Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1889-12-31

10y from me all the journey, came in
from the baggage van to take tickets.
Mine was the last. Heexamined it with
unnecessary elaboration, and then de-
livered himself of the following ominous
remark:
"Now, say, why didn't yc write the
colonel that yew were comin'?"
The familiarity of this address would
have disguised me at any ordinary time,
but now began to feel miserably
, anxious.
81 did WRITE" 1 replied breathlessly.
"He will be at the station to meet me"
"He ain'ty'
The rejoinder came as sharply rs the
ping of an arrow. l jumped up with a
lump in my throat, and looked out of
| the window.
The train had stopped and most Of
the passengers were leaving it. There
was no station or depot here, only a
rough platform on one side Of the line,
with Santana" painted in tipsy black
letters on the rail, and solitary log
house few yards away with Post
Office" in white letters on the door. Yet
this was undoubtedly my destination,
and the conductor was right-AddiSon
had not come. There were sew eral rough,
red faced creatures lounging on the plat
form, wearing broad brinl med hats,
great riding boots and prominent spurs;
there were our passengers disappearing
one by one into the log house in search
of breakfast, but there was no Col.
Wynne. What could have happened3 1
turned from the window with gasp,
and met the eyes of the conductor look
| ing down upon me with the grimmest
expression had ever seen.
"Well?" he said, with an exasperatinS
interrogatory infection on that express
| sive word.
"He cannot have received my letter,
observed, hurriedly, trying to keep my
voice clear and steady. while the lump
in my throat grew and grew, and l
wanted to cry very badly indeed. To
avert this catastrophe, suggested that
my belongings should be removed from
the train. The conductor instantly be-
came brisk and helpful, and we were
soon passing by the red faced men, who
drew back to give lis room, and stared
with great round, stupid eyes, as if they
had never seen girl in a gray ulster be-
fore. We went straight to the postoffice,
and were met by the postmaster before
! we reached the door, He was tall,
dark man, with only one eye; dread
fully ugly man, with q very dirty face
and still dirtier hands-a wicked looking
man, thought The conductor greeted
him as if they were old acquaintance.
"Seen Col. Wynne lately. Hank
"a week ago-came for his mail.
"This is his sister"
Mr.. Hank nodded as if he were aware
of the fact, and stared very hard at me
with his one eye.
Isis my brother here" ventured
to ask, just for something to say.
"He's at the fort, miss"
"And how far off is that"
"Thrty mile-bee line
My heart began to beat at very I'M
comfortable rate. y horrible state OF
things!
"Would you kindly advise me what
! to do"
Breakfast struck in the conductor
decidedly. You've eat nothing for ten
hours
THANK YOU" answered politely. 81
am hungry; but I want to know how
am to get to Fort Lincoln
This question was not to be answered
at once. Neither of the men seemed to
hear it, and without further ceremony
ushered me into the house, through one
long room full Of men with stove in
the middle of it, liquor bar, and sew
eral small tables, to a small room behind,
where there were heaps of blankets scat
tered about rough bedstead, one chair
and table.
"Sit down." said the postmaster, point
ing to the chair. I obeyed, feeling very
forlorn and helpless. 1t was dreadful
position to be in. There did not seem to
be a woman anywhere. I was thirty
miles from my brother, with no visible
means of reaching him; and this dread
full one eyed man was master of the sit
uation. A whispered colloquy, lasting
several minutes, now took place between
the postmaster and the conductor, after
which the former, whose name 1 subse-
quently discovered to be Mr.. Hank Wy
brow, turned to me and cleared his throat
as though he were about to address
camp meeting.
"There's but two things to be done,
miss, as far as we kin see, and you must
fix on which road suits ye best. Kunnel
Wynne don't expect you, I reckon, SO
you'll have to hunt him, or send and git
him to come for yew. 1 can't poke UP
much accommodation here, and there
amt q woman nearer than the fort just
now; but if you 'lect to stay Ill fix what
1 may tonight and send boy to the
kunnel. If this amt good enough III
see if any one is bound Fort Lincoln way
with a wagon to take We there. Think i!
out, will We? while dish breakfast, and
let me know your mind in an hour"
This was very fairly said. / thanked
Mr.. Wybrow for his offers and was able
to bid farewell to the conductor, who
had another ten miles to travel, with a
stout heart.
1t did not take me long to make up my
mind. cannot say that I relished the
idea of thirty mile drive with stranger,
but while breakfast was in course of
preparation little incident happened
that made this difficulty seem a very
small one. The room was in was lighted