The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-07-21
UNDER THE MIDNIGHT LAMP.

man, whose time is money whene ell,
therefore, I can save it, 1 do. Many
and many night have passed in the
train, counting the hours thus gained
as a miner does his gold. Upon this
point, unfortunately, my little wife and
I do not agree; and it is, think, the
only point upon which we do not.
Eight hours in comfortless railway
compartment, rolled up in your plaid
like snake in it's blanket, instead Of
in your comfortable sheets, stretched
over comfortable spring mattress-no,
she cannot be made to see the propriety
of the exchange, nor will she believe
that 1 sleep quite as we'll, if not dis
turbed, in the plaid as in the sheets.
The train was just of as sprang in,
and the shock of the start landed me in
my seat Being of slow, placid nature,
I was in no hurry to recover from the
shock; and We were fairly off, speeding
away as 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; npd at the first glance.
spite ot The dim liz bt and the fact OF
her veil being down, saw that her eyes,
unnaturally large Md intense in theil
expression, were fixed upon me. 1 al
all tip,es pr fer carriage to myself,
and if companion must have, let il
be a gentleman, not lady; but there
was no help for il the lady was there,
and moreover, she was looking at me
$50 she may" said to myself that
shall not prevent my making myself as
comfortable as circumstances will al
low" Slowly and deliberately, there
fore, I removed my hat, substituting for
it cloth cap, which / drew we'll down
over my ears then folded my arms
and composed myself to sleep. But IL
vain the eyes of my fellow-passenger
haunted me; ! saw them as distinctly
rs if my own were open. Was she
watching me still? lnvoluntarily
Looked up and round, and my look net
hers, full, burning, intense, with far
more meaning in it than / could at all
fathom. 1t was getting decidedly un-
plra.ant aud was growing decidedly
uncomfortable ; try as might [ could
not keep my eyes closed hers were on
me and meet them must.
In her attidade too, as we'll as in her
look, there was something strange and
mysterious. Huddled up in the corner,
she seemed to be holding something
close pressed to her beneath the long
loose mourning cape, bending low over
it in a crouching posture. Once of
twice, her eyes still fixed upon mine,
saw her shiver but for that slight con.
vnlsive movement, she sat perfectly still
and motionless.
Was she cold? T offered her my
plaid, glad of an opportunity to break
the omipous silence. If she would but
speak, make some commonplace remark
the spell might he broken.
81 am not cold"
A commonplace remark enough but
the spell was broken. The mystery
that lay in her eyes lay also in hel
voice.
What should try nextP I looked al
my watch-11:30; our train speeded OIL
at furious rate, no chance of a stoppage
for some time to come, and the full,
wide-open gaze of my motionless com,
panion not for one moment removed
from my face. 1t was unpleasant,
certainly. If I changed my position
face the window instead of her, she must
remove her eyes from my face at last
Dul oOlb VI dOOu
her and her look which 1 preferred
meeting to shirking, knowing that il
was on me all the time.
There was nothing for it, then, but tC
give up all hope of sleep, and make the
best of my position and companion
whom / now observed more closely
That GLe was lady there could be bu
little doubt there Was that in her dres
and appearance that was unmistakable
That she was pretty there could b.
little doubt either; those great dark
intensely dark, eyes, the thick coils o
warm, FURNISHED hair, the small, pal
features, seen dimly beneath the veil
yes, she was young, pretty, lady, ant
in trouble. So far got and no farther
H.w came she to be travelling alone q
that time of night and with that look o.
her face? What could it be that she wa
holding pressed so closely to her an
yet SO carefully kept out of sight
From the size and uncertain outline
could have guessed it to be child but
then, there was not the faintest motor
nor could she have held sleepin
infant even long in that position.
think that something of curiosity mui
been betrayed in my look, for her ow
darkened and deepened into perfe'
agony of doubt and fear.
Ashamed, 1 withdrew my gaze