New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-06
LOVE IN A SNOWDRIFT.


with method in their madness, along the platform,
a little crowd is besieging the boolstail; oawnng
boys driving thriving trade III inc "ornns
a man-servant of weather-beaten aspect, evi-
IDENTIFY an old soldier Is waiting ms mas aias
coming with coats and wraps outside hrst-ciiss
carriage. 1t is already occupied by an anciens
eco = ,iastic who has reached the dignity , ol
silI>en hose lady in black, scarcely paSv nur
premiere ieunesse and boy of twelve or thirteen,
who treats the absent travellers lmpeo!men,a ~
close scrutiny, and has time to read te NAM nn
Colonel Pomeroy, WesseX Regt, boldly plazoneu
in White uYnn portmanteau and hat-box, before
the arrival OF their owner, Ill, .x.ond;ro
lie came up last with quick, commanulls
tread tall, soldierly figure, with close cropp,.u
head and keen eyes looking out from uhder
dark, straight brows which ike the heavy nous Gus
iachios were already Hinged with gray Inc
man-servant stepped forward saluting. Every
thing is in, sir. ,, 49,, 49, rortr
HIS master frowned. isn't there ah EMPTY
So sir: the train is very full this morning;
bnt | believe most Of them set out al lorh'
indicating the occupants of the carriage WIN
Jerk of his elbow. re. ,...,
Very we'll. Give me my ulster; it's bitterly
cold"
figure clad from head to foot in rough gray
re: and eschewing the neighborhood OF inc
e.. churchman, seated Himself opposite tne lauH
%, mack, whose thick gossamer travelling vel
-. sealed d tie of her features. The lad sat cose
beside her. and it was pretty 10 o Sre nnS Who
seemed full Young 10 be his mother. Yet such
WAS the relationship between them:
with the deliberate attention to comfort OF an olu
traveller changed his hat for deentale G caP
wrapped his ulster coat ana carr"s and ro cave no
more Thought TO his silent travelling compani0ns,
who rarely, very rarely exchanged wor1: 1e Leu
the boy sat with wistful eyes fixed upon MS
mother. and the mother, putting out tiny hand
book her sons within it and clasped u cios 12c
They were quite free IRON GoTerVa CEnrcbiTs
latest philippe the eccesiastc was occupied IN
mentally arranging his moves at the next Ondieer r
meeting as the express rushed on hOuf al'er mum
through the dreary winter landscape. 49, am
The Colonel put down his paper at ia sa con- n'n
suited his watch, and reJoced that ne iau ,n nun
through already nearly four hours OF ms oa Inna
I'VE are nearing York, he SAID, nan alou9;
Mother and son exchanged glanceS, ana drew, II
possible even closer together. Colonel foneroy
intercepted the look and began to feel the languld
half inSouciant interest in his fellow travei99ITs
which we take in the companions OF day' TIC
0" The LADY declined it with smile. Thank
YOU. not at present. My son and | separate au
The voice was sweet and low, and matched
well with the fragile form. 1t struck some note
in the soldiers memory, ana SEM mn iiieo lie
reverie a. he leaned back with folded arms IN ms
corner. Presently he took letter from DIS pockes
and began 10 reperuse 1t, for IN inc hurry T o,
departure that morning the first reading had oeen
very superficial. II it a womans hand. ana
the pith OF it lay in this paragraph $780, a.,
Jack and hope you will turn up before Sn n unf
.nnnt IL together since those merry days at
Blithedale before poor Alison Kerrs unlucky mar
party. You know her spendthrift husband is dead:
But more of this anon. When you come JoLh
wants you TO look at Ravensden, which Is in me
market lust now. Why don't you buy he place
end settle near us? We shall neither OF us rest
tin YOU are married and as happy as we are
know Of lust the woman 70 s sH,I S Se dreadny
disappointed if you don't fall in love with each
other directly you meet =, i %
himself inwardly: No. no. Fool that | am
NV idiotic constancy stands between me and mat
sort of thing Emme Is the rayrr tow r me
anv one 10 Danish Allie Kerr from my memory
And he fell amusing again revere so ret TO
snective and interesting that il ended only as the
train glided slowly across The levels about lorK,
and entered the busy station with shrll shrlekS
and screams.
cred cricket bat from the rack above and turned
to his mother. Her veil was thrown back now,
and disclosed pale wlstfql lace As fne IRAN
/" Good bye Hubert my own dear boy! write
often and tell me everything"
Goodbye, little mother! III they don't make
you happy, I'll settle them"
A parting hug and Herbert sprang down, but
sMl fingered near the carriage. A tau, stout
gentleman passing along the platform looked Scrut-
inizngly at him, passed on, paused. returned ana
ecred into the compartment.
On, there you are: l was looking Tor you
among the sccond-class passengers"
The Colonel, who was preparing 70 get ouC
and stretch his legs, heard the remark ana It's
answer.
And there you would have found us but for
my cousins kindness in franking us Hubert;
come here and make your uncle's acqualntafRcsehi
HIM. SO this is Hubert! Nothing OF the
Lloyds about him. Favors you IN appearance,
l see"
Thank you, sir" smiled Hubert holding out
his hand, though Mr.. Lloyd perhaps had not in
tended the remark for compliment. -,
well, boy! at any rate | hope you'll be a
credit to our kindness. If you have any baggage,
look il up and make the porter take 1T out to
my trap. I'm well known here.
lie drew himself up with much self-lmpor'nnce,
a
as he ahghted. lit cigar, and strolled away
But when the eccleastic appeared, his manner
Are these your rugs? Cold day for a journey
Win a parting nod to his sister in-law, he
walked away to the dignitdry to his carriage; :
and Hubert's mother blessed the Archdeacon in
her heart AS presently her hoy came Tying PACK
for a last word. The Colonel, who had driven II
rather close returned Just in time to witness THIS
second leave taking between mother and sou. Per
haps something sympathetic IN the soldiers eye en-
bcdencd the boy for as the guaru came bp tba
Colonels arm. saying eagerly, On SIT take care
of my mother"
She glanced up a; Pomer9y with t re lie us
smile almost of apology: Poor BOY we nave
never been separated before.
lie is going 10 scnool? ~.
III" The gentleman who SPOKE to you just now ~
Yes" and she sighed. Evidently the oher was
mot unmitgate good fortune.
A shriIl shriek from the engine. the guard gives
the signal, and as the train moves ON IT'S way
there comes u cdil thc
something falls into the lap OF Colonel Pomeroy
fcjIow-traveller just TO cheer you up little
mother" cries Hubcrts boyish voice.
The something being unpacked; turned out 70 De DC
Fun Tit Bits /" The Field and packet
Of bntter scotch But the twinkle in the
Colonels eyes was quickly suppressed The
sublime and the ridiculous are near AKIN, ana
instead of cheering his mother, as liuDert IN
tended her boys curiously chosen consolation
had the effect OF breaking down the last rem
nants of her composure. She had lowered her
veil again yet the Colonel opposite could but be
aware OF the tears stealing down on The Field,
which she held upside down. The tough soldier
fierce as q lion in fight, and a stern disclpnarlan
in camp-had peculiarity-he hated TO see a
woman cry He fdgeted and fumed, and tugged
at the ends Of his mustache
Have you no other children ?" he asked at
tray baQ