Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-13
LOVE INASNOWDRIFT.

great piled-up trucks OF luggage are be-
ing whirlod madly by, yet withal with
method in their madness, along the
platform. A little crowd is besieging the
booksiall bawling boys are driving a
thriving trade in the morning papers.
A man-servant OF weather-beaten as
pect, evidently an old soldier, is waiting
HIS masters coming, with coats and
WRAPS. outside first-ciass carriage. IT
il already occupied by an ancient eccle.
siastic, who has reached the dignity of
silken hose lady IN black, scarcely
past her premiere .jeunessc, and boy
OF twelve or thirteen, who treats the aD-
sent travellers impedimenta TO close
scrutiny, and has time TO read the name,
"Colonel Pomeroy. Wessex regiment,
boldly blazoned in white upon portman..
teau and hat box, before the arrival OF
their owner.
lie came up at last with quick, COM
manding tread. A tall, soldieIly figure,
with close cropped head, and keen eyes
looking ont from under dark, straight
brows, which, like the heavy mOusta-
chios. vere already tinged with gray.
They man-servant stepped forward,
saluting. Everything IS in, sir."
His master frowned "lsn't there an
empty compartment, Cough ?"
"No. SIR the train is very full this
morning but 1 believe most Of them
get out at York" indicating the occu-
pants Of the carriage with jerk OF his
elbow. -,
every well. Give me my ulster; it's
bitterly cold"
As the bell sounded he stepped into
the carriage, a figure clad from head TO
foot in rough, gray frieze and, eschew-
ing the Eeighborhood of the old church
man. seated himself opposite to the lady
in black, whose thick gossamer travel
ling veil revealed little OF her features.
The lad sat close beside her, and 1t was
pretty TO see bis boyish devotion to his
frail-looking companion, who seemed
full young to be his mother. Yet such
was the relationship between them.
Colonel Pomeroy settled himself IN
his corner with tho deliberate attention
10 comfort OF an old traveller, exchanged
his hat for dcerstalker cap, wrapped
his ulster coot and carriagerug well over
his legs, unfolded his Times, and gave
no more thought TO his silent travelling
companions, who rarely, very rarely ex-
changed word. Yet the boy sat with
wistlul eyes fixed upon his mother, and
the mother, putting out tiny hand, took
her sons within it and casped 1t closely.
They were quite free from observation.
The Colonel was absorbed in Randolph
Churchill's latest philippe, the eccleslas-
tic was occupied in mentally arranging
his moves at the next Chapter meeting
MS the express rushed on hour after hour
through the dreary winter landscape.
The Colonel put down his paper at
last, consulted bis watch, and rejOiced
that he had run through already nearly
four hours of his journey. 1--WE are
nearing York" he SAID, half aloud.
Mother and son exchanged glAnces, and
drew. if possible, even closer together.
Colonel Pomeroy intercepted the loo&,
and began TO feel the lauguid, half-in-
souicant interest in his fellow travellers
which We take in the companions of o
.day. he offered his Times.
The lady declined it with n smile.
"Thank you. not at present. My son
and separate ut York.
The voice was sweet and low and
matched we'll with the fragile form. 1t
struck some note in tho SOLDIER memory,
and sent MIN into a reyerio as he leaned
back with folded arms in his corner.
Presently he took letter from bls
POCKET and began TO reperuse 1t, FOR IN
the hurry Of departure that morning the
first reading had been very superficial.
IT was in wOmans hand, and the plth
Of il lay in this paragraph
"Jack and hope you will turn up
before the Christmas season IS quite
over. We have not spent it together
since those merry days at Bllthedale be-
fore poor Alison kerr's unlucky mar
riago, when you and she were the life OF
the party. You know her spendthrit
husband 10 dead. But more Of this anon.
When You come john wants you to look
at Ravensden, which is in the market
lust now. Why don't you buy the place
and settle near us? We shall neither Of
us rest till YOU are married and rs happy
as we are. know of just the woman TO
suit Won. She is a great friend OF mine,
and i shall be dreadfully disappointed if
YOU don't fall in love with each other di-
rectly you meet.
He folded up the letter with sigh,
saving 10 himself, inwardly; "No, no.
Fool that | am Ny idioJic constancy
stands between me and that sort of thing.
Emmie is tho kindest-hearted little
woman in the world, but she'll never
show me any ono to Danish Allie Kerr
from my memory % And he fell amusing
again revere so retrospective and
interesting that il ended only as the tram
glded slowly across the levels about
York, and entered the busy station with
shrill shrieks and screams.
The boy took travelling bag and n
baize- covored cricket-bat from the rack
above and turned to his mother. Her
veil was thrown back now and disclosed
a pale, wistfnl face. As the train stopped
she clasped him in herarms, whispering :
"Gool-by, Hubert my own dear bog
Write often. and tell me- every thing.
"Good-by, little mother II they
don't make you happy I'll settle
them
A parting hug and Hubert sprang
down, but still fingered near the carriage.
A tall, stout gentleman passing along the
platform looked scrutiniZingly at him,
passed on, paused, returned, and peered
INTO the compartment.
"Ohl there you are; | was looking
for YOU among the second-cass passen-
gers.
The Colonel, who was preparing to get
out and stretch his legs, heard the re-
mark and it's answer.
"And there you weuld have found us
but for my cousins kindness in Thanking
us. Hubert come here and make your
uncle's acquaintance.
"H'm. So this is Hubert Nothing
OF tho Lloyds about him. Fsvors you IN
appearance, see"
"Thank you. sir" smiled Hubert,
holding out his hand, though Mr.. Lloyd
perhaps had not intended the remark
for a compliment.
"Well. boy at any rate hope you'll
be q credit to our kindness. 1t you
have any baggage look 1t up and make
the porter take it out to my trap. I'm