Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-06-12


lived. Mr.. Williams went in and re-
manned few moments. He was
introduced to Miss Blakeman's
mother, middle-aged lady with a
mild and tranquil face, evidence of a
kindly disposition, who shed tears as
she pressed the conductors hand
and thanked him most fervently for
preserving the life of her only child.
AS he turned from the door, Miss
Brakeman, with deep blush over
spreading her cheeks, and in timid
accents thanked him a second time
for saving her life, and expressed the
hope that he would call again. He
said that he would be happy to do
SO, and, tipping his hat politely,
wandered down street.
Now that he was no longer under
the spell of her winning ways he was
affected by a singular depression of
spirits. He walked slowly, and
closed and Enclosed his hands nerv-
ously. Meanwhile these thoughts
ran through his mind:
81 must not go there again. 1t
would be imprudent and might result
in breaking up that innocent girls
happiness and covering me with dis
honor. l ought merely to have
thanked her and not led her to be-
lieve that l would come again. But
she is very charming; and what would
be the harm of cultivating her ac-
quaintance: How / wish-but it is
too late. l am only suffering the
just penalty of my youthful folly, and
l must bear it like man."
During the few succeeding weeks
Williams attended to his duties as
usual. The greater part of the day he
was on trains running between New
York and New Haven. Four nights
ofeach week he spent in New Haven,
when he boarded at a hotel near the
railroad station. He went about
the city but little, and did not see
Miss Brakeman. One evening, how
eeer, at the end of the month, while
strolling along the edge of the Green,
he met her, and although something
warned him to leave her as soon as
possible, he found the temptation
too great to be resisted. After the
customary greeting. she gently re-
preached him for not having kept
his promise, and he at once made a
stumbling apology for having failed.
He imagined that she looked not so
we'll as when he had first seen her,
and that a shade ofsadness pervaded
her usually joyous spirits. Strangely
enough it flashed through his mind
that his failure to seek her society
had disquieted her: but his modesty
forbade his entertaining this
thought. Nevertheless, there was a
thrill in her voice, a tender light in
her eyes, and a confiding touch in
the arm which she had placed in his
as they walked along, that convinced
him that she was far from being in
different; and his resolution to fore
go the pleasure of her society was
put to fight.
They had ice cream at a restaurant
and then went to Miss Brakeman g
home, which they reached about $3.50
o'clock. Mr.. Williams was so well
entertained that it was 10 o'clock
before he could bring himself to take
leave OF the fair girl.
Thereafter he called as often as
once. and sometimes twice a week.
Occasionally he took Miss Blake.
man on a drive through the pleasant
environs of the city, or up the pic.
turesque and lofty East Rock, on the
summit of which now stands a noble
landmark, a massive soldiers mOnu.
ment. At that time the hilltop was
not crowned with any work of art,
and was without historic associa.
tions; but the splendid view of field
and forest, of sea and of city, and
the great rock itself were there then
to delight as now. Miss Brakeman
never tired of gazing on this scene,
and the genuine enthusiasm which
she expressed whenever she was at
this spot, or wherever else the beau
ties of nature were spread before her
delighted eyes, amply repaid him for
his little kindness in taking her on
their littleexcursions.
Meanwhile, with curious feeling
of commingled dread and 50 tisfaction
the conductor noted that she believed
IN him. he saw, in fact, that she had
become deeply attached, and this
was his excuse for continuing in her
society. He argued that he could not
absent himself without wounding her
feelings. AS too often is the case
under such circumstances. he shrank
from making frank avowal which
would cause both Of them pain, and
allowed himselfto drift along. He put
off what his sense of duty prompted
and trusted that though some forum
ate, but not probable combination o.
circumstances, all would vet turn
out well. The longer he delayed, the
more serious the matter became. un
til it seemed too late for an explana
ton. He realized at last that the
girl loved and trusted him with her
whole heart, and he knew that he
loved her better than life itself. He
pushed the bitter cup with reckless