The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-02-26

on the return from the seat of war and
full of fun and laughter, were excited Il
new ninth at the sight of the Ions
dresses sweeping up bits of stick ane
string, cigar ends and dust from the
boards.
Our acquaintance OF the broom and
feather brush had just finished his du.
ties when the door of the ladies' waiting
room opened hurriedly to admit very
pretty young girl, well dressed and in
evident embarrassment.
"Do you know where the director is?'
"No, do not" was the indolent an.
swer.
Find him for me, please. Tell him
that friend wishes to speak to him as
soon as possible" The man was about
to decline service not in the list of his
daily duties, but small coin slipped
into his hand changed his mood, and he
left the room, saying, II will find him >
Left alone, she naturally went first to
the looking glass, and then trying to
hum a tune, sat down to wait. After
about FIVE minutes handsome, middle
aged man, with an exuberant beard,
presented himself, when she arose and
said:
" Good-morning, Alexander Petro-
vitsch."
Woodworking, Emma Terentevna
My respects to you; how are you, and
what can I do for vou?"
II have favor to ask of you, Alex
ander Petrovitsch," taking his out
stretched hand g They say that all the
seats are engaged for the troops, but /
must go home. Mamma has sent me a
telegram saying, Come home at once.
Something must have happened |
asked them to drive me over from Mos
COW, and here [ am Is there no place,
no little corner, where YOU could stow
me?'
The director shook his head
Put another car on p
j am very sorry, but it cannot be
done. Wait until afternoon. There
will be other trains.
But I cannot wait. [ must 80
home
The director shrugged his shoulders,
raised his eyebrows, and plunged his
hands deep into his pockets in attitude
of detected hopelessness. The girl
looked troubled, but after minutes 81
lence she exclaimed:
Il have an idea. After the soldiers
train there will be a freight train I saw
it as | came here. It is all ready, wait
ing to 60 What does it carry @
"a variety of things-in the front
car lumber, logs and boards, you
know; in the rear car bales of stuffs fol
the yearly fair"
Just the thing, dear Alexander
Petrovitsch Put me in among the
bales, please. Nobody will ever know
anything about it."
At first the director, firm in his ideas
of duty, earnestly refused, but the pretty
suppliant was SO extremely urgent that,
always somewhat weak with regard to
the fair sex, spite of his gray hairs, he
succumbed at last.
"Well, then, Iconsent; but recollect il
is only because it is you, and mind, never
a word Of it to anybody, but you must
get in soon. I will speak to the con-
ductor and tell him where to put you off.
You will have no Seats no cushions"
81 do not care for seats or cushions.
I am not an old woman. How good you
are, Alexander Petrovitsch I shall
never forget it."
She followed him to the platform, now
crowded with soldiers He called a
conductor, who, after receiving instruc-
tions, surveyed with smile of curiosity
the pretty freight consigned to him.
Shaking hands once more with the di-
rector she accompanied the conductor
to the whereabouts of the freight train.
Returning to his Office her grny-haired
friend was 50 preoccupied with this
novel incident that he failed to observe
two Unlocking men, employees about the
station, in close conversation over a chain
coupling two cars.
The military train ratified out next
came the freight train.
Lumber in the front cars, as we know.
and in the last one, amid heaps of bales
and rolls of mating, Emma Terentevna.
very much annoyed by the strong odor
of the dyes and Of the mating, for the
grated window above her head was very
small She had been spending a year
with an aunt in Moscow and was return
ing home to the village wher Ger father
held the poorly-salaried position of post
master, and where, according to imme-
mortal Russian village custom, the post
Office was on one side of his dwelling, a
drinking-shop on the other. This de