New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-20
A DANGEROUS CROSSING.

q.
tov'a,d Tho cad of No,cmher. 4 fog creeping mp
frcu e city aud drilling slcoty rain, falling at In
tcryos made walking not only odious' bnt q, umeS
Tosivc'v dangerous especially whore ia the rapidly
advancing darkness and murky atmosphere crossings
had 60 Ice encountered -,
II vac an afternoon 81 causc the most rahd peaure-
seeker % remain al home if man. e. send him as
rapidly hnnsom could travel 60 the selfish luxury "i
Iis clnh And vet ON such An afternoon. Myra Ora
ham. Young girl Of modest and digihcd appearance
was bc shivcrng at HYDE Park Corner, watch
Ing with noryors, anxious face secure opportunity
C. get sfey across 60 Grosvenor Place she had on
long waterproof which scarcely cor coalcd her graceful
figure. On her arm a basket, and With her dis
engaged hand she stove 20 shelter hersclf from the
bitter wind with her umbrella.
The girl marvellously pretty. The cold had
tainy Redeemed the tip Of her little nose hut It had also
Intensified the color on her checks. thereby adding
brliancy 20 her beautiful hazel eyes She had thrown
back her veil to enable her 10 better through the fog
and gloom thus allowing the passersby TO observe her
lovely face but all too much engaged in their
efforts get out of the fog pay her any attention
The carly training of misfortune and poverty had
Alone and fearless she walked from end of London
To- the other, her vocation obigng her TO do But
overcome the nervous tromors with which they inspired
her She had now been standing for at least ten min
utes unable TO make up her mind 80 move What this
particular crossing cost her not only in positive terror
but in money, and what represented money To her.
tme was only known to herself On this evening not
withdrawing the wretched weather. she had made n
solemn vow take neither cab omnibus the small
thus saved TO he devoted 10 better purpose
Poor airl hers was indeed an act of selfdenial
Sometimes the policeman helped her over her diff
cutcs, hut in vain she looked round hs afternoon he
not 20 DO seen. Thore was an unusual throng of
vehicles Of ell sorts passing and yepassng for Il
Lord Mayors Day and this had increased both the
traffic and Myras teTTors. Two three times already
che had made q bound forward, and then hssty re-
treat back a. threatening pole seemed bent on spit
ting her.
and knightsbridge commences, wasnOw lit and seemed
10 give her O smile Of encouragement She always
gsrded as oasis in the desert of her difficulties
and loDged TO find herself beneath its friendly
shelter In mourDful sooquy whispered Oh
Myra how silly YOU arc You can't stand shivering
here oh night And once moro she craned her grace,
ful neck and poored through the rapidly increasing
All there he Is she exclaimed oyfuly, and almost
She lifted mp her long waterproof put down her nm
bres gave hasty and terrified glance TO the right
impetuous were her movements that she not only
landed safely under the lamppost hut Into the arms of
tall and artstocTstie Young man-no less person
than Lord Wargravc. Staggering back from the col
ikiOn. hF exclaimed
'Huloa young lady, pray restrain your srdorr
'Ohi | beg your PARDON che answered meckly,
Iantinc for breath. L took you for the policeman
At which strange reply he burst out laughing.
he iranired good humoredly Tho darkness had a. vet
prevented him from seeing her face but turning toward
fho full glare of the lamp his gaze fell upon it, He
sthftcd at the beauty II revealed She fixed her large
tyos graycly upon him, and answered with quiet dig
nifty;
/ am terribly afraid Of all crossings but especially
man helps me over Then TO herself than 10 him.
