fly was to be obtained nearer than Man
ningham; so determined to walk. if
necessary, to Manningham itself, and
hire from there. We Leslie girls were
strong, and l had done my ten miles
walk often before to-day. But it would
be much pleasanter to be picked up, and
I persuaded myself that it was this
which was going to happen. I did not
know that few miles before you came
to Manningham there was road which
left the town on the left, and went on to
bennington, saving three.quarters Of a
mile. 1t afterwards transpired that Mr..
Wilmslow, with mans natural stupid
ity, took this by-road, supposing that
every one must needs know the road
which he knew best himself. If girl
had been driving she would have had
more sense. |
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