Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-10-27


out, quite involuntarily. "They told me
to change cars, and 1 didn't expect to, and
1 don t know what in the world to do"
My new friend looked bewildered, and
came a step nearer, as he inquired, in a
solemnly lowered voice:
"Are you alone?"
mo. no." 1 said very quickly, under
my breath.
"Who is with youY' said he, with kind
OF confidential compassion that a little
confused me. I did not understand it.
'My-a-a gentleman faltered out
''He went to get me something and be
told me to sit still and not move; and a
man came and made me change cars-and
1 don't know what ears we we're to take
and-I-I don't see him anywhere"
Here I choked. and fell to biting my lip
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 fatherY'
mo"
''Brother. then?' very mysteriously.
"N-no."
| began to get very red and uncomforta.
Ale, and to wish they wouldn't stare so.
"Where are you going, my dear?" asked
the solemn Samaritan, after solemn
pause Of some minutes.
81 don't know" I answered family.
"He didn't tell me. be just said, when be
went to get me some lunch, that WASH It
to move when the man said to change
cars, for we were gong through; and ]
told the man so, but he made me change >
THAT train s going back to New York, .
said one of the last arrivals, grinning
Coming through to Boston. was you?''
II don't know where was going," l
answered, very shortly.
lie. me see your ticket p said the old
gentleman feelingly.
He had compassionate way of looking
at me over his spectacles; and he looked
queerer still when 1 answered family
Hes got it-and-and--my money-and
oh, why don't he Gomez"
Here cast loose all ceremony and burst
into tears.
"Oh, don't cry, now," said the old gen
tleman, soothingly. "Don't now! It'll
be all right-younl be taken care of
Where did the-your friend-go?-whic1
way?"
II don't know" sobbed from behin6
my handkerchief
Went to get some lunch, did he say,
Well, now, can't you tell me what sort O.
looking person he was, and then perhaps
we can find him? Was he young or old?'
Young" murmured, still behind ;
barrier of cambria. "W-with yellow
mustache, and g-gray clothes and straw
hat"
Pretty bad business!' one of the mer
muttered aside to another. "Sharp fel
low!" responded second. And then Their
some antistrophes of whats the mat
ter?" Its shame!'' "Left her, die
hep" from small crowd that had by thi
time started up around me.
"Well, now. just come in here and ST
down." said my old gentleman, paternalll
gathering up my bag; "and compose your
self, my dear, and we'll see what can b.
done. Don't cry! it'll only furry you, ant
won't do any good, you know. There
that's right" For wiped my eyes with
the remnant of a sob. pulled my veil down
and was turning to follow him, when, be
hold! as l swept the landscape DER will
one last look of desperation, there ap
peared Charlie-gray clothes, and straw
hat and yellow mustache, and all. comins
from the dim distance, with a brown pa
per parcel under each arm.
"There he ISL shrieked, dropping bag
and parasol in my ecstacy, and rushing
down the platform with extended arms
"There he ISL Oh, call him, somebody
tell him I'm here! Make him look this
way!'
"Where? which? where is hep" crieG
half dozen men quite excitedly.
Him in the straw hat, with the bun
dies? Halloa, sir! Halloa! Stop him!'
and three small boys and one man started
in pursuit.
Poor Charleyl There he came, hurry
ing along in our direction, rather swiftly
it is true, but quite at his ease, and with 3
smiling face, when my four champions gave
chase. And just as they had uplifted
their voices, and just as Charles eyes
sweeping the surrounding scene. appeared
to light upon them-just then did the 10.
connective behind which we had been sit.
ting fifteen minutes before, and which had
been backing and snorting, and advancing
and backing again, after the manner OF
trains, chose its time to set up shrek and
a violent ringing of the bell, and to 60
pulling off on its way back to New York.
And Charlie first started wildly, and then
turned around and chased the locomotive,
and the three small boys and the man
chased him, rending the air with shouts of
Stop him!''
But Charlie couldn't keep up with the
train very long, and the impotency of his
efforts seemed to break upon him sudden
ly; after he had run himself very hot and
damp, and shed all the hot buns from his
brown paper parcel for twenty yards along
the track, he turned and faced his pursu.
ers like man at bay, and figuratively
speaking, they all fell upon him.
'Stop there! where are you goingp"-
"Come back after your lady, you scamp!''
"Ain't you ashamed of yourself" shouted
the small boy in ecstacy WANTED to
run away, did you? Didn't do it that
time, old fellow!"
"What the d. do you wantp" said Char