Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-06-16
Gales AND Sketfbts.
From Tinsley's Magazine.
UNDER TIE MIDNIGHT LAMP.
FOUNDED on FACT.

CS
a night have / passed in the train, count
ing the hours thus gained as miner does
his gold. Upon this point. unfortunately,
my little wife and do not agree and it
is, think. the only point upon which we
do not. Eight hours in comfortless rail-
way compartment. rolled up in your plaid
like snake in its blanket, instead OF in
your comfortable sheets. stretched over a
comfortable spring mattress-no. she can
not be made to see the propricty Of the
exchange, nor will she believe that ! sleep
quite as well, If not disturbed, in the plaid
as in the sheets.
The train was Just of as sp-ang in,
and the shock of the start landed me in
my seat Being Of slow, placid nature,
was in no hurry to recover from the
shock and we were fairly of. speeding
away a. only an English express can
speed, before looked round. had not
the carriage to myself, as had at first
supposed; lady occupied the further
end and. at the first glance, in spite Of
the dim light and the fact Of her veil be-
ing down, I saw that her eyes. unnatural
lv large and intense in their expression,
were fixed upon me. at all times pre-
fer a carriage to myself, and If a compan-
ion must have, let it be gentleman,
not lady but there was no help for it;
the lady was there, and moreover, she
was looking at me. $50 she may" |
said to myself; THAT shall not prevent
nv making myself as comfortable as cir
cumstances will allow" Slowly and de-
liberately. therefore, ] removed my hat.
substituting for it cloth cap which
drew well down over my ears; then
folded nv arms and composed myself to
sleep. But in vain; the eyes OF my fel-
passenger haunted me; | saw them
as distinctly as if my own were open.
Was she watching me still ? 1nvoluntarily
looked up and round, and my look met
hers, full. burning. intense. with far more
of meaning in it than could at all fathom.
1t was getting decidedly unpleasant, and
was growing decidedly uncomfortable
try as / might, | could not keep my eyes
closed hers were on me, and meet them
| must
In her attitude. too, as we'll as in her
look, there was something strange and
mysterious Huddled up IN one corner,
she seemed to be holding something close
pressed to her, beneath the long loose
mourning cape, bending over it in
crouching posture. Once or twice, her
ewes still fixed upon mine, saw her
SILVER; but for that slight convulsive
movement she sat perfectly still and mo-
tionless.
Was she cold? offered her my plaid.
glad of an opportunity to break the omin-
Gus silence. If she would but speak.
make some commonplace remark, the
spell might be broken.
81 am not cold"
A commonplace remark enough; but
the spell was not broken. The mystery
that lay her eyes lay also in her voice.
What should try next? | looked at
my watch-1l 80; our train speeding ON
at a furious rate, no chance of stoppage
for some time to come, and the full. wide
open gaze of my motionless companion
not one moment removed from my face.
II was unpleasant, certainly. II changed
nv position, laced the window instead OF
her, she must remove her eyes from my
face Mt last But there was a sort OF fas-
cination about her and her look. which |
preferred meeting to shrinking, knowing
it was on me all the time.
There was nothing for it then. but to
give up all hope Of sleep. and make the
best of my position and companion. whom
now observed more closely. That she
was a lady there could be little doubt
there was that in her dress and appear
ance that was unmistakablc. That she
was pretty, there could be little doubt.
either; those great dark. intensely dark
eyes, the thick coils of warm FURNISHED
hair. the small pale features seen dmly
beneath the veil yes, she was young.
pretty, lady. and in trouble. So far |
got, but no further. How came she to be
travelling alone ut that that time OF night,
and with that look on her face What
could it be that she was holding pressed
so closely to her, and vet so carefully kept
out Of sightp From the size and uncer
tain outline, should have guessed it to
be child; but, then, there was not the
taintest motion, nor could she have held a
sleeping infant long in that position. l
think that something Of curiosity must
have been betrayed in my look. for her
own darkened and deepened into per-
feet agony of doubt and fear.
Ashamed, | withdrew my gaze at once,
and drawing out my notebook. was about
10 make memorandum. when with
sudden forward movement, she fell at my
feet. arresting my hand by the agonizing
grasp of her own, its burning contact
sending through me painful thrill.
Don't betray me Don't give me up
to him Oh. don't. am so frightened ~
It WAS but whisper breathed out rath-
err than spoken, yet it shuddered through
me like a cry.
II cannot always hide it! | cannot al
WAYS bear il about with me it breaks my
heart. and-I am so tired"
And. letting the hand which she still
held, pressed closely to her. the mys-
terious burden that had so raised my Gu
riosity. drop heavily to her side, there lay
at her feet and mine, a little dead baby.
tiny creature evidently not many weeks
old.
Then the woman threw up her veil. and
Withdrawing her eyes for the first time
from mine. clasped her hands before her.
her figure thrown slightly back. and
looked down upon it. 4 very pretty pic
ture the poor young mother. with her
pale child's face and deep mourning dress.
the wee baby, cleaning so white in its
death and baby-robe against the heavy
Grape skirt on which it lay-a pretty pic
ture certainly for a railway carriage. and
lighted by its dim midnight lamp.
Dead" was my involuntary exclama-
ton.