The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-01-13
ESCAPED.

II WIS Il DIJleE UlHub III JaOudTF-a nlgnJ
when homeless wanderers sank down frozen
to DEATH and the very marrow seemed to con-
geal in ones bones.
There's one advantage in steam, said
fat old gentleman. in the corner seat. ''vvfnd
and weather don't affect it. No flesh and
blood horse could stand a night like this. but
the iron horse keeps straight ahead though
the thermometer is at zero or at boiling wa
ter heat"
Just then the conductor entered.
Tickets, gentlemen, if you please"
CTS a dreadful night, conductor" I said,
feeling with stiffened fingers, for my ticket.
dreadful, siI," feelingly responded the
conductor. "Why, the brakemer can't live
outside. and so look the other way when
they creep in, poor fellows, to get a breath
Of warm air at the stove"
And the conductor opened the door and
plunged across the coupling into the next
car, crying out:
''Hardwick 20
1t was quite a considerable city, with
handsome iron depot, and the usual crowd
around the platform, with their hands in
their pockets and their cigar ends aglow.
Our car was nearly the last of the long
train, and but one passenger entered-a sIen-
der yOung girl, wrapped in a gray blanket
shawl and wearing neat little travelling hat
of gray straw, trimmed with stone -coIored
velvet flowers. She seemed to hesitate, like
one unused to travelling, and finally sat down
near the door
pardon me, young lady, said I, ''but
you had better come nearer the stove"
She started, hesitated an instant, and then
obeyed1
'Does this train go on to Bayswater?" she
asked, in a voice so deliciously soft that it
seemed to Thrill through me.
eyes. Can / be of any service to you %
"Oh, nO-at least not until we reach Bays
water. 7 would like a carriage there
eve shall not be there for three hours yet"
'Do we stop again o.
"Onlv al Exmouth'
She drew deep sigh, seemingly Of relief,
and then settled back in her corner. By the
light Of the lamp I could see her face plain
" Apparently she was not more than six
teen. with large blue ewes, golden hair drawn
straight away from her face, and little rosy
mouth like that of a baby
"Do You expect friends to meet you at
Bayswater, my child ?'' asked.
''No, sir; I am going to school there"
cit will be an awkward hour to arrive by
youTself-one in the morning.
ooh, am not afraid she said, with an
artless little laugh 81 shall 90 straight to
the seminary"
So the train thundered on with steady,
ceaseless pulsing at its iron heart, and a con-
slant roar. Suddenly the signal whistles
F sounded, and the train began to slacken its
speed.
I "Surcly we are not at Exmouth yet ?" I
thought; unless I had fallen unconsciously
asleep and allowed the progress of time to
I escape me.
| glanced at my watch it was barely half
/ past eleven, and knew We were not due at
Exmouth until twelve
I rubbed the frost from the window pane
and looked out. We had stopped at a little
way-station in the midst of dense pine woods,
'Is this Exmouth -
1t was the soft voice of the pretty traveller
opposite.
''No I don't know what place it is; some
way-station."
'DOes this train stop at way-stations
''Never, generally: they must have been
specially signaled here. You are cold, my
child-your voice trembles"
cit is cold" she said family, drawing heI
shawl around her. cob wish they would
hurry on -
We are moving once more" 1 said
Conductor the man of tickets was
passing through the cars-"why did you stop
at this backwoods place ."
'Out of water 20 was the reply, as he bur.
riedly passed by.
Now l knew perfectly well that this an
swer was not the real solution of the matter
Our delay had not exceeded half a minute
altogether too short time for replenishinS
the boilers aud where on earth was the wa
ter to come from in that desolate stretch Of
barren pine woods Five minutes after, the
conductor entered the:car; made room fol
him at my side
"Sit down, conductor-you have nothing
to do just this minute
He obeyed.
"What did you mean by telling me such
lie Just now? 2" / spoke it under my breath
He replied, in the same tone
About what 90