Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-12-12

The wan woman cluug more closely TO
the indeterminate bundle, but answered
not word. She was used to unkind
speech; it reminded her of home and
husband.
But she of the gaunt elbow upon his
left flushed and hustled as though heat
and humidity had regained courage, and
had actually attacked her. She prolonged
finger; she tapped Arthur on the
shoulder.
"Young man., she cried in buzz-saw
tones, "aren't you going to give this poor
woman your seatl'
He stared in amazement over his
glasses.
81 never do" he drawled; "not if l
know myself. What dc you take me fOrl
Stand yourself, if you want 70; you
ought to know how by this time. All,
no; I've cut my eye-teeth, old lady"
He lolled more extendedly than before;
his coat tapped more widely. His eyes
and nose and chin were eagerly engaged
with the details of fashionable wedding.
He saw, he heard nothing.
The indignant female gave a snort of
defiance, it may be of warning. ''He
never does" she muttered. ~ couldn't
find better subject if went to Harlem" "
One deft, rapid motion did that spatu
lated hand make from the reticule to the
side-pocket of the tapping coat of the
unconscious Arthur, who was mentally
personating the best man. Then she
sprang to her fee: and gave her scat to
the wan woman, the shawl and the baby.
More jostlings, more scramblings, more
rollings. Heat aud humidity returned
from. the pursuit and ravaged the bodies
of the vanquished. Arthur still stretched
himself and read. The keen, alert bust
ness men swayed easily with the motion;
the wearied women exhibited the cen
trilugal force of each curve. The gaun t
and angular female, with one hand up
raised grasping the strap, stood as rigid
rs the Goddess of Liberty enlightening
the world.
But as the rolling intermittently slack
ened and the sQueaking increased, she
suddenly released her hold aud fumbled
through her reticule; then she uttered a
series of shrill screams, which startled
the alert business men, the baby in the
shawl, the gyrating women, and the
locomotive, which hitherto had deemed
itself proficient in that line. 1t recalle |
Arthur from the wedding breakfast,
where he had been doing the elegant to
an American duchess.
"Oh, I'm robbed, rm robbed" she
cried. "And by that bold, bad man.'
And she pointed full the dOubly-articu-
lated finger of accusation at the agitated
Mr.. Chumpney.
Immediately there was confused din
which drowned the squeaking of a stop
ping at a station. The alert business
men, the guards, the station-men pressed
forward. The de5ilitatei women
screamed surprisingly, and dropped
their baskets. The beshawled baby
doubled its fists, grew red in the face,
like the sun, and yelled. The angular
female still vociferated in tin-horn tones:
ats him. Don't let him escape! Catch
him, kill him, the rascal, the thief! Oh,
my precious earnings"
"What have you lost, madaml" in
ouired one of the aforesaid representa-
tives of commercial activity.
"My all! My pocket-bOOkl Oh,
don't let him escape" she necessarily
piped, like siren in fog.
"Come out Of this" shouted the
guard, laying a heavy hand on Arthur's
shoulder.
ooh, the rascal" "the blackguard, y
"the thievish jude" "search him"
"Oh, he's a slick articlel' resounded
upon all sides.
Despite heat and humidity the excited
crowd surged through the aises and out
upon the platform, following the impor-
tant guard, the trembling Arthur, the
spare, swarthy, and sibilant female, and
unanimously crying, "Search bin
Search him."
The guard plunged his grimy hand
into the pocket Of the widcly-fapping
coat and drew forth a purse. he held it
above the pressing throng.
"That's mine; my ALL" the virgin ac-
cuser cried, reaching her simian finger
an amazing distance toward it.
"Excuse me, madam, " interposed the
guard. "That must go with this ere
bloke to court, and you with him. There
will be a perlice along presently Iseed
one come out Of the saloon beyant." D." And
sure enough, blue-coated refugee from
English TYRANNY now forced his vigorous
shoulders through the crowd.
"Phat's thisl Thavin', is itl 1know
yez WE'LL" he calculated, graspiDg the
collar of the widely y-fOppiug coat
"Come along wild me"
He took the purse in his other hand
which fourished the club of authority.
He dragged his victim through the jeer-
ing throng, down the stairs, followed by
the angular female, who stalked after
them like one of the Fates released tenn