The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-09-09
UNDER THE MIDNIGHT LAMP.

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UNDER THE MIDNIGHT LAMP.
I am a doctor, busy professional
man, whose time is money; whene, er
therefore, / can save it, L 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
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 n snake in its 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 / sleep quite as we'll, if not dis
turbed, in the plaid as in the sheets.
The train was Just off as / sprang in
and the shock of the start landed me in
my scat. 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 car
speed, before / looked round. I had
not the carriage to myself, as had al
first supposed; lady occupied the
further end and at the first glance
spite of the dim light and the fact o.
her veil being down, saw that her eyes
unnaturally large and intense in theil
expression, were fixed upon me. / al
oil times prefer a carriage to myself
and if a companion l must have, let il
be gentleman, not lady; but there
was no help for it the lady was there
and moreover, she was looking at me
$50 she may" / said to myself F; "that
shall not prevent my making myself as
comfortable as circumstances will al
low." Slowly and deliberately, there
fore, I removed my hat, substituting fol
it cloth cap, which / drew we'll down
over my ears then folded my arm,
and composed myself to sleep. But ir
vain the eyes of my fellow-passengei
haunted me; saw them as distinctly
as if my own were open. Was sh,
watching me still? Involuntarly
looked up and round, and my look ne
hers, full, burning, intense, with fal
more meaning in it than l eould Mt al
fathom. 1t was getting decidedly un
pleasant, and was growing decidedly
uncomfortable (; try as might 1 could
not keep my eyes closed hers We're oil
me and meet them l must.
In her atiitnde too, as well rs in hen
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 ovel
it in crouching posture. Once OF
twice, her eyes still fixed upon mine,
saw her sLiver; but for that slight con
vulsive movement. she sat perfectly still
and motionless.
Was she cold? 1 offered her m,
plaid, glad of an opportunity to bresl
the ominous silence. II she would bu
speak, make some commonplace remark
the spell might be broken.
81 am not cold"
A commonplace remark enough bu
the spell was broken. The myster,
that lay in her eyes lay also in he
voice.
What should I try next? looked a
my watch--11:30 our train speeded oil
at furious rate, no chance of a stoppag,
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 changed my position
face the window instead of her, she mus
remove her eyes from my face at last
But there was sort of fascination abou
her and her look which i preferred
meeting to Sinking, knowing that /
was ON me all the time.
There was nothing for it, then, but t.
give up all hope of sleep, and make tn
best of my position and companion
whom now observed more closely
That she was a 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 @
warm, FURNISHED hair, the small, pal
features, seen dimly beneath the veil
yes, she was young, pretty, lady, an
in trouble. So far got and no farther
H.w came she to be travelling alone o
tAlut tiluC VI hiit HitA loOh u
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 a child bu
then, there was not tho faintest motor
nor could she have held sleepin
infant even long in that position.
think that something of curiosity mus
been betrayed in my look, for her ow
dsrkened and deepened into a perfe'
agony OF doubt and fear.
Ashamed, l withdrew my gaze I
once, and drawing out my note-bool
was about to make memorandum, whel
with a sudden forward movement, 81
. fell ct my feet arresting my hand l
tho agonized grasp Of her own, II
burning contact sending through me
painful thrill.
Don't betray mel Don't give m
up to him Oh, don't am I
; frightened !"
Q 1t was but whisper, breathed OF
!. rather than spoken, yet it shuddere
through me like cry.
cannot always hide il / cann
:: always bear it about with me; it breal
y my heart, and lam so tired"