Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-05-03
THROUGH THE TUNNEL.

1t was a bright, clear, cold morning
in early December. When Kathie enter
ed the car there was scarcely n vacant
seat to be seen. To be sure, there was
one stout, old gentleman sitting alone,
but he was next TO the aisle, and seemed
so deeply absorbed in thought that
Kathie disliked to disturb him. Then
there was a middle-aged woman, but
she had numberless parcels and wraps
in the seat beside her, and her appear
ance, take her all in all, was so forbid
ding as she looked fixedly out of the
window, that Kathie passed her by.
There was but one seat unoccupied. 1t
was beside a gentleman who sat close
to the window reading paper.
''Is this seat cngagedP" asked Kathie.
with timid hesitancy.
at is not, was the answer, in a
pleasant tone; "but," springing up as
he spoke, would you prefer the seat by
the Window
''Oh no! Thank you! Not at ALL"
murmured Kathie, and sat down beside
him.
The gentleman turned his attention
again to his paper, and Kathie imme-
diately fell to wishing that she had taken
the seat by the window. For the gen.
tleman sat at her right hand and her
purse was in her cloak pocket, and had
not her Aunt Kate warned her over and
over again to be on her guard against
pick-pockets, and had declared that
they were quite as likely to be young,
agreeable and polite as the reverse?
And was not this person all three!
Kathie stole shy glance at him. His
dark eyes were intently fixed on his
newspaper. He was fine looking and
we'll dressed, and to all intents, quite
oblivious of her existence. Kathie
wondered demurely what sort of an ex-
preston his face would wear if be knew
that any one thought that he might per-
haps be pick-pocket
She might take her purse and hold it
in her hand, but that would seem os-
tentatious and tiresome; moreover there
would be ample time for that when the
gentleman-he looked like gentleman
certainly--should put down his paper
and Katie could no longer see his
hands.
1t was her first trip to Boston quite
alone. Aunt Kate had always been with
her before to take care of her. but this
year Aunt Hates rheumatism was so
much wor than usual that she did not
hope to be equal to n trip to Boston.
And so it came about that Kathie,
feeling quite old and responsible, was
on her way this bright December morn
ing to the city. She mentally planned
her days work and portioned out her
money for the various things she was
intending to buy. While Kathie was
thus engaged the train swept into the
tunnel.
AS it grew dark the gentleman beside
her put down his paper, turning slightly
towards Kathie as he did so. And then
Kathie was sure she felt stealthy mo-
ton towards her cloak pocket. Quick
as thought her hand went down to seize
her purse, when,-oh, horrors! there
was the mans hand in her pocket. Ka-
THE did not withdraw her hand. On
the contrary being resolved to protect
her properly at all hazard, she felt
about with her fingers as well as she
could for her purse, but could not find
it. 1t was already gone.
Then Kathie seized the intruding
hand with the firmness of desperation,
fully determined to make an alarm as
soon as the cars emerged into daylight
again. If he did not have the purse in
his hand, there, at least, was his hand
in her pocket, and some of the passen-
gers would see her righted and her
purse restored, Fortunately her purse
had her name printed on the inside.
How long the minutes seemed before
the train came out again into the light!
Then Kathie still clasping firmly the
mans hand, looked up and down the
aisle with sparkling eyes and flushed
cheeks, for the conductor.
al beg Pojlr pardon" said her cap
tive in sucn low tone that Kathie
could scarcely catch the words, 'but
have you not made a mistake in the
pocket"
Kathie gave one swift glance. Good
heavens! Her hand was in his pocket!
II she had touched a burning coal she
could not have relinqnished her hold
and withdrawn her hand more prompt
ly. She was overcome with confusion.
She ventured one deprecatory glance at
the gentleman. His expressive face
wore mischievous smile.
al thought" began Kathie tremul-
ously, but she could get no further.
The revolution of her feeling was toe
great. The brightness of her eyes was
suddenly quenched by greater tears,
and her lip quivercd ominously.
THAT it was your pocket, of course v
said the gentleman, completing her sen.
tence. II understand perfectly. Pray