Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-09-22
THROUGH THE TUNNEL.

IL WAS q Drlgnt, clear, cold, morning IN
early December. When kathie entered
the car there was scarcely vacant seat
to be seen. To be sure, there was one
stout old gentleman sitting alone, but
he was next to the aisle, and seemed 50
deeply absorbed in thought that Kathie
disliked to disburb him. Then there
was middle-aged woman, but she had
numberless parcels and wraps in the sea,
beside her, and her appearance, take her
all in all, was so forbidding as she looked
tixedly out of the window, that kathie
passed her by. There was but one more
seat unoccupied. 1t was beside a gentle
man who sat close to the window reading
paper.
SIS this seat engaged?" asked Kathie,
with timid hesitancy.
ait is not" was the answer, in a pleas
ant tone; "but," springing up as he
spoke, "would you prefer the seat by the
Window"
"Oh no! Thank you! Not at ALI"
murmured Kathie, and she sat down be-
side him.
The gentleman turned his attention
again to his paper, and Kathie immedi-
ately fell to wishing that she had taken
the seat by the window. For the gen.
tleman sat at her right hand and her
purse was in her cloak-pocket, and had
not her Aunt Kate warned her over and
over again to be ON her guard against
pick k-pocksts, and had declared that they
were quite as likely to be young, sgreea-
BILE and polite as the reverse? And was
not this person all three! kathie stole
a shy glance at him. His dark eyes were
intenty fixed on his newspaper. He
was fine looking and we'll dressed, and,
to all intents, quite oblivious of her ex-
istence. kathie wondered demurely
what sort of an expression his face would
wear if he knew that any one thought
that he might perhaps be pick-pocket.
She might take her purse and hold it
in her hand, but that would seem osten-
tatious and tiresome; moreover there
would be ample time for that when the
gentleman-he looked like gentleman
certainly-should put down his paper
and Kathie could no longer see his
hands
1t was her first trip to Boston quite
alone. Aunt Kate had always been
with her before, to take care of her BUT
this year Aunt kate's rheumatism, was
80 much worse than usual that she did
not hope to he equal to a trip to Boston.
And 80 it came about that Kathie,
feeling quite old and responsible. was on
her way, this bright December morning,
to the city. She mentally planned her
days work and portioned out her money
for the various things she WAS intending
to buy. While Kathie was thus en-
gagged the train swept into the tunnel.
AS it grew dark the gentleman beside
her put down his paper, turning slightly
towards kathie as he did so. And
then kathie was sure she felt stealthy
motion towards her cloak pocket. Quick
as thought her hand went down to seize
her purse, when-oh, horrors!-there
was the mans hand in her pocket.
kathie did not withdraw her hand. On
the contrary, being resolved to protect
her property at all hazard, she felt
about with her fingers as well as she
could for her purse, but could not find
it. 1t was already gone.
Then Kathie seized the intruding hand
with the frmness of desperation, fully
determined to make an alarm as soon as
the cars emerged into daylight again.
If he did not have the purse in his hand,
there at least was his hand in her pocket
and some of the passengers would see
her righted and her purse restored
Fortunately, her purse had her name
printed ON the inside. How long the
minutes seemed before the train came
out again into the light! Then Kathie,
still clasping firmly the mans hand,
looked up and down the aisle with spark,
ling eyes and flushed cheeks, for the
conductor.
II beg your pardon" said her captive
in such low tone that Kathie could
scarcely catch the words, "but have you
not made mistake in the pocketw
Kathie gave one swift glance. Coed
heavens! Her hand was in his pocket
If she had touched burning coal she
could not have relinquished her hold and
withdrawn her hand more promptly
She was overcome with confusion. She
ventured one deprecatory glance at the
gentleman. His expressive face wore a
mischievous smile.
II thought" began Kathie, tremu
lously, but she could get no further
The revulsion of feeling was too great
The brightness of her eyes was suddenly
guenched by gathering tears, and bel
lip quivered ominously.
"That it was your pocket, of course, d
said the gentleman, completing her SEN
tence. II understand, perfectly. Pray
do not let the mistake disturb you," HI
continued, with imploring earnestness
In the midst of her distress Kathis
could not help thinking how musical his
voice was.
Kathia became outwardly composed
sitter awhile, but her mind was still in q