Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-01-26

STAUNTON, VIRGINIA, FIR
able companion one who can convers
and whose conversation has sufficient sui
stance in it to make one forget the lengt
aud the dreariness of the journey. In tni
respect had No deficiency to complain OF
the lady being decidedly and agreeab'
vc--etional. When she had settles
herself to her sarlsractiIasag she asked IL - .
allowed to look at nv Bradshaw, and nf
being proficient in that difficult work
she requested my aid in ascertainine
what time the train passed through Ret
ford again on its way back from L"ndo
to York. The conversation turned after
wards on general topics. and somewhat
nv surprise she led it into such particnla
subjects rs might be, supposed to be NOR
esp cially familiar with indeed, cOul
NOE avoid Remaining that her entire man
ner, while it was anything but forward
was that of one who had either known N
personally or by report. There was in be
manner a kind Of confidential reliance
when she listened to me that is not usual
accorded to stranger. and sometimes sh
actually seemed to refer to different cir
cumstances with which had been con
nected IN times past. After about three
quarters of an hours conversation th,
train arrived at Rstford, where I was Il
change carriages. On my alightlnR and
wishing her good-morning, she made
slight movement of the hand. IS If sht
meant me toshake 1t. and On my doinf
80 she said, by way of adieu: Il DARE
say we shall meet again. to which
replied: II hope we shall all NEE,
again." and 80 parted, she goin e
on thu line towards London and
through Lincolnshire to A.. The re-.
rnainder of the journey was cold, wet and
dreary' missed the agreeable converse
tion and tried to supply its place with a
book had brought with me from York
and the Times newspaper, which had
procured at Retford. But the most disa-
Rreeahle journey comes to an end at last.
and $50 in the evening found me at the
termination OF mine. A carriage was wait
ing for me at the station, where Mr.. Kirk.
beck was also expected by the same train,
but as he did not appear it was concluded
he would come by the next-half an hour
later ; accordingly the Carriage drove away
with myself only.
The family being from home at the mo-
ment and the dinner hour being Z, went
at once to my room to unpack and to dress.
Having completed these operations I de-
scended 10 the drawing room. 1t proba-
bly, wanted some time to the dinner hour.
as the lamps were not lighted. but in their
place large blazing fire threw food of
light into every corner of the road, and
more especially over lady who, dressed
in deep black. was standing bv the chin.
ney piece warming very handsome foot
on the edge of the fender. Her face being
turned away from the door by which had
entered, did not at first see her features.
On my advancing into the middle of the
room. however. the foot was immediately
and she turned round to accost
me, when, to my profound astonishment.
perceived that it was none other than
nv companion in the railway carriage.
She betrayed no surprise at seeing me. On
The contrary. with one of those agreeable
Joyous expressions that makes the plainest
Y ,men appear beautiful, she accos ed me
with: Il said we should meet again.
My bewilderment at that moment al.
most deprived me Of utterance. I knew
If no railway or other means by which she
could have come. l had certainly left her
n London train and had seen it. start
and the ONLY conceivable way in which she |
could have come was by going to Peter. |
borough and then returning by bran, b
% A, a circuit of about ninety miles.
Is soon as my surprise enabled ma 70
peak. said that wished had come nv
he same conveyance as herself.
THAT woula nave be en- rather difficnlt. ,.
he rejDined
AZ this moment the servant came with
he lamps and informed me that his mas.
Pr had just arrived and would be down in
few minutes. e.
The lady took up hook containing
bme enRravin9s, and having singled one
ut IA portrait Of Lady Al. asked me
, look at it we'll and tell her whether
bought it like her.
l was engaged trying 70 get M an opin
IN when Mr.. ard Mrs. Kirkb. ok entered
nd. shaking me heartily by the hand.
polopized for not being at home to re-.
GIVE me; the gentleman ended by reanest.
lg me to take Mrs. Kirkbeck in to din.
or.
The lady of the house having taken NV
m, we marched on. I certainly hesita-
d moment to allow Mr.. Kirkbeck to
ass on first with the mysterious lady in
ack, but Mrs. Kirkbeck not seeming TO
Understand it. we passed on at once. The
nner party consisting of us four only.
fell into our respective places at the
BILE without difficulty, the mistress and
aster of the house at the top and bottom a
'e lady in black and myself on each side.
he dinner passed much as is usual on =
Ich occasions. having to play the t
lesr, directed my conversation principal Q
, If not exclusively. to my host and hos a
So. and cannot call to mind that I or .
" one else once addressed the lady op- Il
site. Seeing this. and remembering l.
netting that looked like slight want e
attention to her on coming into the b
ming room, at once concluded that q
@ was the governess. observed, how O
er, that she made an excellent dinner: g
q seemed to appreciate both the beef
d the tart. as we'll as glass of claret 1
probably she had had no i,
rcheon or the journey had given her an b
petite. a
The dinner ended, the ladies retired. and Il