The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-01-10
Mable's Esoapade.

At the age of 16 Mabel Weston
found herself alone in the world, de-
pendent on the kindness of an &C.
centric uncle, whom she had never
seen, and who had hitherto mani
tested no desire to make her acquant-
ance. For several years her mother
had been an invalid and she and
Mabel had lived in the South, their
principal support being from Il pen
sion, which Mrs. Weston had receiy.
ed as the widow of an army officer.
And so, when the malady from
which Mrs. Weston had suffered so
long terminated in her death. Ma
bel was left alone and almost friend
less. Some kind people who had
helped her in her last sad ministra-
tions to her mother advised her to
write at once to her fathers brother,
who lived in the North, and who
was bachelor and reputed to be
rich, and tell him of her condition.
This Mabel did, and in reply her
uncle wrote and gave directions for
the removal of the young girl to a
boarding-school near the city in
which he resided, where he pledged
himself to maintain her until she
should have finished her education,
and be thereby enabled to support
herself. ..
So, in short time, Mabel was
established in large and well-or-
dered boarding-school among kind
teachers and companionable asso-
ciates, under which favorable cir
cumstances the natural buoyancy
of her disposition asserted itself and
she became more cheerful and con.
tented than had once seemed posi-
BILE. 1t disturbed her somewhat
however, that her uncle seemed to
desire no communication with her
The necessary funds for her tuition
and current expenses were supplied
through Miss Writ, the head of the
| school and he had never even writ.
| ten to Mabel.
Things went on very smoothly
until Christmas was coming, and
then, when the other girls began tc
make their preparations for going
home for the holidays, and to dis
cuss their prospects of amusement
and pleasure, poor Mabel felt hersel
so isolated and forlorn that she de
dermined to make a bold move anc
write to her uncle, asking him to lei
her go to see him. She awaited the
answer to her letter with fear anC
trembling, and when it came, she
hardly knew whether to consider il
favorable or the reverse. 1t convey
ed in very terse sentences her uncle's
permission for her to go up to the
city on Christmas day and make
him visit, returning to school that
evening. At first, the girl felt SC
hurt and disappointed at this grudg,
ing concession that she almost re.
solved not to go, but she was young
and very ardent and the prospect o.
any novelty was too delightful to be
resisted.
So when Christmas day came she
set out alone for the city. Miss Wirt
having sent note to her uncle tc
say what train his niece would take
and having warned Mabel to wait in
the ladies room at the station until
she should be called for. When the
train was actually off Mabel found
herself seated just behind tai
young lady dressed like herself in
black, and wearing, as she wore, also
a dark blue veil. The girl was feel
ing not little agitated and excited
and half wished that the train with
its indifferent passengers and friend
ly conductor might go on forever. Il
seemed so much safer and surer thar
. the uncertainty she was going to