Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-07-26


last rolled slowly on toward London,
while noisy voices about her talked of
things which came so near her own
frightened thoughts that her very heart
ached as she waited breathlessly for
what might follow.
The glass was dull enough, but Lima
gazed through it into the mist Of the
November morning, dreading to turn
her head. On they went, q little faster
now, through plowed fields, where the
upturnsd soil and the men and horses
all had the same dull hue which the sky
reflected. It was quite relief presently
to pass q group of workmen standing ON
the edge of the line, in their white
blouses. On again, past gray fields
gray lanes, gray cottages. Once, when
in the midst Of one of these gray fields,
she saw little silent pool on which the
brown bulrushes leaned and faded, she
shivered with horrible remembrance.
And when the cold, bright sun pierced
through the clouds at last, and the FIR
trees stood up like columns against the
Frightening eastern light, memory came
mountain. All could that one memory
ever again be absent from her mindP
The slow, third-class train deposited
its passengers at Euston, and became,
for time, useless piece of station
furniture. Through the London streets
(timidly and shrinkingly. IS she had
trodden them just once before) Lima
walked in the dusk which gathers there
SO early on a November afternoon.
Some who met her noticed. pityinRly,
the sadness of her young, white face
but they were the few. The many
passed on, busy and engrossed as is the
crowd of London, beyond the crowd Of
any other city.
"Conduit street-number seven-at
last" murmured the girl to herself, as
she stopped before the familiar door.
81 knew the number was right upon my
letter to Rachel. wonder why she did
not answer"
"Miss McMullen ?" repeated the
servant who answered Lina's ring.
"Oh, she left here months ago. l be-
ieve she went to Arthur street you
know tout of Oxford street. I'm not
sure about the number, but think it's
twenty; you may as well try twenty, at
any rate It'll do no harm if you're
wrong by door or two. But think
it's twenty"
"Thank you," said Lima, earnestly.
She knew London enough to know that
SSNS1SSN-AASS
were not always to be met with, and then
she turned YEARLY away.
Along George street she went as
quickly as she could, trembling with an
inexplicable sudden nervousness as the
statue rose before her, dim and gigantic
in the twilight. Passing through Han
over square, she loitered a little its
hush and emptiness were like a rest and
protection to her. Whether she might
be going the most direct or most indi-
rect way she did not know ; she only
knew tkat in this way she could reach
Arthur street eventually-could reach it
and Rachel-and she tried to make that
thought dispel all fear.
Oxford street at last. Arthur street
lay long way eastward; long, long
way of dazzling glare, of jostling and Of
crushing; long, long way, made more
bitter by whispered remarks and quiz
zical salutes. An endless way she was
beginning to think it, when policeman
pointed out TO her the turning she
sought.
In the quiet side street she hurried,
as into a refuge, but few steps brought
her to the edge Of o noisy, surging
and she did so, trembling with q name
1eSS ASbIs AhCA oAC 4CAA0AANOAON nap
PLY that she should not have to pass it
again. She should be with Rachel
soon-safe and at rest with Rachel.
An, here was No. 10 One more-20
A quiet knock the girl gave, her heart
beating heavily, now that the end of her
journey was so near. The answer to her
| question came this time even more de-
pressingly than it had come before.
Miss M'Mullen had left there after
one month; had gone to live lower down
on the other side. She Cthe speaker)
did not know the number; did not
know whether Miss M'Mullen would be
there now or not She could not
trouble where all her dodgers went to,
but it certainly YVES lower down on the
other side.
Lima stood a moment after the doo1
was shut, feeling very hopeless aud be-
wildered. Then she reused herself.
GLOVER down on the other side" Not
far away, perhaps. She should only
have a few more minutes to spend il
doubt and Manifestation rest and safe
ty with Rachel.
eff Rachel is not here2" The vague,
haunting doubt had forced its way at last
through all her hope and bravery and
confidence; and now it harassed anC
|
fierce will.
elf there were no one to 60 to" Al
the doubt took this cruel form, and woulC
be battled with no longer, Lima instinct
lively sought for her purse.
"There was at least enough"
A sudden stop in her slow walk; sud
den weakness and despair. She had nc
purse at all. Could It have been taker
from her in the crowd? She could mo-
tell; she only knew that she had had i
at Euston, and that now it was gone.
"Penniless and alone-n Rachel is no
here" she whispered to herself in dull
dazed agony. "But-but Rachel viii
be here" she cried, trying to kill thu
other thought "Oh, she must be here
What was itr Where was it? Lower
down on the other side ?"
So lower down she went, and crosse
the street. At last desperate courage
had come to the girl, and she knocked
at one door after another with he