The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-12-04
AN ELOPEMENT SPOILED.

certain number of days ago my at
tention was directed towards young
man, of not altogether prepossessing
appearance, who appeared to be waiting
nearly opposite to my window for the
coming of some other person. His coun-
tenance was expressive of vacant in
efpidSty,Z his gait irregular and his
manner confused. His dress was nom
descript, very effective, no doubt. but
quite Inappropriate either to business
occupation or to the pursuit of legiti-
mate pleasure.
He paced backward and forward, from
corner to corner, with an air of self-sat-
isfaction ludicrous to behold. Some
times he stroked the corners of very
pale mustache, at others he bit the
fingers Of his curiously tinted gloves, and
alter waiting some time, noticed that
his step quickened, a sickly smile passed
over his face, and he advanced with an
extended hand towards a young lady
who was approaching quietly.
sweet little creature she was, too.
Her innocent face wore pleased ex-
preston, and she blushed little as she
recognized the man. She was by no
means beautiful; but she was tastefully
apparelled. Her quiet dress contrasted
strangely with his dandy gaudiness, and
there was quiet attraetiveness in her
bearing generally, which interested me
very much. She could not have been
more than sixteen, / think; and l looked
from her to her companion. We're they
lovers? If so, | pitied her exceedingly.
She gave him her hand with conliding
smile-a dainty little hand it was. He
raised it to his lips.
This act of galLantry convinced me Of
itself that there was something wrong.
No Gentleman would have attempted
sucn Greach of etiquette in the public
s. ret.
They passed rom my sight together,
nd [ could not resist the notion that
their meeting was Il Sc, ret onc-that
il; + friends knew nothing OF her acquain-
tan, tn this Atoms, towards whose
face her eyes turned lovingly. | was
sorry for her and wondered how it would
all end. Wogld she discover her error
or did she love him despite all obstacles;
and was it in his power to make her
happy?
A few hours latter they passed my
window again. The same quiet conf
dence seemed to exist between them.
He had evidently exerted his utmost
lower offascination. Her hand res ed
upon his arm, anu Snt VICE lloOtuluS
| tenily to his CONVEX sation. They parted
at the spot where they had met, and his
| last words were uttered in that peculiar
whisper which is SO much more easily
overheard than the ord merry tone of
voice. l caught TIE fol owing words:
| Remember, darling, Wednesday, at II.
| The Southeastern station.
Was it an elopement he was planning?
| | thought so. She was confused, but L
saw tina. she assentad to his desire aud
| was loathe to part from him then; hut at
| last she tore herself away and W liked
| thoughtfuIly down tie street. turning
| once round and bushtng very much
| when she saw that he was watching her
| retreating footsteps.
Wednesday at II This was Monday
| evening. But, after all, why should this
couple interest mel What had | TO
| do with them? l had much sym
| pathy with the girl when l noticed the
| gratifed, selfish satisfaction with which
he passed rapidly in an opposite direc-
tion.
| There is a strange fatality about coin
cidence. The next morning being Tuss-
day Ihad an appointment at Hatoway !;
and, as l usually do on such occasions, L
| took the Runway.
|
forgotten, for the time, nv interest in
| the couple had seen the day before.
My thoughts, in fact, were very wan
deriDg ones. They always are during
these short journeys, for the number of
strange people, the variety OF individ-
uai taste expressed in their apparel and
the curious remarks and snatches OF
broken conversation (Which all the pas
sengers must overheard help to create a
sort OF chaos in my mind and send me
doing physically and mentally.
Upon entering the car | was followed
| By two ladies, who seated themselves
| OPP osite to me and thus attracted my
| attention.
| One of these ladies was past the middle
age. and widow, apparently. The other
was some years her junior, but her face
wore a patient air of resignation and
| composure which led me to judge that
she also had lost her husband several
| years ago.
Her face seemed to be strangely famil-
lar To me. Yet, to the best of my knowl-
edge. we had never met before. Where
could / have seen herr
Sac whispered something to her friend
did not overhear; a fragment of con-
versation that had been interrupted by