she added nervousyi j wonder where he tonight
Her voice was low and sweet the voice OF q lady
The instant Lord Wagsvo heard II he recognized her
one and felt she might deem any offer of aid an i'm
pertnence. But her distress unRiistaksble and
she was so wonderfully pretty, he thought he would
hazard it, In his absence will You allow me TO supply
his place he said. with hesitation, and held out
Myra was on the point Of refusing; but It was late
and this combined with her fears. ovcrcame her usual
rrticent prudence. This young mans manner was 50
respectfully kind, he could mean her 10 harm. She
gazed up at him with timid glance that touched him
deeply so Young and innocent did she look and 20 un
projected He gave her encouraging smile which
decided her and laying her hand lightly his out
stretched arm, she replied in low voice:
viii you be so very gOodP
Another moment aud they launched through
tie of urfd obscurty before them She clune with
such cnacity to his projecting arm that he had almost
10 drag her across Her fears very real his
Thought as he deposited her In safety at the of
IIrosScnor Place, where, lifting his hat. he bid her
sood evening Thanking him she hurried away. Now
that the danger she felt ashamed Of her COW
.rdice and annoyed that had mpG"d her 70 accept
Tho aid of "A stranger lie watched her retreating fix
IRE for moment, thinking how sad il that
young md lovely should be ont alone such n night
Fancy RIO in a similar position he mentally ejacu-
Isled. as he slowly reraced his steps
Arriving again at the amppost, some sudden change
came over the spirit of his mind for he quickly
crossed and followed Myra with rapid steps, muterng
e himself: Poor girl she may get into another dill
Guilty In this cOnfOInded fogP
Had MyTa been mddleagcd and plain, u Is doubtful
whether Lord WarRrayes philanthropy would have
carried him out of his way in such weather BE this a
n may he had certainly decided In his mind that
cr 10 face the further perils Of tho fog alone he
fjgbt be of nse 10 bor And then what Innocent ap-
pealing ewes she had! Il would do him good 10 look
soInliGg he soon overlook her, but unfortunately,
hny he might have framed IN his own mind for
following the young girl most provOkingly failed lin
tn Gro.ycnOr Place As IS not unusual the fog was
but partial, and the atmosphere in this more favored
region was comparatively clear. However, 20 sudden
81 interest had sprung up within him regarded Myra
that he felt constrained TO follow her, in hopes that
eomo,ling might occur which wonld authorize him 10
sgau o,r her assistance lie had not the most remote
idea of annoying her but his curiosity aroused By
be- evident independence, copened with so much
beauty and tlnidty.
Suddenly some nysterious instinct caused Myla 70
look back She felt sbo was berg followed. shade
Of appointment more than Of anger passed over her
face she recognized him whom she now thought she
had i-arudenty trusted. She drew down her veil,
and icncd her walk trusting that her manner would
Sufficiently indicate her wish for solitude. After all,
a. tloIShf, Il have Como through it before bat
frciod he was different And giving him 10 further
thought, she went rather sadly on.
Arriving at those humber houses which lie between
thci grandcr neighbOrs in GrOsvenOr Place and VIC
t0Hast, she delayed moment at small Hover shop
where she looked WIN longing eye Ht the haSIuI
punches Of Vi0lets tenpujgy dSpayed ~ me "ihco"
The girl standing at the door held ono out to her
Not tonight, gn cannot soo o0rd It. so don't ont
smiling, you do not charge for smelling hem'
She buried her face IN the yioeis ior an instant and
thcu passed on into the next shop staloneis where
elc had few purchases 20 make.
Ioyd Warrrave still following hc1 but az discreet
5,t,.c. lad observed this LITTLE episode. As Mua
di.sppeared in the stationers he made bound iQI-
ward hastily picked up the largest bunch OF NolctS ne
could fud, threw hali-acrOwn on the counter ana
without waiting for change took bis stand outside the
statoDor's from whence he could see MyIa without
being seen. Would he dare oheT heI these xloiGls
She aa be very poor refuse herself 50 small lax
ury What pleasure 10 give them TO her and sec heT
ewes light up with gratitude. But would they 40 go
III ,,iglf ON nc contrary, fash with resentment
and be would grieye 10 offend her,
While bo was thus cogitatlng MyIa reaIpeaIe1' ana
Lord Wargraye finding himself face TO face with heT,
On The pn7 of the moment dropped tho Niolcs into heF
Iitte btsket He had sooner done so than be re
neuted She drew back Quickly and haughtly for sho