South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-05-12


IN early December. When kathie
entered the car there WAS scarcely
vacant scat TO DE seen. To lie sure
there was one stout old gentleman SIT
ting alone but he was next to the aisle
and seemed so deeply absorbed in
thought that Katbie disliked to dis.
turb mm. Then there was a middle.
aged woman, but she had numberless
wraps and parcels IN the seat beside
her, and her appearance, take her all
IN all, was so forbidding as she looked
iixedly out of the window that kathic
passed her by. There was but one
more seat unoccupied. ltwas beside
gentleman who eat close 10 the win.
dow reading n paper.
is this seat engaged?' asked Kaihie
with timid hesitancy.
1T is not. was the answer in pleas.
ant tone; but springing up as he
spoke, would you prefer the seat by
the Window
ooh, no! Thank you! Not at all =
murmured Kathie, and she So, down
beside him.
The gentleman turned his attention
again 10 the paper, and Kathie immc-
diately fell wishing that she had taken
the seat by the window. For the
gentleman sat at her right hand, and
her purse was in her cloak pocket, and
bad not aunt Kate warned her over
and over again to be on her guard a.
gainst pickpookets, and had declared
that they were quite as likely to be
young, agreeable and polite as the
reverse? And was not this person
al! here? Katlie stole sly glance
at him. His dark eyes were intenily
fixed on his newspaper lie was fine
looking and well dressed, and to all
intentsquite oblivious Of her existence.
hathie wondered dc,nurely what sort
0, en- expression his face would wear
II he knew that any one thought he
might perhaps be pickpocket.
She might take her purse and hold
1t ia her hand, bat tina; would seem
osten;atious and tiFcsome, moreover
there would be time for that when
the geutlcman-h looked Ike n gen
ueman certaiuly-should put down
his paper aud KatAie could no longer
watch his hands.
Then kathie's thoughts slipped in
to most agreeable channel. She
thought OF the Christmas gifts sire was
going to buy, and or the other shops
Ping she was going 10 do. 1t was her
trst trip to Boston quite alone. Aunt
Kate had always been with her before,
TO take care OF her and help her select
Christmas gifts, but this year aunt
Katc's rheumatism was so much worse
than usual that she did not hope to be
equal to trip to Boston Cor the win.
ter, and as 1t was already nearing
Christmas there was nothing to be
doue but TO let Kath;e 90 alone And
so 1t came abodt that Kathie feeling
quite old and responsible, was on her
way, this bright December morning,
10 the city. She mentally planned
her days work and portioned out her
money for the various things she waa
intending TO buy There was the
book for her Sunday school, the shell
comb for aunt Kate, the engraving Tor
cousin Will, that must be especially
fine and nicely framed, since il was to
do double duty as a Christmas and
wedding gift. Should IL be copy OF
some celebrated OLD picture, or some
attractive group, full Of modern life
and interest? While Kathie was try
ing to decide this question, and was
reviewing with her minds eyes, all
tie finest and most beautiful engrav.
lngs that she had over seen, the train
swept into the tunnel.
As Il grew dark the gentleman be.
side her put down bio paper, turning
slightly towards kathie as he did so.
And then Katbie was sure she felt g.
stealthy motion towards her cloak poe
ket. Quick as thought her hand went
down TO seize her purse, when-oh.
horrors: there was the mans hand i'm
her pocket! Kathie did no. withdraw
her band on the contrary, being re.
solved 10 protect her property at all
hazards, she felt about with Der fin
gers rs well as she could for her purse.
but could not fud It. twas Already
gone Then Kathie seized the intru,
ding hand with the frmncss Of dcs,
peration, fully determined to make
an alarm "a soon as the cars emerged
into daylight again. L. be did not
have the purse in lis hand, there at
least was his hand IN her pocket, aud
some Of the passengers would SEQ her
righted aud Der purse restored. For.
tunately Ter parse had her name prin.
ted or tie inside. How long the min,
ntes seemed before the train came
ou! into light! Then Kaihie, still
grasPiag dnmly fire mans hand, took.
ed Up and down the aisle, with spark
ling eyes aud flushed cheek, Tor the
conductor.
Il beg your pardon, said her cap.