Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-05-28

people, and with scarcely anything ht to
eat. I really don't know what / should
have done without you"
Don't your" l criedi "pleasee say that
again.
@You mustn't spoil your palate with too
many sweet things. ANY news this
morning.
"Hall is expecting some every moment.
He was going &c the wire when l left
him."
Il wish he could send us through by
wire"
Il am not in any hurry"
"But l am. Think of my sister.
a prefer to think of her sister,"
At this moment Hall came in. His
preternaturally solemn expression caught
Mrs. Forsyth's eyes, and l believe spared
me a rebuke.
"Why, conductor, what a long faceyou
wear this morning! Surely things can't
be wore than yesterday"
II am afraid you won't like it, ma'am.
The fact is, the difficulty Of getting food
here is SO great, the company has Oh
dered that all the single men among the
passengers are to try to push through
to the Forks this afternoon"
u am sure" l exclaimed, II could
never manage it on those awkward show
Shoes"
"Very sorry, sir" said Hall, with we'll
assumed imperiousness
The full meaning now seemed to dawn
On Mrs. Forsyth. She began to weep.
"Do you mean to say" she. expostu-
lated, that | am to be left here all alone?
It's an outrage"
Il shall be here, ma'am," said Hall,
c~onsolingly, "and there's an old clergy
man in the next car"
II don't want any old clergymen," she
exclaimed from behind her handker-
chief.
made a sign to Hall, and he disap-
peared. AS the door closed on him, Mrs.
Forsyth took down her handkerchief
and asked, HAS that brutal conductor
gone"
Eyes, dear Mrs. Forsyth. But it is
really not his fault. He has no discre-
ton in the matter"
"Oh, l suppose you're glad to get
away"
Indeed Il o I'd much rather stay"
"Then stay"
"They won't let me-"
"What is to become of me?"
"Hall will take good care of you"
II don't want to be taken care of-at
least not by him. Can't I go too?"
Impossible! It's even a great risk for
me-"
Its disgraceful!" she exclaimed,
again having recourse to the handker-
chief. "They've no business to start
trains in this weather. l know I shall
die here, with nobody to care a bit"
Ny time had come, and / made a head
long plunge.
"Dear Mrs. Forsyth, there is a way
IS which 1 might stay"
"In Heavens name, what is it?"
t 81 hardly dare to tell you. That order
applies only to single men, Or men with.
out Jllelr wives.
swell ?"
SIf-if-you would only-well, it's nt
use, Kate-yes, l know your name-sav
it on one of your books. Kate, l love
you. Don't say anything, but hear me
out. 1t is true l have only known you
few days"
Her face was hidden by the wretched
handkerchief, but from behind it she
/ sobbed, "Only ~f-f-five."
Excuse me~-nearly six; but we have
5 Eeen SO much Of each other that it seems
3 we have been acquainted for months
you said so yourself yesterday"
"No; it was you who said So"
"You didn't contradict me. And ther
I've met your sister,"
"Yes, that is true" she assented, as shC
again permitted her face to be seen.
II know enough of you,"I continued
ITO feel sure of my love for you. Can
q not you care for me a little There is
q clergyman On the train; he can MARI!
us at once, and then | can remain witt
you, not only here, but all my life"
I "What!" she cried, in dismay
4be married all in a hurry, with
I out any warning, and to you
whom I And then I have no trous
> sou. No, it's impossible! Leave mt
!, ard let me die"
I don't know what form of consolation
h should have tried as she sank bac
t. weeping, but at this juncture Ha
tame in.
o "Mr. Austin" said he, you'd better b
|. packing up the tritles you want to tax
J. with you" Then turning to her: 1T
no use crying, ma'am; we have to max
It the best Of it."
"Have you ever been showed up b
fore?"
"Yes, ma'am, last year-twenty-tw
,e days." And with that tremulous eyeli
again noticeable, he went out,
If Twenty-Five days alone" calculate
it Mrs. Forsyth, "in a snowy tomb, with
;e conductor and an old clergyman |"
kate, dear Kate, won't you listen I
me? Together the time will not be ha
so long, for we will share it. Think, to-
Il of what you may save me from. l al
as not used to show-shoes, and may peris
on the way"
id II would not keep you here for selfs
n, reasons" she said, after a brief paus'
j, @but to save your life, | might |