Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1888-07-05
"And l had counted on remaining


strictly incognito.n
so I should imagine
A brief silence eusued Eunice was
wondering how her strange companion
could speak so coolly Of these things"
WAS he utterly dead to all shame?r
she thought The strange companion.
in the meantime. was secretly marvel
ing nj the ease and lightness with
which this extraordinary girl stepped
out through the snow-drifts.
"A perfect Amazon. he said to him
self; land a pretty one too. Why
don't she keep talking' | like the
timbre of her voice; it, "A regular con
tralto."
At length he broke the silence.
Cant I carry that bag for your said
he.
Do you know what Is in this bag?'
she countcr-qu"~tioned.
Haven't the least idea, he respond
cd.
The money taken in over the ticket
desk to-day. and the keys Of the cash
drawers. | am responsible for all Of
it
Indeed But couldn't / carry it.
Just the s;tine2 You have enough to do
to manage the lantern
Yes, assented Eunice, ''you may
carry il, il you please; it will certainly
give me a better chance with the lam
tern. You see that | trust you"
Much obliged. I'm sure. Have we
much farther to go2"
No; you could see the light down
in the valley now il your eyes were
keen. ami If the snow didn't drive 50
fast.
ut seems TO me- observed the
young man. after another interval of
silence. during which the c~runching ~
their feet in the sac and the persist
cnt bowling Of the wind was all that
broke the spell" that they put a great
deal Of responsibility on young women
in this part of the world.
~ good deal Of it is forced upon
them. and a good deal they assume
themselves, said Eunicc Barlow. com
poscdly. Il am willing to admit that |
have taken a heavy responsibility on
myself tonight"
..Eha"
And | think" she added. turning
her caim gray eyes upon him with a
light A. steady n that Of the lantern.
that you know what it il"
The stranger looked surprised. II
wonder" he said To himself. If am
all alone upon this midnight road with
a mad Woman 1t begins to look I'M
pleasantly like it
Understand = added Miss Barlow.
'that If take you home tonight and
shelter YOU. | must have your PROM
ise-"
The deuce you mustl' cried the
young nan. waxing more and more I'M
easy oh, | say. now. this isn't fair!r
"Neverto repeat the oiTenser'
II won't il | know myself
IL turn over II new leaf from this
time forward she pursued, vigor-
ouslv.
"Ihe new-career question again, I'm
blessed il know what NIL this means
gasped the solitary passenger. breath
Ing hard. a. h. breasted ell mt once tho
flying shrouds Of snow, the keen tooth
Of the west wind. and TIRE pcrplexing
problem put forth by the fair guide.
For fuir she wis: he could see ~ much
as that himself.
~"Equiyoeation i entirely useless"
said kunice. severely. You know
perfectly well what | mean. have
given you "A chance for freedom: for
what Is still better. fame and char
aeter. See to it that this chance do.s
not pass u~uimproved"
Mad" muttered the stranger to
himself; '.gcrg mad, Entirely "A hope
less case, | should say. | wonder If
there really was a telegram. or if that
l. merely a part Of her brain disorder?
wonder If Id better keep on with her.
nobody knows whittier. or cut and run
Fer 1t. snow-st0rm and ALP
There Is no mitigating your ~offense."
sraFely proceeded Miss Barlow. Mind.
assert that at the very beginning.
hut. - said before. | am willing TO
give you one more chance.
Very kind of you. I'm sure" hope
lessly murmured the young man. But
would it be considered intrusive if |
We're To ask what the offense isf-
You have basely abscouded with
Your employers money. said Eunice.
with the freezing sternness Of idealizsd
justice; in other words. you are u
bank defalcator."
No. I'm not stoutly asserted the
stranger. 1 beg pardon for contra
dieting You, but that's all "A mistake
from beginning to end. I'll stand "A
great deal. but 1 won't stand such
names is that"
This l. scarcely a fair return for nv
treatment of YOU said Eunicc. with
some contempt. Deceit added 10
crime
"Oh. come. now, won't you give a
fellow "A chance? uttered her COM
panion. As the sch0ol-books say:
Strike. but hear I've nobody's money
but my own, and not too Iauch of that.
| don know any thing about your
banks nor their defalcators. I've been
only two weeks in your country. and |
think its the snowiest climate going.
My name i Ernest Tin>allon. and I
was To have been met at the station bv
Colonel Cepley. Of the Foar-Hundredth
Cavalry.
Euniee Barlow gave a little shrek OF