The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-31
A CAGE OF CRICKETS.

|
common railroad stations Its windows oVerHowed
with flowers the platform was as clean as milk
white sand even the fag-for it flag and
not a telegraph station-spread scarlet square
enriched with needlework; and no one could be
really surprised to a pretty girl in eye glasses
step out to receive express packages and the
mail bags. The Indiana woods grew quite up to
the walls of her castle. Behind it rose a hill,
! and behind the hills shoulder rose a church, and
the tops of white slabs just picked themselves
out between grass and sky. Whatever might be
below the hill-village or nested farm-houses-
the traveller could only conjecture.
But the facts of sunny summer landscape
are not the facts of the same landscape storm
ridden and overcast by a dark November night
On such night the platform looked like
bubbling lake. and the lighted station suggested
| little Mississippi steamer wedged in among
foliage There was no lightning, but there was
| mighty tramping of the rains feet through
woods and sheets of water tapped against the
north bound train the instant it stopped to
| hiss and glare.
The station keeper came out covered to
her eyes in rubber cloak; but she need not have
damped the sole of her shoe, for her born knights
and pages manned the train. From express
| messenger to newsboy they willfully did her
work while the bell rang; and seized on slippery
ratings as the train began to glide away, vanish
| ing in the storm, and leaving only two glow
| worm eyes of red in their wake.
She saw there was woman entering her door,
and followed the walking bundle with some anx
| iety.
There isn't any fire in the waiting ROOM she
| exclaimed. 81 don't keep it up till this time in
! the evening unless there Are passengers Come
in here, please"
The staUion-keeper threw open to her charge
such a scene as should have melted any womans
heart and make it gush approvngiy, through
thp hinEac 10 a ri
lighted through porcelain, bordered on every
side by blooming plants, the floor covered with
! a fleece of warm carpet which the passenger
noticed looked thoroughly well busted. Cur
tanS shut out the night piano stood open.
| There a cushioned armchair by the stove,
and a small sofa drawn to the table Upon the
| table supper was partly spread some rolls and
] butter; white jar of marmalade the bowl of
sugar Jumps; cream in a silver pitcher. The
| desk of the station keeper was at side of
the room, under window; here lay some reports
| she had been writing out, and one leaf hung
| down, showing her NAME square and large,
| Camilla Morgan.
She left her own wet water proof spread to dry
in the waiting room. and Hospitality offered to
| take her guests wraps.
| Il suppose you were expecting friends to meet
you she said, receiving cameishair shawl
and furred dolman upon her arm, and waiting
| in vain for the bonnet and ancient lace veil.
The passenger who stood there stout lady
in black silk and em-stitched linen, rich and
sombre instead of replying, took some tablets
and pencil which hung at her watch-guard and
wrote. She had q dark. red skin. There was
one upright groove between her eyebrows which
deepened as she wrote She then handed her
tablets to the station keeper, who read PLEASE
repeat what you said in writing" be-.
Mercy" exclaimed Camilla Morgan. as she
deaf and dumbp And cOmpassonately she
wrote: 81 suppose you are expecting friends to
meet you here"
My son" said the passenger, upon the tab
lets, will come for me in about all hour"
4b.aT,i ,IaAf ba in
| the same silent way, you can have supper with
me before he comes. l always wait until
| o'clock for my supper she began TO say aloud,
but fastened to translate into visible language,
because this is the last train except local
| freight, and that do not have to trouble myself
about. | eat alone so much shall be glad of
company
Her passenger received the tablets, and wrote
sedately; i shall be happy to accept your invi-
tation"
She then sat down with her bonnet on and her
veil cast back removing her gloves while she
| watched Camilla making tea and taking baked
potatoes from the of the complicated stove.
| which showed an open fire between bars, and
yet seemed full Of kettle holes, drums and secret
panels.
Camilla swished about with housewifely fer
vor. adding to her board loaf of cake, canned
meat and three picked peaches from a cupboard
| in the wall Then indicating with u sweep other
hand the chair opposite her own which she
wished the passenger to take. she brought the
teapot from the stove, and they sat down with
proper formality.
i1oW many inquired oal I ;tapping Ine
pow WIN heI sesat .o"sS' anu nO'"ns up Olreo
myers as a Sugges ' ho,, 4,., a,,,.o,o =
IN rep! tne paS'e , noiu up wv p in
sistg 9y etS.urtI ot1 Cnfee lu sips weIo
sweeIenlhe Vnah sLe coplu pear. one was. ,n',ro
lore helpeu " Gm" aGL
itLou 3 IN uli ',dS s1laioquy Fi0 ~
she never usqu giiougi 4,,o ,l,r - H.,
DousilS siaSiieu Ss'., ,is,.5 s'i9
storm ratIeu ana r 1I. uo"l aiie ''5'efs.
NlthIh Snellce mus i ;,'teai Got
so'lnus orohen ouC d. I'M va, WI ~ aeys,
now quan ,e nov ~ f ~ Diced
- yrs; IS' i' 80 IL piping
oIle eA"ln 45 nGr , gu'SS W - Live eye
geSses, anu F;aii7, Ii,a 80 corner OF