The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-02-18

ened with her regular January neural
gia. Martha is needed TO look after you
both, and Simon can't leave the barn,
poor old man. AS for me, | was nine
years old when ! was there last, but /
remember the streets perfectly. could
even 90 TO this place "-she pointed TO
the direction in the pocketbook-" after
a little studying of tho localities"
She spoke so confident, looked so
brave, and withal so hopeful, thai the
good couple could only accept her
strength Of purpose as providential, and
"sent" for the trying occasion.
|
1t was over. On Christmas day she
sat in the center of the middle car
safest place in case of accidents. The
cold air had frozen the tears on her
cheeks; she looked through the blur ,ed
window at the dark outline of the old
family carriage which Simon was
driving up the lane homeward, and sent
the venerable occupants silent kiss
pressed against the unsympathetic glass.
The train was a full one; at every
station new people came in, aud at the
second place from Greenville, gentle
man of excellent appearance and pleas
ing manner came in and found no vacant
place except the one beside Lily.
He wore handsome sable collar
round his overcoat; in Lily's startled
eye it seemed like partial mask to his
face, and when, pointing to the seat, he
bowed bis request to be allowed TO share
it, she assented with a start and imme-
diately placed her hand protectingly
over her coat-pocket where her money
was. She had merely turned her face
once toward the newcomer; that once,
however, was quite sufficient to show
him pure, oval outline, eyes soft as
velvet and lovely brown in color, a
straight nose and mobile, ed-lipped
mouth-a little compressed and formal
in its set--but sweet as an opening bud
in June.
Apparently the stranger was suscept-
ible to female loyeliness; he threw off
his fur wrapping, adjusted his coat
collar and gave becoming touch to his
hat. He was young and good od-looking,
and seemed decidedly drawn toward
the face that had been quickly averted
from his view.
Lily looked steadily out of the win
dow and tried to think of her dear, but
unfortunate brother, who had left home
to enjoy brief bolidAy before choosing
profession and so soon fallen into life's
"slippery way"
What pity it is that evil turks
under the most pleasing exteriors," she
said to herself, with a sigh, and then
she took a furtive peep out of the cor
ner of her eye at her handsome COM
paniOn, which caused her to sigh again.
Yes, he was very prepossessing, but it
was of just such as he that she had al
ways been told to beware. Evil de-
lighted to put on an alluring guise; but
it was to entrap the unwary, and
charming, smiling exterior was too fire.
quently the mask of tile tempter.
These solemn warnings all recurred to
her mind faithfully, but som how they
gave her no great pleasure.
ut is a pity!" she said, and looked
out on the win.ry prospect, with fine
sharp snow sitting through the gray air
and the bare tree boughs shivering in
the wind,
The shawl that Aunt Kcziah's
thoughtfulness had added to her niece's
wrappings slipped off her knee upon
the floor; the observant stranger quick
ly stopped to lift it. Lily bent down
also; their faces nearly met and both
were forced to smile.
Il beg your pardonP" said Lily,
mechanically. Oh, how her face flushed
the minute afterl She had been the first
to speak, and had actually addressed
herself to a strangerP
81 am the one to apologize! l am
very awkward, l am sure!" cried the
young man, elaborately replacing the
wrapping.
Lily recovered her self-possession,
bowed coldly, and again took refuge in
peering into the gloomy outer world.
Suddenly, without note of prepar-
alton, they shot into a huge dark tunnel.
The transition from day to night was so
swift that Lily almost screamed, and,
do what she would to recover from the
shock, her heart kept beating so that she
could scarcely breathe.
Here was situation totally unlocked
for. Neither her aunt nor her uncle had
prepared her mind Tor this-alone IN Tie
darkness, Mt the mercy of this deceptive
and willy stranger, who had, no doubts
many subtle mechanical sontrivances at
command for extracting pocket Looks
from the possession OF country victims
Her breath came shorter; she fancied
she already felt something touch her
pocket She was no coward-no, she
would defend herself--she would not
submit to lose her treasure those crisp
green notes of large denomination that
were to save Lionel, and put him straight
in the paths of rectitude once more. The
thought gave her courage; she slipped
her hand softly ong the thick beaver
CLOTH plunged II quickly into the pocket
and caught a mans hand firmly in her
ownl Ahl well, it was done, and she
hod n In a strong tipht grin. from which.