Connecticut western news., 1885-04-01


 all, life is strange muddle," and, re- ceiving look of understanding in re- sponse to this sentiment, he went on: "We don't know what Is right to do, and yet we're punished by fixed laws if we don't do the right. That doesn't seem just to me-"
 "Oh, but it will come out straight in the next life," she cried, eagerly. '1 don't know whether it will or not" he responded. 'I haven't seen the next life yet, and I don't know what it is like-don't even know if there will be a next life. I only know that we are hedged in and around in this life"
 "But sarely the next life will take away all the rough places of this" she said Git will make us understand all that seems so strange about this, and there must be future life God surely would not put us into this life and let so much go out of it incomplete. That seems to me the strongest reason for a future, that so many die with their Efe- work only JuS6 begun.
 sIs that a reason or a hope with you ?" he asked.
 She hesitated and did not answer, and just then one of the restless young men who had been & feIlow-passenger of theirs came in and glanced casually at the two.
 That glance made her self-conscious, and blush dyed the delicate face, and she turned, in decided way, the pages of her book, as if she were determined not to let the stranger get possession of her wandering thoughts again. The young man passed out of the station, and the elderly one rose and walked restlessly about the room, knitting the shaggy brows occasionally at some troubled thought. The three hours passed, and 1 o'clock came, and train came. "Can I assist you?" he asked gently, reaching out hard, brown hand was carrying. She handed some to him and followed his sturdy footsteps to the train. They wondered little why their fellow-passengers of the morning were not in greater haste, but forgot them presently in the hustle of departure. He secured pleasant seat for her and then one for himself at some dis tance from her. A few minutes of wait ing, of idle watching of the dark land scape, so soon to be among remembered things, and the train moved slowly out of the town, and as 1t moved away -Ane4her Aruiiu steamed in. She loakad curiousIy at the second train, but re- membered that this was junction and did not obey her first nervous impulse, which was to go to her whilom protector and ask him if he were sure they were on the right train. She forgot the train soon, and watched the stern, set face, and felt sorry for him, and wished he might feel as sure of the future as did she. Soon the conductor came. and she watched him as he made his way toward her. When he reached her protector, as she already called him in her inner consciousness, that individual gave a quick start at some words uttered by the conductor, after examination of his ticket. A troubled look settled upon the resolute face, and he conversed ear nestly with the conductor few mo- ments, then glanced at her and rose and came to her.
 'I told you," said he, "that we don't know what is right and then we get punished by unalterable laws, and here is speedy illustration of the fact, only that feel now that I might have known the right, if I had taken pains to in- | quire. We are on the wrong train."
 She looked deeply troubled, but said, l after 8 moment:
 "How can we get back ?"
 "It is of no use to go back to that | junction. We might as well go on to Chicago now and go from there; it will really take not much longer, and as you trusted to my leading in the first place, will, if you will let me, see you safe out of this trouble"
 1T am used to taking care of myself, ? she said, but her lips trembled little.
 "Where are you going ?" he asked, and upon receiving his reply added: '1 am going beyond there, so it will be no trouble to me to see you safe. I will telegraph your dilemma to your friends at the next station; we shall reach Chi. cago in two hours and the conductor tells me we can immediately take anoth- CT train back, so that really the worst of it will be the extra fonr or five hours in the train"
 He remained sitting with her and chat ted lightly for time, till her mind was somewhat diverted from the unpleasant ness of her situation. Gradually they wandered to deeper waters and talked again, as they had earlier in tho day, ol the problems of life, and into these que- ries and answers of theirs crept ever and anon bit of the personal history oi each. He learned what desolate life hers had seemed to be; he learned, too what sweet, cheery courage must un derlie her whole being, that the desc. lateness should have been so ignored and he grew ashamed of his own repin- ing over lot which had much of bright ness in it.
 When the train drew into the great depot in Chicago he felt that he hac learned to know pure soul, and she fell a deep pity for the lonely life opened to her view. And as they took the other train, which was to take them rapidly tc their destination, each felt regret that few hours more would part them.
 He sat silent for long time after this wondering if he dared do the thing he wished. He was lonely, set adrift in tho great world by the death of his wife, and he wanted true, womanly heart tc sympathize with his. Could he do bet ter than ask this lonely woman, who had no kith or kin in the world, to share