The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-09
sts,,, -e,sas s,,ss Barlow A. throne Of

"Oniy about as old % our Victor would
have been had he lived" thought Eunice
oh. wonder what sinister influence led
i'm into this terrible mistake. | won
der You are mistaken, sir, she said
,ond. in answer TO his reiterated ques
ions There are no porters here There
&, no hotel nearer than the Pine Barrens.
four miles away. The agent is detained
al home by sickness, and | am the tele
Graph operator. on duty In his absence.
The stranger uttered long, low whis-
tle II think" said he, II must have
managed to alight at the jumping-off
place of all the world. What's to be
dono. wonder?'
lie looked so cold, so youthful, so ut
tcrlv desolate that Eunice Barlow's heart
blcd for him in his solitude and peril.
Even if he has gone wrong" she pom
dered with all young girls optimism
he may do better IL he can only get
.hance After all, am not the station
agent How can they expect me, a
woman to usup the place Of the officers
If the law? could detsin him perfectly
wrl. but
Can you tell me" pleaded the solitary
10 ssenger, where ] can get a night
lolging and something to eat? 1t Is six
hours since we left the supper station,
Al am Just recovering from siege OF
malarial fever Surely there must be
some one around here who could act as
nay 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 10 go home
with me ! dare say my mother Will give
y,u some supper and a bed. Our house
is the nearest to this place. And to-mor-
rcw'-with a somewhat significant pause
YOU can begin new career"
I'm awfully obliged to YOU" said the
gentleman, jumping up with alacrity-
"But how many careers per week 90 these
uesterners count upon2 I've no objec-
ton, for my part. to the old one con
t.nued.
Miss Barlows face remained inexorably
crave. She considered II no part Of her
juty 10 countenance fippancy like this.
She locked the station and hung the key
"a its hooked nail close within the lat
ticcd easement outside, where winds could
not hun it away nor storms disturb 1t,
before he said, quietly; This way, please.
The iantorn will light you sufficiently If
Won are n little careful; otherwise you
will ind The way rather steep and narrow
down the hill. You are perhaps unaware
that a telegram describing your personal
-ppearance has just come In from the
White Peak ofhce?"
A telegram BY Jove the whole thing
j. out then"
He spoke quickly; there was genuine
disgust and dissatisfaction expressed IN
every feature of his face.
Yes, responded the telegraph opera
Tor, the whole thing Is out. Your con-
lecture is quite correct"
Does beg your pardon, but really
this is matter Of some Importance TO
mc-does any one know it besides your
SELF
"No'
# may depend on your with,implor-
ing emphasis.
'Yes, you may depend on me-"
Thanks, awfullyl" declared the stran-
ger, with fervor "You see, it makes it
very unpleasant TO have these things
talked about.
L should think it might"-frigidly
And | had counted Oh remaining
strictly incognito"
50 / should imagine"
4 brief silence epsued. Eunice was
wondering how her strange companion
could speak so coolly of these things"
Was he utterly dead to all shame" she
thought. Tho strange companion, In the
meantime, was secretly marveling at the
ease and lightness with which this OK
traordinary girl stepped out through the
snow drifts.
II perfect Amazon" he said to him
self and pretty one, too. Why don't
she keep talking? like the timbre OF
her voice; it's regular contralto."
1t length he broke the silence. Cant
carry that bag for your said he
DO you know what Is In this bag"
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 1t D."
"indeedy But couldn't | carry it, just
the same? You have enough to do to
manage the lantern"
Yes. assented Eunice, you may
carry it, if YOU please; it will certainly
give ne a better chance With the lantern
You see that trust you"
Much obliged, I'm sure. Have we
much farther to gof'
No; you could see the light down Ia
the valley now If your eyes were keen,
and If the snow didn't drive so fast D."
1t seems to me" observed the young
man. after another interval of silence,
during which the crupching Of their feet
IN tie snow and the persistent bowling Of
the wind was all that broke the spell,
that they put great deal Of response
biiity on Young women in this part Of the
world"
& good deal OF 1t is forced upon them,
and good deal they assume themselves, "
said Eunice Barlow, composedly. Il am
willing TO admit that ! have taken heavy
responsibility on myself tonight"
En-
And think, she added, turning her
calm. gray eyes upon him with light as
steady as that of the lantern, that you
know what it is"
The stranger looked surprised. Il Won
d,r." ac said to himself, If am all alone
upon this midnight road with a mad
woman IL begins to look unpieasantly