Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-07-21

sven II ne mas gone wront, sne pom
dered. with all u young girls optimism,
''he may do better If he can only get u
chance. After all, am not the station
| agent. How can they expect me. a
woman, to usurp the place of the officers
of the laws could detain him perfectly
well. but
| Can you tell me" pleaded the solitary
passenger. where l can get a nights
| lodging and something to eatf Il Ia six
hours since we left the supper station,
! and am just recovering from a siege of
malarial fever. Surely there must be
| some one around here who could act as
my guide"
There Is no one here but me-" said
Miss Barlow, locking the cash drawer and
preparing to extinguish the one reflector
lamp that glowed above the new arrivals
head But If you choose to 90 home
with me l dare say my mother will give
you some supper and bed Our house
is the nearest to this place. And to-mor.
| row-with somewhat significant pause
-''you can begin new career"
I'm awfully obliged to you," said the
gentleman. jumping mp with alacrity.
But how many careers per week do these
westerners count upon? I've no objec-
tion, for my part. to the old one CON
| tinued."
Miss Barlow's face remained inexorably
grave. She considered it no part of her
duty to countenance fippancy like this.
She locked the station. and hung the key
on its hooted nail close within the lat
ticed easement outside, where winds could
not hurl it away nor storms disturb 1t,
before she said, quietly: "This way, please.
The lantern will light you sufficiently II
you are o little careful; otherwise you
will find the way rather steep and narrow
down the hill You are perhaps unaware
that telegram describing your personal
appearance has Just come in from the
White Peak ofice?"
"A telegram By Jove the whole thing
Is out, them
He spoke quickly; there was genuine
| disgust and dissatisfaction expressed In
every feature of his face.
Yes" responded the telegraph opera
tor, 1.-The whole thing Is out. Your con
lecture is quite correct"
"Does-I beg your pardon, but really
this Is matter of some importance to
me-does any one know it besides your
selfY'
NO"
Il may depend on your with implor.
ing emphasis.
"Yes, you may depend on me-"
Thanks. awfullyi" declared the stran-
ger. with fervor. You zee, it makes it
very unpleasant to have these things
talked about"
Il should think It might"-frigidly.
"And / had counted on remaining
strictly incognito.
so should imagine"
A brief silence ensued. Eunice was
wondering how her strange companion
could speak SO coolly of these things"
'Was he utterly dead to all shamef' she
thought. The strange companion. In the
meantime, was secretly marveling at the
ease and ightness with which this ex-
sraordinary girl stepped out through the
snow drifts.
"A perfect Amazon" he said to him
self; "and q pretty one. too. Why don't
she keep talking? like the timbre of
her voice; it's regular contralto."
At length he broke the silence Cant
carry that bag for your said he.
DO you know what Ia In this hag?"
she counter questioned.
Haven't the least idea," he responded.
''The money taken in over the ticket
desk today. and the keys of the cash
drawers. am responsible for all of it. "
Indeed? But couldn't l carry 1t, Just
the sames You have enough to do to
manase the lantern"
Yes" assented Eunice, you may
carry it, if you please; it will certainly
give me better chance with the lantern.
You see that trust you"
Much obliged, I'm sure. Have we
much farther to goS'
mo; you could see the light down In
the valley now If your eyes were keen,
and if the snow didn't drive so fast"
1T seems to me-" observed the young
man, after another interval Of silence,
during which the crunching of their feet
in the snow and the persistent howling Of
the wind was all that broke the spell,
that they put great deal Of response
bility on young women in this part of the
world"
"A good deal Of it is forced upon them.
and a good deal they assume themselves"
said Eunice Barlow. composedly. Il am
willing to admit that have taken heavy
responsibility on myself tonight"
"Ehy'
"And think" she added, turning her
calm. gray eyes upon him with light as
steady rs that Of the lantern. that you
know what it is"
The stranger looked surprised. II won
der" he said to himself, If am all alone
upon this midnight road with o mad
woman. It begins to look unpleasantly
like it."
Understand" added Miss Barlow,
THAT if take you home tonight and
shelter you, must have your prom
ises"-
THE deuce you mustl" cried the young
man, waxing more and more uneasy.
''Oh, l say, now, this isn't fairP'
"Never to repeat the ofensei"
81 won't if / know myself"
ITO turn over new leaf from this time
forward" she pursued, vigorously.
The new career question ngaini I'm
blessed if know what all this means"
gasped the solitary passenger. breathing
hard. as he breasted all at once the flying
shrouds Of snow, the keen tooth of the
west. wind. and the perplexing problem
put forth by the fair guide. For fair she
was; lie could see as much as that for
himself.
'Equivocation is entirely useless, /" said
Eunice, severely. You know perfectly
well what mean l have given you
chance for freedom; for what is still bet
ter. fame and character. See to 1t that
this chance does not pass unimproved."
''Mad!" muttered the stranger to him
self; very madl Entirely hopeless
case, should say. wonder If there
really was telegram. or if that is merely
part Of her brain dis rder? I wonder II
I'd better keep on with her, nobody knows
vnitner, or cut and run Tor It. snow STORM
and sn.f"
There is no mitigating your offense,"
gravely proceeded Miss Barlow. mind,
| assert that at the very beginning. But.
as said before. l am willing to give you |
one more chance"
Very kind Of you. I'm sure,- hope
lessly murmured the young man. but |
IA L.