The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-08-24
ESCAPED.

1t was a bitter night in January
q night when the homeless wander
ers sunk down frozen to death, and
the very marrow seemed to CONCEAL
in ones bones. 81
There's one advantage in steam, u
growled a fat old gentleman, in the
corner seat wind and weather
don't affect it. No flesh and blood
horse could stand o night like this,
but the iron horse keeps straight
ahead, though the thermometer be
at zero, or at boiling-water head.''
Just then the conductor entered.
Tickets, gentlemen, if you
please"
"It's dreadful night, conductor,
| said, feeling, with stifiened fingers,
for my ticket.
"Dreadful, sir" feelingly respond
ed tie conductor. 'Why, the brake
man can't live outside, and so look
the other way when they creep in,
poor fellows, to get a breath of warm
air at the stove"
And the conductor opened the
door, and plunged across the coup
ling into the next car, crying out:
"Hardwickl'
1t was quite a considerable city
with a handsome iron depot, and
the usual crowd around the plat
form, with their hands in their
pockets and their cigar ends ablaze.
Our car was nearly the last of the
long train, and but one passenger
entered-a slender young girl, wrap
ped in a gray blanket shawl, and
wearing a neat little travelling hat
of gray straw, trimmed with stone
colored velvet flowers. She seemed
to hesitate like one unused to trav-
cling, and finally sat down near the
door.
''Pardon me, young lady," said l,
"but you had better come nearer the
stove y
: She started, hesitated an instant,
and then obeyed.
docs this train go to Bayswater?"
she asked. in voice so deliciously
soft that it seemed to thrill through
me.
"Yes. Can be of any service to
you ?"
'Oh. no--at least not until we
reach Bayswater. | would like a
carriage then"
"We shall not be there yet these
three hours.
s'Do we stop again ?"
"Only at Exmouth.p
She drew a deep sigh, seemingly
of relief, and then settled back in
her corner. By the light of the
lamp / could see her face plainly.
Apparently she was not more than
sixteen, with large blue eyes, gold
en- hair drawn straight away from
her face, and a little rosy mouth like
that of a baby.
"Do you expect friends to meet
you at Bayswater, my child 2" 1
asked.
"No, sir; l am going to school
there" s-~ a~s71fa fs-rfFitr'
at will be an awkward hour to
arrive by yourself-one in the
p
"Oh, / am not afraid" she said,
with an artless little laugh. II
shall go straight to the seminary"
So the train thundered on, with n
steady, ceaseless pulsing at its iron
heart, and a constant roar. Sudden
ly the signal whistles sounded, and
the train began to slacken its speed.
Surely we are mot Exmouth YETI"
thought unless / have fallen un-
consciously asleep, and allowed the
progress of time to escape me.
/ glanced at my watch it was
barely half-past eleven, and we
were not due at Exmouth until
twelve.
rubbed the frost from the win
low pane and looked out. We had
at a little way station in
he midst of dense pine woods.
is this Exmouth ?"
1t was the soft voice of the pretty
opposite.
''No; l don't know what place it
s some way station.
'.Does this train stop at way sta
ions ?"
"Never, generally; they must
have been especially signaled here.
You are cold, my child-your voice
.rembles."
at is cold," she said, family,
drawing her shawl around her. "Oh,
wish they would hurry on !"
"We are moving once more" |
said. "Conductor"-for the man of
tickets was passing through the cars
why did we stop at this back
woods placer"
.'Out of water" was the reply rs
ne hurriedly passed by.
Now knew perfectly well that
his answer was not the real solu-
ion of the matter. Our delay had
no exceeded half a minute-alto-
yether too short time for replenish-
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