The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-04-04
MIR. witherton," she said. conelsely,

IL
deep; and at each station that we stopped ct
we dropped q passenger or two, till but a few
were left, for we we're an accommodation
train. At last we passed through Newark ;
and then the poor GIRL who had hesitatingly
risen once or twice, and then sat down again,
az IL afraid OF carrying out her Intentions, at
last sprang up desperately and made her way
to us. She looked once In Mrs. WIS face, and
then turned to me.
"When I left Washington this morning.
she said, almost inaudibly, Il expected to 60
right through New York to my home, but the
conductor tells me we shall not make the con-
nection with the Eastern train. ! am all
alone. slr. and much alarmed, for ] never
when ! passed through without stopping.
VIII you tell me where ! can remain for the
night 2'
] had known that there existed some
strange sympathy between that girl and
myself when our eyes met In passing, and
now as che looked me In the face and ap-
pealed TO me, felt that could do and dare
q great deal for her sake; but Mrs. Wtther-
| toms opinions have always strongly infln-
| enced me, and knew that she was not put
| ting the most favorable construction upon
| what was passing at that moment. Still.
there have been eporbs In my life when |
| have remembered that am man and q
| gentleman, and also an independent one In
my views. however my actions may have
been curhed by circumstances. And this was
one Of those moments.
"'This lady and myself" said |. motioning
toward my wife. "ate going to the New York
| Hotel tonight, and, II you go desire, will
take charge Of you and will also see that you
| are comfortably housed, and Tomorrow morn
Ing will attend to your safely getting to the
Eastern train"
Perhaps you may manage to make IL con-
venient 60 take her to her home yourself, v
ictly suggested Mrs. Witherton.
"Oh, no" cried the girl, innocently; "but II
you please, cir, could l see you alone mo-
ment"
She saw assent In my eyes and led the way
to the rear of the car, and turning away des-
perately from Mrs. Withertons looks, fol-
lowed her.
"When we get to the city can you take me
to the hotel In the curs?" she asked with great
"Uertainly | can, In either car or stage.
But do you prefer them to a carriageT' l
asked.
"Oh, so much?" she said, thankfully; and
after moments hesitation she said: Il
have go little money with me that fear to
incur much expense:" and then she turned
away and quietly resumed her old seat,
| returned to my wlfes side.
Was her communication state secret?"
said she.
Certainly not She seems afraid of hacks
or drivers, or something | really do not
TO the hotel In a street car" | felt an In
vincible repugnance to letting my wife know
the true reason of the request,
We reached the city by 10 o'clock. and
telling my protege TO keep close to us, gave
my arm TO Mrs. Witherton and looked
around for q ear as coon az we got out Of the
depot TO carry us up to our destination. |
had just signaled one, and turned to my
party to get them In, when ! caught sight
OF my wife stepping into a comfortable car
riage,.
"Why, my DEAR" exclaimed, IL thought
you were going with u.s." The driver was
waiting. 80 that / was naturally needless of
my phraseology. "Was Ii not decided that
we should take carp
u really am not quite certain of whom you
are epeaking, Mr. Witherton, when you cay
'we's che answered; "but |, for one, do not
care 80 tramp to that vulgar conveyance over
my kid boots IL, snow and slush. You may
DO as you please.
| might" certainly, any one might" who
lid not care to count the cost; but sage eXpe |
rience had taught me a great deal. However,
could not, and would not even IL l could,
nave left that lovely young creature alone at
,ight in strange city, go l turned away
and stopped another car and handed her In.
Seen now In full light of the brilliant gas
cts, as we passed along, che eestalnly was
ovelv with clearne go and freshness of col |
BRING and a brightness In her tuN hazel eyes
and white, even teeth.
We reached our destination at my old head- |
quarters, the New York Hotel, almost as soon
as my wife did, whose skirts | saw turning
the corner of the second story stair. case as |
We entered this was before elevators became |
a necessity and then turned to my COM
Danion to learn her wishes.
| secured her room and gallantly went
Up five pair Of stairs to show her the way. At
he threshold she stopped.
II am very much obliged to you,' she said
You have been very kind. Can ! depend
lpon you to arrange that | shall be called at
O'Clock tomorrow morning, as | am told
hat the train leaves at s." Her beautiful
lark hair had fallen down. and hung around
her, and she looked sogentle and lovely that
determined to do my duty by her In spite
Df-anyhody
suddenly remembered that did not even
know where Mrs. Witherton had domiciled |
herself, and so prowled around on the differ
ant floors. interviewing the chambermaids |
met with very unsatisfactory resultsl az to
what room had been assigned to a tall, stout
lady In an iron gray ulster, and at last | de- |
scended to the office and found her number,
/ tapped at her door, waited a moment to
whisper close TO the key-hole, 1t is only me, |
my DEAR" and then walked in Mrs. With
srton was seated before comfortable fire,
still In her ulster Qor had forgotten that
the keys of her trunk We're In my pocket, SO
she had been unable to get at her dressing
Her feet were thrust into pair
of knitted Polish boots, generally used for
over boots for her slippers were In my over
tthb nj ltidt Iuokhthtts LIZA 'ithh hAls NplC
''put up' for the night for bangs were at that
time out, and curkscrews in; and though she
had fragrant supper of broiled oysters on
toast and glass of ale on walter before
her. she did not appear happy.
Now of all OF Mrs. w. g moods the satiri-
cal was the one | most abhorred My skin Ia
SOFT but 1t would curl up into
e-ieah under such intlctions, and one
glance sufficed to show me the nature OF her
humor at that moment.
why" che cried, where ieshe-the lovely
waif fand stray2 How did you manageto tear
yourself away? | was quite sure that you
would SO settle matters that she should have
a share OF our room, and | have been looking
around to gauge its capabilities. That was
quite a clever arrangement about the street
car and | only wonder that, after she got rid
of me- abe did not suggest carriage"
My dear Maria, the poor child has perhaps
never left home before. Consider how you
would have felt If at her age"
How | would have felt? Do you wish to
insult me, Mr. Witherton2 l suppose you are
aware by this time that you married lady
who would hardly be found, at any age, roam