The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-02-09

' :
rior WIS too frequently the mask OF
the tempter.
These solemn warnings all recur-
red to her mind faithfully, but
somehow they gave her no great
pleasure.
at is pityl" she said, and look
ed out on the wintry prospect, with
fine sharp snow sitting through
the gray air and the bare tree boughs
shivering in the wind.
I The shawl that Aunt Kesiah's
thoughtfulness had added to her
niece's wrappings slipped off her
knee upon the floor; the obseryant
stranger quickly stopped to lift it.
Lily bent down also; their faces
nearly met and both were forced to
smile.
Il beg your pardon ?" said Lily
mechanically. Oh, how her lace
flushed the minute after She had
been first 10 speak, and had actual
! " addressed herself TO a stranger?
Il am the one to apologizel | am
very awkward, L am surel" cried
the Young man, deliberately repiac-
ing the wrapper.
Lily recovered her sell possession,
bowed coldly, and again took refuge
in peering into the gloomy outer
world.
Suddenly without a note OF prep
aration. they shot into huge dark
tunnel. The transition from day
to night was so swift that Lily al
most screamed, and, do what she
would to recover from the shock,
her heart kept beating SO that she
could scarely breathe.
Here was a situation totally un-
looked for. Neither her aunt nor
her uncle had prepared her mind
for this-alone in the darkness, at
the mercy of this deceptive and
willy stranger, who had no doubt
many subtitle, mechanical contriv-
ances OF command for extracting
pocketbooks from the possession OF
country victims!
Her breath came shorter; she fam
cied she already felt something
touch her pocket. She was no cow
ard-no. 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 soft
Ily along the thick beaver cloth,
plunged it quickly into the pocket
and caught a mans hand firmly in
her own! Ali well, it was done,
and she had it in a strong tight grip
from which, strange to say, it made
no effort TO free itself; but, though
triumphant, no one could ever tell
what that act of justice, that defense
of right, had cost heri
As she held the guilty member
prisoner, her tender woman's heart
softened and plead for.the offender
: against her sterner judgment. 1t
was struggle and a hard one-he
might be young in crime, the victim
: of tempation, of untoward circum-
stances she would not give him
[ over to punishment; she would
rather shield him from retribution
but she must protect her money,
A pale, grayish atmosphere about
, them lasts an instant, then out they
} flash into the clear, bright day, upon
which the laggard, wintry sun had
: Just poured a welcome flood of light
t showing clearly to her own horri-
fled vision, and the deeply medita
tive gaze of her companion her little
> hand thrust deep into his coat-pock-
ct, which closely adjoined her own
and elinched with all the force Of
: its pretty pinkish fingers around
: his quietly imprisoned digits,
: There are some things that hap.
pen in eyeaybody's life Of which the
one mostly concerned knowns no.
thing. Lily Courtney never could
tell till her dying day how her hand
got out of her neighbor's pocket
? She somehow came to herself by
and-bye in a dazed way, her fore
, head resting against the window
glass, and a succession Of crimson
bushes chased each other ever hef
burning checks. Covertlv and by
slow degrees she looked around.
The seat was empty, the suspected
pickpocket-of whom she would
never think without heartfelt shame
had left her TO her rgmination.
They were not very agreeable
ones. She had been taught that We
could not be too suspieiors-she
was ready henceforth to deny the
assertion entirely.
Il wish | bad been robbed rather
than have PIT my hand" she
could 90 no further even in thought.
A blush always interrupted her, u
hope | may never, never see that
gentleman again!" She declared,
energetically; yet even as she said
so, she knew she did not quite mean
it. There was time for no further
mental confict-thank goodness,
there was the city! 1t was two in
the afternoon.
Lily was Just in that mood when
one ceases to be confidential even
with oneself. She would not ae-
knowledge that she saw the stranger
as she crossed the depot; she would
not admit that she was dubious
about the the direction she should
take to reach her brother; in fine.
she was vexed and chagrined. un-
certain and excited, and could not
recognize herself as the resolute
young heroine who had left Green
vile that morning, relying on store
of good counsel backed by heT own
sagacity.
At a little distance from the sta
ton she hailed car, after carefully
reading its lettered sides. When
she consulted the conductor, she
learned she was being carried out
of her way, and with shouted line
or two of directions ringing about
her she descended and took another
with varied but unsatisfactory re-
suit. She wished she had not i'm
bibed a prejudice against hacks and