The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-10-18
WHOLE No. 2,175


be-"
The eyes of the two Men met-the on,
with a startled note of interrogation, th,
Other S with ali expressive frown.
mo doubt, no doubt, Miss Wilbur,
the doctor contrived to utter, in re
spouse. "And now will bid you gooC
evening. Observe my directions strictly
and be sure to send for me at once il
case the symptoms | described should
manifest themselves
Succeeding days and nights resolved
themselves into dull waiting. Occa
sionally fellow passengers presented
themselves with the accustomed formula
of inquiry and coincidence, and lakewarm
protfer of aid in case of need. Three
times day the little landlady appeared
at the door with tray of food, of which
the girl managed to swallow few mouth.
fuls, with haunting recollection of the
deserted guest-room below, with its fres-
Goes of cobwebs and dreary pageant OF
dust-laden tables. Silent and helpful,
the fireman remained at his post. Some.
where IN his nomadic existence he had
acquired enough tact to recognize and
comprehend the rebuff, and although a
candid admiration shone ever in his eyes,
his bearing toward her was that Of dis
tant respect. Occasionally she yielded
to his quiet request to rest for a while,
and reclining upon the sofa, sought the
bodily rep0se which anxiety and appre.
hension denied her mind, or at rare in
tervals dropped off for few moments of
quiet slumber. Her fellow watcher seem
ed alike indifferent to the need of food or
sleep.
One day she stood at the window and
absently watched train draw mp at the
depot opposite. and, after a score OF two
of people had gone aboard, with a snort
and whistle and ringing of bell, glide
off down the track. AS it vanished from
sight around a curve, she read the num-
Der, IS, )" in large gilt figures on the
locomotive.
"Why, it is our train-yours = size ex-
claimed to the man, who sat quietly re-
garding her. He nodded his head, I'M
moved by the announcement.
But it is going without you she
continued, with growing excitement.
What will you do? You will lose your
place. You have lost it already" she
appended, with desperate sense of con-
viction.
His cool answer seemed to rebuke her
concern.
ooh, attended to that yesterday-told
them to put another man in my place Cor
two or three runs"
ooh. - Then, after pause Il did not
know that such things could be done by
peis.ns occupying subordinate positions.
l f ncied railroad discipline was very
strict, ard it seemed so dreadful to think
we might be the cause of yulr ruin
He came and stood before her
with an air of seIf-assertion that was lit
tie short of impudence, when the differ
ence in their worldly positions was con
sidered.
DO you really think so light of me as
to imagine | conld be ruined by little
thing like that? Don't you think l am
capable of taking care Of myselfth wide
world over, or of any one else who en-
trusted their life to my care ?" The last
words were spoken in soft undertone.
The girls cheeks flushed angrily. What
right had he to call her to account for
her opinions?
''1t is no question of what l think.
had no intention of entering into discus
sion Of your Abilities" she said, coldly.
''The only matter of Importance is the
extent of the disadvantage you incur by
remaining with us. shall pay you fol
your time; that has been understood from
the first. What wages do you receive
on the road? ," she asked, sharply, not
unwilling to humble him by this prosaic
reminder of the lowly post he had re.
signed for the time.
"Seyenty-iive dollars month";" he an.
swered, in tone that was almost tri-
umphant. "You may not think it," he
added, alphabetically, "but am nearly
thirty years old, and l never earned Sc
haf,ra in, l;fa -
"Really?" She could not refrain from
slight interest in this life which had
been brought into such close contact
with her own, and was still SO widely
separated. His next remark amused her
with it's betrayal of ignorance.
"That is pretty little stone you have
there, pointing to gold-mounted charm
pendant from her watch chain.
at is something l prize very highly.
You have probably never seen one be
fore. They are called intaglios. Would
you like to examine it? She had un.
fastened it from the chain and was ami
ably extending it to him for closer in,
spection. He viewed it long and closely.
81 once owned its exact duplicate
Impossible Such things are very rare
and COSTLY" she added with faint smile
of superiority. "a friend sent it to me
from Genoa. 1t WAS engraved more than
thousand years ago. and represents a
NEUROLOGICAL characteristic goddess
Diana"
Minerva" he quietly corrected her
''See the helmet pointing carelessly tt
the head. Il lost mine on the streets OF
Genoa five years ago.
"Genoa? You - she echoed, in con
fusion. What manner of man was this
who talked Familiarity of mythologica
characters and the possession and loss Of
costly gems; who referred to sojourn il
Genoa as if it were an everyday affair
and yet-shoveled coal for a living?
$50 you have been there -
Eyes. l spent five of the best years o.
my life knocking about Europe. If il
should be the same he continued, witt
odd persistence, there should be a name
and a date beneath this lock of hair. See
if you can make it out"
He held out small but powerful mag
nifying glass, which he had drawn from
a buckskin case in his pocket. She seized
it almost eagerly, and bent over the
stone to conlute his assertion, then raised
her eyes to his in honest confession.
s'The stone is yours. You must TAXI
r. harl- 7 insist -