Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-07-18
A CAGE Of

rains considered MaIott Park an oasis
n the desert of common railroad
tations. Its windows overfowed
Nth flowers; the platform was as
lean as milk-white sand; even the
bag-for it was a flag and rot a tele-
kraph station-spread a scarlet square
Enriched with needle-work; and no one
kould be really surprised to see a
pretty girl in eyeglasses step out to
ecciye express packages and the mail
bags. The Indiana woods grew quite
bp to the walls of her castle. Behind
/ rose a hill, and behind the hills
boulder rose a church, and the tops of
white slabs just picked themselves out
between grass ana sky. Whatever
hight be below the hill-village or
bnly conjecture.
But the facts of q sunny summer
andscape are not the facts of the same
landscape storm-ridden and overcast BY
dark November night.
On such q night the platform looked
Pike a bubbling lake. and the lighted
station suggested a little Mississippi
teamer wedged in among foliage.
there was no lightning, but there was
mighty trampling Of the rains feet
trough woods, and sheets of water
tapped against the north-bound train
Ne n instant it stopped to hiss and
Ewe.
The station-keeper came out covered
her eyes in a rubber-cloak; but she
heed not have damped the sole of her
hoe, for her born knights and pages
manned the train. From express mes
Fcnger to newsboy they willfully did
her work while the bell rang; and
eeized on slippery ratings as the train
began to glide away, vanishing in the
Ptorm, and leaving only twoglow-worm
Fyes ofred in their wake.
She saw there was a woman entering
Ter door, and followed the walking bun
lie with some anxiety.
''Ihere isn't any fire in the waiting
foom," she exclaimed, 81 don't keep
7 till this time IN the evening unless
here are passengers. Come in here,
please"
The station-keeper threw open to her
Charge such a scene as should melt any
SS'oman's heart, and made it gush APP
Provingly through the thickest wrap
pings. This was a girls parlor, light
NJ through porcelain, bordered on ev-
ery side by blooming plants, the floor
Covered with a fleece of warm carpet
Which the passenger noticed looked
thoroughly well busted. Curtains shut
RMt the night; a piano stood open.
There was a cushioned armchair by
he stove, and a small sofa drawn to the
able. Upon the table supper was part
y spread; some rolls and some butter;
White jar of malmalade; the bowl of
FuiSar Jumps; cream in a silver shell
pitcher. The desk of the station-keeper
Sas at n side of the room under a
window; here lay some reports she had
Peen writing out, and n leaf hung
down, showing her name, square and
are, Camilla Morgan.
She left her own wet waterproof
pread to dry in the waiting-room, and
Hospitality offered to take her guests
wraps.
81 suppose you were expecting friends
o meet you," she said, receiving a cam
Pls-hair shawl and a turred dolman
lIpon her arm, and waiting in vain for
he bonnet and ancient lace veil.
The passenger, who stood there, a
,out lady in black silk and hem
altched linen, rich and sombre, instead
replying, took some tablets and a
pencil which hung at her watch-guard
ma wrote. She had q dark red skin.
here was one upright groove between
Ter eyebrows, which deepened as she
Etrote. She then handed her tablets to
ne station-keeper, who read: "sPlease
Fepeat what you said in writing"
Mercy" exclaimed Camilla Nor.
gan. "ls she deaf and dumb?" And
fompassionately she wrote: II suppose
Eou are expecting friends to meet you
MY son." said the passenger. upon
me tablets, evil come for me in about
IN hour.n
well, them" responded the station
Keeper, in the same silent way, 'you
[an have supper with me before he
zones. l always wait until eight O'Clock
ot my SUPPER" she began to say aloud,
Pot fastened to translate into visible
ahguage, ''because this is the last train
kept u local freight, and that l do not
EsVe to trouble myself about. l ea1
Pany."
Her passenger received the tablets,