Smyrna times., 1885-02-25
One Dark Night.

The night was extremely dark, for the
stars that twinl1led in the black sky had
no power to light the dull earth.
Nervously, with a beating heart, a
young girl hurried down a country lane,
a parcel in her hands. he, was London
bred, and had the town fe, r of country
lanes, and, if she did not thint, ''every
bush an officer" dreaded that every
bush might conceal thief Eveline
MoretOn was employed by a large Lon
don mourning establishment, and she
had been sent down according to the
advertisement, to fit Precently bereav-
ed family If the way was dark and
gloomy, Evelins thou. hts were dark
and gloomy, too. The poor child was
tired and hungry, foe her train had been
detained for two hours by an accident
on the line. She had been told to take
a cab, but there was no cab to be had,
and North LODGE was quite a three
mile walk" the sleepy porter had in
formed her. His directions had been
clear enough. Eveline was to keep
straight along the du gloomy lane,
till she reached the high road, when
North Lodge would be tn, third house.
Oh, how she wished the walk at an end
it was so dark aud dull and lonely. Ev-
cline paused suddenly, and looked down
the path she had to pursue,with frighten-
eel eyes, for she distinctly heard foot
steps. If she had yielded to her first
impu Sc of childish terror she would have
tried to find some hiding-place behind
the hedge; but ashamed OF her fears, she
walked ON with II ow nervous laugh.
The footsteps approached rapidly, and
soona dark tigurec the in sight. Eveline
slrank back to ge ont Of its way, but it
moved also, SO that it was still right in
front Of her.
Good night !" said grutf voice.
Good night " repeated Eveline for,
as Charles Dickens said, we are never SO
: polite as when we are frightened.
1T is dark night for YOU to be out
in, went on the man. Have You such a
thing as copper about You to give a
( poor fellow"
Trembling Eveline took out her purse
to look for penn: she did so, il
was suddenly snltchel ont of her hand,
Eveline gave a little cry Of distress al
the loss of the money but she was toe
much alarmed to utter single word oi
remoustrance. The mans hurley figure
still barred the way.
Let me pass she pleaded. 81 have
no jewelry, My purse was the only
thing had worth stealing YOU hay,
that, so pray let me go"
'Dont be in such hurry pretty
one, " said the man. with a course laugh
and he caught hold Of her arm. 'Iwan
to speak to you.
"Ohl pray-pray let me 60" cried
Eveline, dropping the parcel, for he
poor little heart was beating almost Il
suffocation.
Not till I've given you kiss, " h,
said, insolently. You are a very pretty
girl"
And he drew her nearer to him, ST
that his rough beard touched her cheek
Eveline pushed him from he with Il
her force, uttering scream after scream
Her terror gave her sudden strength
and for quite minute she kept him a
arms length.
''You little vixen y he exclaimed wit
an oath. I'll have that kis, in sp te o
all your strugg es; L wi, b -"
He never finished the seutance fol
at that moment, vel directed blo7
from q powerful fist felIed him to til
? ground
, ''You cowardly blac, guard !" erie
the newcomer indignant y. "How dan
you insult lady Stand up, and let II
z knock you down again !"
! But this the tramp wisley declined
= do. He rolled over in abject terror
S whining out an appeal for mercy, IS til
E young man spurned him with his foot
0 81 am indeed sorry that you shoul
have been frightened by The fellow
4 said the stranger, lifting his hat an
: turning to Eveline.
n The girl tried to thank him; but h,
I emotion was too great, and putting h,
: hand to her eyes she cried bitterly, Will
y the young man looked on sympathet
! u cally, scarcely knowing " hat to do
saw under such embarrassing circur
stances.
:. ''My parcel I" she exclaimed sudden
thinking of her employers property.
"Is herel" returned her new frien
picking it up, as he spoke ''and yoJ
4 purse too. he added. for i'll the strugg
the tramp had dropped Eveline's shabl
little portemonnaie.
l. Eveline took the purse, and then m
chanically held out her hand for Il
parcel but Ralph Vernon such W
the name of the gentleman who III
come to her rescue shook his head.
'Tllcarry it, lie said, obviously. "Y'
don't think am going TO ieav you
- the lane after what hashappenel Whe
90 are you go mgr"
90 ITO North Lodge, fa'tered Evelyn.
~ ''You will find the Thursbys in gre
/. trouble" said Ralph Vernon, lookil
ay ather curiously.
81 know it, returned Eve'ine, colo
ing. ''I have come from LOudon
| make up their mourning"
! 'Ohl" cried Ralph, lit Q surprise
We for he had imagined that she was Sol
,K poor relative at least.
,ry His manner WAS far more respectt
than before, and Eveline felt s. glad
J. his company that she soon brightned I
:. even laughing at the recollection OF
!. tramp, Us he crawled away on his har
and knees, and then suddenly sprung
his feet, flying offlike the wind. 1t "
too dark for Ralph to distinguish t
i. girls features plainly, but he could
that she was pretty, and that her fi81
was slight and graceful Her voice,
= pleased him; it was so sweet
ted refined,
IN IN, This little dressmaker was lady
~ + Al, ,v1wl