The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-04-22
ONE DARK NIGHT.
By A. H. B.

The nisnt was extremely dark, for the
stars that twinkled in the black sky had no
power 10 light the dull earth. Nervously,
with beating heart, a young girl hurried
down q country lane, parcel in her hands.
She was city bred, and had the town fear of
country lanes, and, If she did not think
''every bush an officer" dreaded that every
b1sh might conceal thief. Eveline Moreton
was employed by e large mourning establish
ment, and she had been sent down, accord
Ing 10 the advertisement, to "dt' q recently
bereaVed family. II the way was dark and
gloomy, Eveline's thoughts were dark and
gloomy, too The POOR child was tired and
hungry, for her train had been detained two
hours by sn accident on the line. She had
been told to take cab, but there was no cab
TO be had, and North Lodge was 'quite
three-mile walk" the sleepy porter had In
formed her. His directions had b,en clear
enough. E7eline was to keep straight along
the dull, gloomy lane, till she reached the
high road, when North Lodge would
De the third house. Oh, how she
wished the walk at an end: il was so dark
and dull and lonely. Eveline paused sud-
denly, and looked down the path she had to
pursue with frightened eyes, for she dis.
tinctly heard footsteps. III she had yielded
TO her FIRST impulse of childish terror, she
would have tried to find some hiding place
behind the hedge; but ashamed of her fears,
she walked on with a low, nervous laugh.
The footsteps approached rapidly, and soon
dark Ggurs came in sight. Eveline shrank
back to get out of its way, but it moved also,
so that il was still right in front of her.
Coed night" said q gtuH voice,
Good nighth repeated Eyeline; for. as
Charles Dickens said, we are never so polite
rs when We are frightened.
SIT is q dark night for you to be out in,"
went on the msn. Have you got such a
thing as copper about you to give poor
fellow
Tremblingly Eveline took ont her purse
to look for q penny; as she did so, it was sad
denly sDatched out OF her hands. EveIine
gave 1.-THE cry Of distress al the loss Of the
money; bat she was too much alarmed to
utter single word of remonstrance The
mans blrly figure still banei tbs way.
LET me pass she pleaded d. Ill, have ,S, no
worth stealing; you have that, SO pray let
me co.
Don't be IN such hurry. pretty one"
said the man, with a hoarss laugh, and he
caught hold Of her arm. II want to speak
10 you"
sob, pray-prsy-Iet me CO." cried Eve
ire, dropping the parcel. for her poor little
heart was beating almost to suffocation.
Not till I've given you kiss" he said,
insolently. "You are pretty girl"
And he drew her nearer to him, SO that
his rough bearded face touched her cheek
Eyeline pushed him from her with all her
force, uttering scream after scream. Her
terror gave her sudden strength, and for
quite minute she kept him at arms length.
You little vixen" be exclaimed, with an
oath. "Pll have that kiss in spite of all
your struggles; I will, by" he never
finished the sentence, for 3 well-directed
blew from powerful fist felled him to the
ground.
Few conner, Indignantly. How dare you
insult lady, Stand up, and let me knock
you down again.
But this the tramp wisely declined 10 do.
He rolled over in abject terror, whining out
an appeal for mercy.
Il am indeed cory that you should have
been frightened by the fellow" said the
stranger, lifting his hat and turning to Eve
line.
Tie girl tried to thank him, but her emo
ton was too great; and putting her hand to
her eyes she cried bitterly, while the young
man looked on sympathetically, scarcely
knowing what to do or say.
MY PARCEL" she exclaimed suddenly,
thinking Of her employers property.
us here" returned her new friend, pick
ing it up as he spoke, and your purse too, "
he added; for in the struggle the tramp had
dropped Eyeline's shabby little portemon-
naie.
E7eline took the purse, and then mechsni.
cally held out her hand for the parcel; but
Ralph Nernon-such was the name of the
gentleman who had come to her rescue
shook his head
"Il carry it." he said, obviously. "You
don't think am going to leave you in the
lane after what has happened. Where are
you goiDg?'
TO North Lodge" faltered EyeIine.
gym will find the Thurshva in Oraai
troubls." said Ralph Vernon. looking at her
curiously.
"I know it," returned EyeIine, coloring;
81 have come from the city to make up their
mourning"
"Ohl" cried Ralph, little surprised, TO,
he bad imagined that she was some poor
relative, at least.
His msnner was far more respectful than
before; a1d Eveline felt 30 glad of his com
panv that she soon frightened up, even
Laughing at the recollection OF the tramp
as he crsvled away on his hands and knees
and then suddenly sprang to his feet, hYine
OF ike the wind. IL ves too dark for Ralph
to distinguish the girls features plainly, but
ne could see that she was pretty, and thai
her figure was slight and graceful.
'Prsy, take my arm" he said. 81 know
you ars very tired and upset by the fright
1hat ruthan gave you"
But you have the parcel to carry" re
turned Eyeline, hesitatlngy.
II can mansge both you and the parcel,
he told her with laugh.
"YoU have never carried parcel before IN
your life, observed Eveline, as she accepted
his arm.
How no you know that?' he asked, good
humoredly. well, IL 1 have never mad,
myself useful before, it is high time begar
now"
They had left the lane, and were in thu
high road. Strange to say, the walk, which
at the commencement seemed so intoierabls
10 Eveline, now appeared marvelously short
~ shall never see him again, she thought
with a faint sigh. as they parted at the gate
of North Lodge, and 1t was with very weary
little face that she entered the presence o.
the lady Of the house. He had told her that
Mrs. Tnursby was very amiaole woman
but still EyeliDe was agreeably surprised 81
the kindness OF her reception. She had beer
to MANY houses on the same errand before
but nowhere had she been treated with such
consideration.
She was at North Lodge for several days
working away as IL life had depended On it
and, a. she worked, her thoughts were of the
handsome stranger who had rescued hel
from the brutality Of the tramp. Once b