The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-08-06

If any one were to ask me whether could
fix upon such turning point in my own
career, my thoughts would instantly fly back
10 one hot day i'm the month of August, 1877,
when / found myself the solitary occupant Of
a first-class railway carriage standing in the
great station at York l was looking out
upon the bustling scene on that cheerful
platform with not a little interest and amuse-
ment. Wearied by months of tedious work
in London, was on my way to Scarborough,
for the purpose Of recruiting my health and
spirits, depressed by a recent bereavement.
in that famous pleasure resort 1t seemed
to me that here at York Twas already feeling
some of the benefits which the doctor had
told me that a change Of scene would bring
in its train. The air, even in the railway
station, was distinctly fresher than that
which had breathed a few hours before at
Kings Cross; and the men and women who
were hurrying to and fro on the platform, in
all the hot excitement of travellers at the
height of the tourist season, were very
different from the pale-faced, jaded loungers
had left behind me in the streets of London.
1t was my first visit to York since the
erection of the palatial station which has
taken the place of the little pink-roofed shed
that so long sheltered the traveller as he
paused on his flight to the north, and was
lost in admiration of the architectural mag
nificence of the new building. l was hardly
conscious myself of my absorption in the
scene before me, until / was startled by a
voice at my very ear
would you be kind enough to allow me
to enter the carriagep
1t was womans voice, sweet and deep
toned, such as all men love to hear The
speaker was standing with her hand upon
the handle of the door, which she had evil
IDENTIFY been trying to open at the moment
when my eyes are fixed in admiration upon
the great span of the station roof She was
young and handsome, so much as that / saw
at glance; and she was dressed with singu-
lar elegance.
81 beg your pardonp 1 cried in confusion,
and fear with blush dyeing my cheeks
and forehead for was still young enough
to be subject to that weakness. / hastily
opened the door and stepped back.
The girl-for l now saw that she was
little more-entered the carriage with some
appearance of haste. She was accompanied
by an unmistakable lady's maid, of demure
aspect, who was laden with the inevitable
dressing case, which she carried with a care
that suggested the value of its contents. Her
mistress turned to porter who was in at
tendance laden with various small parcels,
and giving him half a crown, said:
"The train is just going, thinks"
eyes, miss, it only wants one minute to
the time, thank you, miss, kindly" touching
his hat and pocketing his handsome douceur.
"Would you be kind enough" said the
young lady, then she looked at me for a mo-
ment, and / could have sworn there was a
slight increase of color in her cheeks also.
"Would you be kind enough 10 lock the
doori" she resumed but the porter was al
ready out of earshot and her request was
not attended to- Giving up the attempt to
arrest his attention as hopeless she sank back
into her seat with a little sigh, that might
have been one either of satisfaction or un-
easiness There was something singularly
attractive in her whole appearance. She
had only been a few seconds in the carriage
with me, and yet her presence seemed to
pervade the whole apartment, and some
subtle indefnable spring of joy in my own
heart was touched at the thought that for
an hour or more we were to be fellow
travellers
/ looked into her face as she sat with her
eyes fixed upon the door, She had taken the
seat furthest from the platform, but i could
see that she was watching the crowd in the
station with an intentness that was surpris-
ing even to one ordinarily so unobservant as
myself Suddenly 1 beheld the most extra
ordinary change pass over the face, the
beauty of which l was admiring perhaps
more openly than was aware. Every YES
tige of color faded out of it; even the rich
full lips that had seemed made for smiles and
bright conversation and kisses turned white,
and long lines of care or terror were pen
ciled on the forehead / followed the direc-
ton of her eyes, and saw that they were
x.<l.<x s.xNS
carriage-a youngish man, with handsome
dissipated face, which spoke eloquently of
life of vicious self-indulgence, and sneering,
insolent smile upon his lips, that told some
thing of the heart that was beating in his
breast.
He nodded Familiarity to the girl, and
then, with sinister laugh Of triumph, laid
his hand upon the door.
ooh, stop him, sirl stop him! For the
love of heaven do not let him enterl"
/ could hardly believe the evidence of my
own ears when heard the voice in which
she addressed me. Her tone had undergone
as great a Transformation as her features.
II ever mortal terror was expressed by a
voice IL was now in the harsh, strained &C
cents in which she spoke.
did not wait to ask for any explanation.
It was enough that she had appealed to me
for aid. The young blood ran more rapidly
through my veins. I felt rather than saw
that she was appealing TO me, not only with
her voice, but with her beautiful eyes, her
clasped hands and the whole attitude Of the
figure, the symmetry Of which a moment
before had been admiring. / turned to the
door, which the man was ALREADY, trying TO
open, as the train began to move slowly out
Of the station.