Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-09-22
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DAISY.
II any one were to ask me whether could
hx upon such turning point in my own
career. my thoughts would instantly fly back
to one hot day in the month Of August, 1877,
when found myself the solitary occupant Of
q flrst-class railway carriage standing in the
great station at York. ! was looking out
upon the tustling scene on that cheerful
platform with not 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 recent bereavement
in that famous pleasure resort 1t seemed
to me that here ut York Twas already feeling
some of the benefits which the doctor had
told me that change Of scene would bring
In its train. The air, even in the railway
station, was distinctly fresher than that
which had breathed 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
It was my first visit to York since he
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 fight to the north, and was
lost in admiration Of the architectural mag
nifcence Of the new building. I was hardly
conscious myself Of my absorption in tho
scene before me, until was startled by q
voice at my very ear.
1Would you be kind enough to allow mo
to enter the carriageP
It was a woman's voice, sweet and deep
toned, such as all men love to hear. Tho
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
thegreat 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
u teg your pardon!" I cried in confusion,
and fear with blush dyeing my cheeks
and forehead; for was still young enough
to be subject to that weakness. hastily
The girl-tor I now saw that she was
little more-entered the carriage with some
appearance of haste She was accompanied
by an unmistakable ladys 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 crown, said:
"The train is just going, / thinSP
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 mo
ment, and could have sworn there was a
slight increase Of color in her cheeks also.
"Would you be kind enough to lock the
door2" 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 little sigh, that might
have been one either Of satisfaction or un-
eas:ness There was something singularly
attractive in her whole appearance. She
had only becn 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 we're to be fellow
travellers
Hooked into her face as she sat with her
eyes fixed upon the, door. She had taken the
seat furthest from the platform, but could
see that she was watching the crowd in the
~ iv,fo f,,ac hat
ing even to one ordinarily so unobservant as
myself Suddenly I beheld the most extra
ordinary change pass over the face, the
beauty Of which I was admiring perhaps
more openly than was aware. Every YES
uge 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 I followed the direc-
ton of her eyes, and saw that they were
fixed upon a man who was looking into q
carriage-a youngish man, with handsome
dissipated face, which spoke eloquently of a
life of vicious self-indulgence, and asneering,
insolent smile upon his lips that told some
thing Of the heart that was beating in his
breast.
He nodded familiarly TO the girl, and
then, with sinister laugh Of triumph, laid
his hand upon the door.
"Oh, stop him, sir! stop him! For the
love of heaven do not let him enter!"
could hardly believe the evidence of my
own ears when heard the voice in which
she addressed me. Her tone had undergone
as great q transformation as her features.
II ever mortal terror was expressed by a
voice it was now in the harsh, strained &C
cents in which she spoke.
I 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. 1 turned to the
door. which the man was already trying to
open, as the train began to move slowly out
Of the station
"You cannot get In here" said, holding
the door hard against his attempt to open 1t.
With a scowl upon his handsome evil face,
he struck at me through the open window.
Almost before was conscious OF the smart
of tho blow which had fallen upon my
mouth, he was lying on his back on the
platform, where, as the train, with lncreas-
ing speed, proceeded on its journey, could
see little group of officials and spectators
quickly gather round his prostrate form
1t had all passed in moment. might
have thought that it was only dream as
the train went quickly over the railway
bridge, and past the gray towers OF the
Minister, if it had not been for the undouoteo
presence of the lady and her attendant, and
for the fact that my lip was bleeding where
I Tad been struck. was more excited than
I appeared to be. Whilst stanched the
slight cut with my handkerchief. looked
toward the girl at whose bidding had just
struck a stranger to the ground She was
still white and trembling violently, and her
maid vas fumbling with the stopper OF a
bottle of scent My own heart was beating
quickly with the excitement of the strange
encounter, but when saw her pale face and
manifest agitation, felt that I must be
calm for her sake.