The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-07-16
THAT FADE6 BRAID.
A RAILWAY PHANTAsY.

A RAILWAY PHANTAsY.
The railway train was ready for Pocka-
moe and way-stations. | had taken my
ticket for Battle-Axe. AS l entered the
car stood so long admiring the effects
of the horizontal rays of bright after
noon sun in December on the women's
hats and the mems whiskers, that all
the seats were seized before me. Yet
not all the seats; there was one unoccu-
pied, except by heavy bundle of con-
tract clothing in the rough, and ready
for the needle. The poor sewing-wom-
an to whom the parcel appertained
showed the usual disproportion in size
to weight she had to carry. Why sew
ing-women, as class, are so small and
light, and their bundles are so huge and
heavy, is question in social science not
hard to solve. None but women reduced
will attempt such burdens. The simple
reduction becomes double when they
have assumed the load. If it were less
in quantity, the work would not yield
even the present scanty subsistence.
Only the one seat, and several passen-
gers standing. The conductor looked
at the woman inquiringly She looked
up imploringly. She could not have
taken the babe on her own knees. That
would have been to complete summarily
what the slower process of the needle
must eventually accomplish gradually
her eXtinction.' | came to the rescue,
and said, 81 will hold it." The con-
ductor was relieved the poor woman
was half pleased, half perplexed. But
manfulIy assumed the burden. Charity
mn of al ia HIM
hid me, sins and all, as it was placed
con end" and lowered above my head.
"Perhaps we can share it," said the
owner. Hers was sweet voice, but
suggestive of scanty food and little
strength. And so we arranged it. For
the music of that voice l took the heavy
end. 1t was rather hinderance to
freedom of motion, but tended, as it af-
terward proved, to freedom of thought.
L stole side glance at my neighbor.
She delicately rewarded me with a
smile, and then looked forward, or
turned her face to the window. She was
pretending to be unconscious of the
stolen chances, which | was soon en-
boldened to convert into steady gaze
not a rude gaze, but a respectful
study. 1t did not annoy her, for she had
read in my countenance that | was not
an ogre to be propitiated or man to be
distrusted.
would have dropped the car blinds
for we were on the sunny side-but to
move was impossible, as we agreed in
pantomime; and she contented herself
with the dropping of her eyelids as a
protection against the light. And l gave
myself up, with all assurance, to the
study of the companion to whom l was
fast bound, and, so to say, Siamesed.
Her features were not regular, perhaps,
but her appearance was suggestive of
soul which had endured and could en-
dure still. Her face, though so wasted
that | did imagine that saw the red
light of the setting sun through her
transparent nostrils, still bore indication
of the power to love and to hope. She
was a person of refinement, serene in
her innocence and seif-reliance. There
is dress which expresses defiant, de-
served and careless poverty. And there
are poor toilets, cloth worn threadbare,
textures faded, the memorials of what
has been and is no more, yet carefully
attended to and conserved, as if in the
tokens of better days comfort could still
be taken. took in all these circum-
stances, and as my neighbours feigned
sleep grew real, and her guard over her.
self diminished, her shawl falling open
showed braided jacket. And under
her chin was a well-worn ruflle of a sort
OF domestic lace which some of the la
dies used to weave-perhaps they do
now-with their own fair fingers.
received it as compliment that she
had fallen asleep. Whatever her fatigue
in bargaining and walking in the city
may have had to do with her drowsi-
ness, it was an evidence of her conf
dence in the gentleman who volunteered
tnconvenience-yes absolute discom-
fort-for a poor woman. A woman
without bracelets or earrings, or a
beetle or a lizard in her hair, or purse
in her hand, or a seal-skin sacque, or an
Ulster, which, under acknowledging ug-
illness, hides all other, should not and
does not count on mans gallantry on
railway train. He is a gentleman, and
much more, who accords it; and as
such, am sure, she thought me. And
so in confidence she slept; but she did
not dream of me, happen to know.
A broken glove had exposed on her
finger the marks of needle and coarse
colored thread-marks to be aggravated
and renewed by the bundle which began
to press upon me like the nightmare.
When that faded finery was new, the
face of that woman could not have been
so wan. the cheeks so hollow. When