Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-03-06
A GENUINE SURPRISE,
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
The depot at Swampy Corners was
never picturesque spot even in the blue
glow of the suunicss June day; but on
this chill October night, with the first
snowflake: Of the season eddying in the
slow, undecided way that first snoEhakes
have through the gray air, and the tall
hemlocks swaying this way and that in
tse rav wind, it looked especially
drcary.
Emily Elkton shuddered as she stood
looking out of one of the panes Of glass
cluusiiy inserted in the log framework
by way of window.
"No, Mir;am." sail she, "yOu can't
60"
"But I've got to 60" said Miriam
Nudge, sympathetically comprising her
lips as she tightened the straps of the
parcel she was fastening one notch at a
time.
"And leave me here alonel"
"Nobody won't hurt you, reckon, -
said Miriam, a strong featured woman Of
forty, with bristlng upper lip like a
mans.
.sIf vou 20" said Emily, "I'll 90
too"
''Not much, - composedly spoke Miri-
an. Thar amt room in Pete Muller's
blackboard for so much as a sheet o
paper arter me and him's in. Besides,
what'll your Uncle AbsalOm say when he
comes back and finds nobody to hum?
Eff the fire goes out, evcrythiog'll freeze
stiff, and Yes, Pete, I'm a-comin' :;
thar amt no need to stand there abel
lerin' Ike q Texas steer. Good-by,
Emily Oh, I forgotl' coming back and
mechanically lowering her voice, al
though there was no one but the gray
cat by the stove to overhear the words.
"The ticket money and two rolls o gold
eagles as the paymaster's call for to-
rnorrer in the noon train is in the red
chest under your uncle's bed. Ireckoned
it I'D be safer thar than in the money
draw. Don't forget to give it to him
fust thing he gets back"
Forget" echoed Emily, wringing
her hands in frantic desperation. "But
won't be left in charge of i'll I'll as
sumo no such responsibility. l insist
upon yol taking it with you"
The rcmonstrance, however, came too
late. Miriam bawled out some indis
tinct reply, and the next sound Miss
Elkton heard was the creaking Of the
blackboard wagon as it turned the sharp
curve below the cleaning line Of the rail-
way switches.
"She's gone, " cried Emily, claspine
her hands like the tragic muse, land left
me alone with ali that money! And th'
navy camp only three miles up the
mountains, full Of Italians and Chinese
a.d the miners at Lake Lodi, and the
whole neighborhood infested with des-
peradoesl Aud Uncle Absolom not ex-
pacsed home until two o'clock in the
morning, and the bolt broken of the
door, and the keys mis6t, aud moth
ing but hook and staple between me
and destructionl Oh, why didn't stay
in Rhode Islandl What evil spirit pos
sessed me to come out here to Dakota
where one might as we'll be buried alive
ard done with is!'
Emily Eikton sat down and cried
heartily, rocking herself forward and
back, and sobbing out loud, like child
whose slice of bread and molasses has
been taken away from it. And not unit
the candle fared up, with an extra-sized
nuind Dg- sheet" wrapped around its
wick, and the eat rubbed itself persist
emily against her knee, did she arouse to
the quadruple fact that puss wanted her
supper, the FIRE was low, the candle
needed snu6iDg, and there was no sort
Of use in tears.
Emily had come out West, partly be.