Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-06-26
CHAPTER I.
A LITTLE DERELICT.

~f~H IL needed to conquer the
damp fog which filed the arched expanse from
end to end The broad platform teemed with
the motion and hustle attendant upon the de-
sparture of train The newspaper boys alone
were having comparatively dull time OF 1t,
as the first act of every passenger, upon tax
ing his seat, was to pull up the window and
shut out as much log as possible, declining to
let the sash down for any one, except other
travellers, who, having paid their fares. claimed
their right to seats in the ta'ain-a proceeding
which, to the first installed passenger, always
seems suprcnely selfish. The new conner, or
corners. might choose some other compart-
ment than his!
The moving rack which bears the lamps
reached the extreme end of the train. The
stronp-arlncl official below hurled the last
crystal globe to the ninble official who runs
along the top of the carriages, and leaps SO
recklessly from one to another. Deft as an
Indian juggler, he caught the cleaning mis-
sile. slapped it into the last socket, and sprang
incontinently from the already moving train.
The guard shut the last door, which some
body's carelessness had left open, jumped into
his van as it swept by him, and, punctual to
the minute, the five o'clock train left London
and began its race to Penzance.
In one OF Ulo uISU-ClaSS COulteaI tailouuo WOho
three passengers, although the railroad COM
pany would only benefit to the extent OF two
fares, one of these passengers being a child
still young enough to be passed off as child
in arms by all save, perhaps, those tender
minded persons who send conscience money
to the chancellor of the exchequer. The two
travellers who augmented the company's rev.
enue were man and a woman
That they were strangers was evident, and
it was also evident that the man was an old
traveller As soon as the train was In motion,
and he felt insured for some time to come
against disturbance, he arranged his wraps In
the most approved fashion, donned soft cap,
lit a lamp and buried himself in book. He
was Young man; but as he appears In this
tale only to disappear, detailed description
would be sllperfuous 1t is enough to know
he was gentleman, well dressed, wel-to-dc
In appearance, and looked quite in his place
In a first-class carriage.
It was a different matter with the woman.
There was no obvious reason why she should
not be able and willing to pay threepence-
halfpenny instead of penny mile for the
privilege of being whisked to her destination;
vet one could imagine a crusty old director,
who travels free himself, and is therefore
anxious to prevent the company from being
defrauded, calling to guard and suggesting
that the wonlan's ticket should be examined.
Or, from purely benevolent reasons per-
son who knows what mistakes women make
in such matters, might with propriety have
remarked: "How comfortable these first
class carriages are" For my part, l should
most certainly have done so-not from be.
nevolence, but to save myself, who had paid
lust fare, from feeling swindled if, at the
| journeys end, a good-natured ticket collector
| let off the victim of such comfortable mis-
| take.
Yet there was nothing remarkable in the
woman's appearance except the utter absence
of individuality it displayed For any guild
ance her looks gave, she might have been
rich or poor, young or old, beautiful or ugly,
noble or simple. Had her travelling COM
panion been as curious as he was at present
| Indifferent about the matter, he might have
sat opposite to her from London to the Lands
End. vet not have known how to classify her.
| She was dressed in plain black-and black, like
| charity and night, covereth and hideth much
| No scrap of bright ribbon, no vestige Of
| color, broke the sombre monotony of her
attire, and a thick black veil hid the upper
| part of her face She sat like one in a
| thoughtful frame of mind. Her head was
| bent forward, and SO threw her mouth and
! chin into the shade. Her hands being gloved,
| it was impossible to know whether she wore
avoiding ring or not.