The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-18

''Ycu arc mistaken, SIR" she said, il
an swer to his questions 'There arc no
poi to- here. There is no hotel nearer
than .ho Pine Barrens, four miles away.
TFsO agent is detained at home by sick
ness, and I am tho telegraph operator,
on duty in his absence"
"Can you tell me, pleaded the soil
tary passenger, "whcre l can get
nights lodging and something to eatf
It Is six hours since we left the supper
station, and am just recovering from
siege of malarial fever. Surely there
must be some one around hero who
could act as my guide"
"There is no ono here but me-" said
Miss Barlow, locking the cash draw and
preparing to extiaguish the one reflector
lamp that glowed above the new ar
rivars head. But if you choose to 60
home with me l daro say my mother
will give you some supper and bed.
And tomorrow'-w a somewhat sig
nifcant pcuso-"you can begin new
career"
'Tm awfully Obliged to you," said
the gentleman, jumping up with
alacrlty. But how many clreers per
week do these Westerners count upon2
I've no objection, for my part, to the
Old one continued"
Miss Barlow's face remained inexora-
bly, grave. She considered it no part OF
her duty to couatenance fippancy like
this. She locked the station. a1d hung
the key on its hooked nail close within
the latticcd easement outside, where
winds could not hurl it away nor
storms disturb it, before she said,
quietly: "This way, please. Tho Ian
tern will light you sufficiently if you
arc little careful; otherwise you will
find the way rather steep and narrow
down the hill. You are perhaps una
ware that a telegram describing y our
personal appearance has just como in
from the White Peak Officer
"a telegram By jOve the whole
thing is out, them
Ho spoke quickly; there was gonu-
inc disgust and dissatisfaction cx-
pressed in every feature of his face.
YES" responded tho telegraph op-
orator, "tho whole thing is out. Your
conjecture is quite correct.
"Does-I beg your pardon, but this
is matter of some importance to nc
does any one know it besides yourself3'
"No."
'I may depend on you" with i'm
ploring emphasis.
Yes, you may depend on me-"
"Thanks, awtuilyW declared the
stranger, with fervor. You see, it
makes it very unpleasant to have those
things talked about"
$50 1 should imagine"
A brief silence ensucd. Eunicc was
woa dcring how her strange companion
could speak so cooliy of 'those things"
WAS he utterly dead to all shamoH
she thought. Tho strange companion,
in the meantime, was secretly marvel
ling at the ease and lightncss with
which this extraordinary girl stepped
out through the snowIrifts.
"a perfect Amazon" he sal to him.
self, land q Tretty one, too. Why
doesn't she keep talking2 I like the
timbre of her voice; it $ a regular con-
tralto."
'It 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 bowling
of the win was al 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 il forced upon
them, and a good deal they assume
themselves" said Eunico Barlow, COM
posedly. II am willing to admit that
I have taken a heavy responsibility on
myself tonight Understand" aided
| MISS DaflOW, That IL tdNC you LOAc
tonight and shelter you, I must have
your promiscs--"
"The new career question again! I'm
blessed if I know what all this means, -
gaspei the solitary passenger.
''Equivocation IS entirely useless, "
said Eunicc, severely. You know
perfectly we'll what I mean. I have
given you a chance for freedom; for
what is still better, fame and character.
See to it that this chance does not pass
unimp proved"
"MadW muttercd the stranger to
himself; ''vory mad! Entirely a hope
less case, I should say. I wonder ii
there really was a telegram, or if that is
merely part of her brain disorder2
wonder if I'd better keep on with her,
nobody knows whittier, or cut and run
for it, snow storm and all2"
You have bascly absconded with
your employers money" said Eunice,
with the freezing stcrnncss of idealize d
Justice; Gin othor words, you are q
bank defalcator.
| ooh come now. won't Won civ, g