Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-02-01
[From Tinsley's Magazine.l
UNDER THE MIDNIGHT LAMP.
FOUNDED ON FACT.

| am a doctor, a busy professional
man, whose time is money; whenever,
therefore, can save it, [ do. Many and
many a night have I passed in the train,
counting the hours thus gained as a
miner does his gold. Upon this point,
unfortunately, my little wife and / do
not agree; and it is, [ think, the only
point upon which we do not. Eight
hours III a comfortless railway compart-
ment, rolled up in your plaid like a
snake in your blanket, instead of in your
comfortable sheets, stretched over a
comfortable spring mattress-no, she
can not be made to see the propriety of
the exchange, nor will she believe that I
sleep quite as well, if not disturbed, in
the plaid as In the sheets.
The train was just off as [ sprang in,
and the shock of the start landed me in
my seat. Beingof a slow, placid nature,
| was Ill no hurry to recover from the
shock; and we were fairly off, speeding
away as only an English express can
speed, before I looked around. [ had
not the carriage to myself, as [ had at
first supposed; a lady occupied the
further end; and at the first glance, in
spite of the dim light and the fact of her
veil being down, [ saw that her eyes, IN
naturally large and intense In their ex-
preston, were fixed upon me. / at all
times prefer a carriage to myself, and if
a companion [ must have, let it be a
gentleman, not a lady; but there was no
help for 1t, the lady was there, and, more
over, she was looking at me. $50 she
may, [ said to myself, /" that shall not
prevent my making myself as comforta-
BILE as circumstances will allow" Slow
~ and deliberately, therefore, / removed
my hat, substituting for it cloth cap,
which L drew well down over my ears;
then ] folded my arms and composed
myself to sleep. But in vain; the eyes
OF my fellow-passenge haunted me; [
saw them just as distinctly as if my own
eyes were open. Was she Watching me
still? Involuntarily [ looked up and
round, and my look met hers, full, burn
ing, intense, and far more of meaning in
it than I could fathom. It was getting
decidedly unpleasant, and L was now
growing decidedly uncomfortable; try as
L might, could not keep my eyes
closed; hers were on me, and meet them
I must.
In her attitude, too, as well as in her
look there was something strange and
mysterious. Huddled up in a corner,
she seemed to be holding something close
pressed to her, beneath the long, loose
mourning cape, bending low over it In
crouching posture. Once or twice, her
eyes still fixed upon mine, [ saw her
shiver; but for that slight, convulsive
movement she sat perfectly still and
motionless.
Was she cold? I offered her my plaid,
glad of an opportunity to break the
ominous silence. If she would but
speak, make some commonplace remark,
the spell might be broken.
50 I am not cold"
A commonplace remark enough; but
the spell was not broken. The mystery
that lay in her eyes lay also in her
voice.
What should I try next ? I looked at
my watch-11 80 o'clock; our train speed
ing on OF furious rate, no chance of a
stoppage for some time to come, and the
full, wide open gaze of my motionless
companion not for one moment removed
from my face. 1t was unpleasant certain
ly. If I changed my position, faced the
window instead of her, she must remove
her eyes from ny face at least. But
there was sort of fascination about her
and her look. which I preferred meeting
to Sinking, knowing it was on me all the
time.
There was nothing for it, then, but to
give up all hope of sleep, and make the
best Of my position and companion,
whom I now observed more closely.
That she was a Lady there could be little
doubt: there was that in her dress and
appearance that was unmistakable. That
she was pretty, there could be little
doubt either; those great dark, intensely
dark eyes, the thick coils of warm burn
ished hair, the small pale features, seen
dimIy beneath the vail; yes, she was
young, pretty, a lady, and IN trouble.
So far I got, but no further. How came
she to be travelling alone at that time Of
night, and with that look on her face
What could it be that she was holding
pressed so closely to her, and yet so care
fully kept out of sight? From the size
and uncertain outline, I should have
guessed it to be a child; but then, there
was not the faintest motion, nor could
she have held even sleeping infantlong
in that position. Il Think that something
of curiosity must have been betrayed in