Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-08
with me has got them both. .

lack Of respe in referring to my absent
lord, but drew myself up and looked
severely out OF the window.
Well, you can't go back to New
York" observed my tormentor. sum
marily. "The best thing for Won to do
IS to get out and look for your gentle
man, miss" Saying which, he jerked
my bag down from the rack, turned the
opposite seat, which Charlie had in
verted, back into its place. and, by a
species OF moral suaslon, caused me to
pick up my shawls, parasols, etc, and
follow him IN abjact submission to the
door.
Now, where did the gentleman 60 2"
he demanded, as he handed me out on
the platirom.
" He went to get me some lunch" l
Iepled, almost ready. at this crisis, to
disgrace my bridehood and cry.
and told you to sit still. did he ?
Well, you stand right here and keep a
lookout for him. There's the Boston
train over there, goes in fifteen minutes.
and he can't get into it without your see
ing him, If he amt inside already: and
my advice is, stick fast to him if YOU find
nm, for he must need looking after"
With which remarkable words the man
sci down my bag, and wlnked at a by
stantler.
What's the row ?" inquired the per-
son thus invited to partic pate in the
enjoyment OF my woes. Then they
whlspered-about me, ! suppose-and
everybody turned and st red at me.
Poor little bride! There / stood,
holding fast my parasol, with a shawl on
one arm, my own snail sachel on the
other, ard Charles bigger one at my
teet, foailag like very lone, lotn crit
ter indie d. There stood three men in
knot, contemplating me, and any
quantity of the same species coming
and gong, who all looked ut me as they
passed, au then turned round ana stared
a9aia-and there was no Charlie visible
IN al the range Of surrounding country.
Dire thoughts began to be born within
me, and to turn me cold and damp with
eX RENE terror; the nightmare of my
Infancy" being LOST "-came back
upon me and crushed my II V, ars and
the new dignity Of Mrs. Charles Vail.
Jr., with a fell swoop What was to be-
come Of me? Surprising there had
been an accident, AID Charlie knocked
down aud awfully mangled, or that he
had Just vanished away, as one occa-
sionally hears OF respectable gentlemen
having done, and never would appear
again, or be heard of at all ; supposiHg
L We're Just to stand there waiting, the
trains shrieldng away in the distance,
and night coming on, and all these
strange men staring and whispering?
Pretty soon [ should begin to cry, for [
couIdn' stand it much longer and here
began to feel for my pocket-handker-
chef, and that reminded me of my
pocket-book as a slight resource. L
dived to the utmost corner of my pocket
before | remembered that | had contided
it to Charlie, with wifelv duty. at the
very outset Of our wedding trip.
AT this alarming discovery a cold
moisture broke out upon my entire
frame. A night passed under the lee of
the depot, crouched among my little
possessions, now doomed before me-ln-
less | could denosit the sane posses
sions, or pawn my diamond ring and my
gold bracelets for a nights lodging and
a ticket back to New York. [ suppose
the horror depicted on my eountenance
was sufficient challenge for inquiry. |
don't know to what extent it must have
reached, but somebody apperedto fndit
moving, for a benevolent voice presently
saluted my ears.
Are You waiting for anybody, Miss
turned around with gasp Of alarm,
which suhsidel a little, however, when
| met an elderly face, specialized and be-
nign in the extreme.
Excuse me, Miss, said the old gen.
tleman in sympathzlng tone, are
you waiting for any one 2"
"T-I-yes, sir-Tm waiting for"
came to dead stop. For Charlie,
should say? "My husband" was
step beyond ttterance just now. l only
turned scarlet, choked and twisted the
handle OF my bag in silence.
=" Is tn re anything ! can do for YOU ?"
"I-don't know where to go p [
burst out, quite involnntarily. "They
told me to change cars, and didn't ex
pect to, and don't know what to 10. .
My new friend 10 'Ied bewiIlered and
came step nearer, as he inquired, in
solemenly lowered voice Are you
alone !"
No, no." said very quickly, under
my breath
Who is with you ?" said he, with
kind Of confidential compassion that
little confused me. | did not under
stand it.
"Ny-a-a gentleman" | faltered
out He went ont to get me some
thing. and he told me to SIT stiil and not
move; and man came and made me
change cars-and / don't know what
cars we were to take-and-I-I don't
see him anywhere.
Here [ choked, and fell to biting my
lips and winking my two eyes hard to
wink the tears down.
"A gentleman !" repeated my friend.
solemnly BY this time two more men
had drawn near to listen. "Your
father?"
"No."
Brother, then ?" very mysteriou~ly.
emo"
1 began to get very red and uncom-
Portable, and to wish that they wouldn't
stare so.
Where are you going, my dear?'
asked the first Samaritan, after a solemn
pause of some minutes.
. don't know, / answered, family.
" He didn't tell me ne Just said, when
| he went 10 get me some lunch, that |
wasn't tomoye if the man sid to change
cars, for we We're going through and
| told the man so, but he made me
change.
=" That trains going back 10 New
| fasA slli one of the last arrivals.
| grjnning. Going through to Boston.
was you?
. doa't know where | was going, /
answered, very shortly.
Let me see your ticket, said the old
| gentleman, feellncly.
| lie hal compassionate way of look
ing at me over his spectacles; and he
looked qreerer still when l answered
/ family He's eot t-and-and-mv
mon u -and-Oh, why don't he come p
Here I east loose all ceremony and
/ burs INTO tears
OF. don't cry now, said the old
/ gentleman, soothmglv Dcn't low !
| I'm ha III right-yol'n be taken care
| of. Whore did the-vour friend-whcre
! dlti 30 AZ (Which way
doa't know, Isoabe1 from behind
| My luadk ecnief
/ Went to get some lunch, did he say?
I Well, now, can't YOU tell me what sort
Of looking person ne was, and then
i perhaps We can find HIM? Was he
+ young or old2"
/" Young, l murmured. still behind a
+ barrier Of cambria. s'W-With a yellow
laustache, and g-grey clothes and a
straw ha,.
Pretty bad business +" one of the