Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-01-22
Misfellaneous. q
Through the Tunnel.

II was q bright, clear cold morning In
early December. When kathie catered
the car. there was scarcely avacant seat
10 be seen. To be sure there was one stout
old gentleman sitting alone. bat he was
next to the aisle. and seemed so deeply
absorbed In thought that ksthie disliked
to disturb him. Then there was a middle
aged woman. but she had numberless
parcels and wraps In the seat beside her.
and her appearance take her all In all, was
so forbiddiug, as she looked dxediy out Of
the window, that kathie passed her BY.
There was but one more seat uuoccupied.
1t was beside a gentleman who sat close TO
the window reading paper.
lis this seat engaged?' asked ksthie,
with timid hesitancy.
tone but" springing up as he spoke.
would you prefer the seat BY the win
dowi"
"Oh. no. Thank you! Not at ALL" muir
INJURED ksthie, and she sat down beside
him.
The gentleman turned his attention ain
to his paper. and kathie Immediately tell
to wishing that she had taken the seat BY
the window. For the gentleman sat at
her right hand, and her purse was 10 her
cloak pocket, aud had not Aunt Kate
warned her over aud over again TO be on
her guard against pickpockets. and had de-
ciared that they were quite as likely to be
young, agreeable and polite as the reversed
And WAS not this person all three? Kathie
stole = shy glance It him. His dark eyes
were intently fixed on bis newspaper. He
WAS fine looking and well dressed, aud to
all iu,ents quite obiivious OF her existence.
ks,hie wondered, demurwly. what sort Of
1t
knew that any one thought that he might
perhaps be a pickpocket.
She might take her purse and hold II In
her hand. but that would seem ostentatious
aud tiresome: moreover, there would be
ample time for that when the gentleman
be looked like . gentleman certainly
should put down his paper and kathie
could no longer see his hands.
Then ksthie's thoughts slipped into a
more agreeable channel. She thought Of
the Christmas gifts she was going 10 buy.
and OF the shopping she would do. II was
her first trip to Boston quite alone. Aunt
Kate had always been with her before. to
take care Of her and help her select her
Christmas gifts, but this year Aunt KAte's
rheumatism was SO muca worse than usu.
al that she did not hope to be equal 70 =
trip to Boston for the winter; and rs II was
already nearing Christmas. there was
nothing to be done but to let kathie 60
alone. Aud SO it came about that KAthie.
feeling quite old aud responsible, Was on
the city. She mentally planed her days
work, aud portioned out her money for the
various things she was intending TO buy I.
There was the book for her Sunday school
teacher, the shell comb for Aunt Kate, the
engraving for Cousin viii that must be
specially fine and nicely framed, since II
was to do double duty as Christmas ard
Q wedding gift. Should il be a copy OF
some celebrated OLD picture, or some At
tractive group full Of modern lie and In
tereetf While kathie was trying TO decide
this question, and was reviewing with her
minds eye oil the finest and most beautiful
eDgrsvings that she had ever seen. the
train swept into the tunnel.
Asit grew dark the gentleman beside
her put down bis paper turning slightly
was sure she felt stealthy motion towards
her cloak pocket. Quick % thought her
hand went down to seize her purse. when
oh horrors There was the mans hand
IN her pocket! ksIhie did rot withdraw
her hand. On the contrary. being resolved
TO protect her property 1t all hazards, she
felt about with her fingers % we'll - she
could tor her purse. but could not 6Dd II.
1t was already gone. Then kathie seized
the intsuding hand with the drmness OF
desperation, tsily determined 10 make an
alarm rs soon as the cars emerged into day
light again. II he did noe have the purse
in his hand. there 1t least wa his hand In
her pocket. and some OF the passengers
would see her rikhted and her purse re-
stored. Fortunately her purse had her
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