Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-01-13
Ina different hand was a complicated

and put it in her pocketbook.
That was the first step taken-the rest
followed quickly:
"Uncle and aunt. l am going 10 the
city. My mind is made up, and please
do not say No. You. dear uncle. are
suffering with one OF your worst attacks
of rheumatism, and aunt's head is threat
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
oven 90 to this place she pointed to
the direction in the pocketbook-" after
a little studying of the localities"
She spoke so confident, looked so
brave, and withal SO hopeful, tina. the
good couple could only accept her
strength of purpose as providential, and
I" 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 mir had frozen the tears on her
checks; she look d 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 n handsome sable collar
round his overcoat; in Lily's startled
eye it seemed like II partial mask TO his
face, and when, pointing to the seat, he
bowed is request TO be allowed to share
it, she asscnted with 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 10 show
him pure. oval outline, eyes soft as
velvet and lovely brown in color, IS
! straight nose and n mobile, red-lippcd
mouth-a little compressed and formal
in its set--but sweet "A an opening bud
in June.
Apparently the stranger was suscept-
ib.e to female loyeliness; he threw of
his fur wrapping, adjusted his coat
collar and gave becoming touch to his
hat. He was young and good-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 holiday before choosing
a profession and 50 soon fallen into life's
" slippery way"
Z" Wha. a pity 1t is that evil turks
/ under the most pleasing exteriors, she
/ said TO herself, with q sigh, and then
SHE took furtive peep out of the cor
ner of her eye at her handsome COM
/ panion, which caused her to sigh again
Yes. be was very prepo5sessing, but It
was OF just sucn as he that she had al
ways been told to beware. Evil de-
| lighted to put on an alluring guise; but
ii Was to entrap the unwary. and a
charming, smiling exterior was too fire.
| quently the mask of the tempter.
These solemn warnings all REQUIRED TO
her mind faithfully, but somehow they
gave her no great T leasure.
"It is a pityl" she said, and looked
out on the winlry prospect, with fine
sharp snow sitting through the gray air
and the bare .boughs shivering in
! the wind.
The shawl that Aunt KeziAh'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 pardon?r said Lily,
mechanically. Oh, how her face flushed
the minute after. She had been the first
to speak, and had actually addressed
herself to strAnger9
| " am the one to apologizel | am
very awkward, / am surel" cried the
young man, elaborately replacing the
wrapping.
Lily recovered her selipossessiou,
bowed coldly, and again took refuge in
peering into the gloomy outer world.
Suddenly, without note of prepar-
alton, they shot into huge dark tunnel.
The transition from day tn night WAS 80
swift that Lily almost screamed. and,
do what she would to recover from tho
shock, her heart kept beating so that she
could scarcely breathe.
Here was a situation totally unlocked
for. Neither her aunt nor her uncle had
| rranarad Har mind lnv thta--a lcra l., 81, N