The Opelousas courier., 1891-11-14
AN AWFUL CHARGE.

N~-tJ - ~ 1N11 " AO@ ON
until its larger contemporary from Bos
ton comes up and empties out whateve
Of its freight and whoever of its passen
gers are destined for the little vilIag,
farther up in the mountains. AS soon a
the Fitchburg train has pulled out o
the station and into the tunnel the small
er combination is left master of the field,
and, after backing coquettishly from it
slde-track with many a puff and futtel
and much ringing of a not ~untunefu
bell, it starts sturdily around the curve
and begins its journey of twelve miles
over an upgrade track.
One quiet evening in the earlier part
of July a young woman accompanied BY
a girl who seemed to act in the capacity
of maid rather than companion, alighted
from the five o'clock train from Boston.
made some inquiries of all official at the
Fitchburg station, and then made hel
way across the track to the other train
which was waiting respectfully at a dis
lance. Just as the train from Boston
was about to start a young man came
hurriedly to the platform Of the car,
looked earnestly across the tracks, and
then disappeared inside the car to return
a moment later with a tan-leather satchel,
an umbrella and a cane. He looked ner-
0 u and annoyed, but crossed the tracks
and climbed into the single passenger
car on the narrow-guage road. The car
was a combination passenger and bag
gage car, and he climbed in at the bag
gage car end. Presently the car backed
from the side-traek and started along its
upgrade journey.
The young man took up a position be-
fore the open side door Of the baggage
end of the car and seemed to give him
self up to admiration of the country
through which they were passing, though
he cast furtive glances into the other end
of the car, where the young woman had
taken her place. She was seated near
the middle of the car, on the sunny side,
and her maid was two or three seats be-
hind her, with wraps and umbrellas and
the various other paraphernalia that a
~fastldious young woman carries with her
even on q short journey. oHaving made
these observations the young man gave
more perfect attention to the landscape
and looked less frequently into the car
proper. The girl was evidently uncon-
scious of his presence, or at least un-
mindful of it. She looked steadily out
of the window and seemed to be enjoy
ing also the beautiful scenery.
But presently the young man began to
grow more nervous and FESTIVE. He
moved uneasily from his position to the
open doorway and sat down on a box in
the middle of the car. Then he went
back to the door ana leaned away out,
looking up the track. Then he went
back to the box again and arranged his
four-in-hand %nervously. Suddenly he got
up and walked resolutely down the car
to where the young woman was seated.
He walked much in the manner of one
who has determined to take a bath il
very cold water and goes at it with his
nerves at the sticking point and his eyes
shut. The young woman was much in
terested in the landscape as he came up
and she did not notice him. He was
obliged TO call her attention.
ttGrace,o he said.
She turned from the window with
eyes and looked at him a
moment. Then the light of recognition
drove the wonder slowly from her eyes
and she held out her hand languidly.
"Why, how do you do, Mr.. Marden9"
she said.
He took her hand slowly; he almost
CROPPED for it. He had been trying all
the way from Boston to get up courage
to speak to her, and now her cool. sur
priscd HHow do you do was almost too
much for him. There was not even a
traceable note of resentment in it. There
certainly wa nothing OF pleasure. How
ever, he pulled himself together and took
the seat which she made for him beside
her.
e'It used to be Frank" he said in
answer to her ssMr. Marden." She
easily.
"oh, yes, but that was ever SO long
sgo."
"It wa long ago. said the young
man lit seems an age"
Miss Granville made no reply. She sat
here brown-eyed and self-contained,
md presently looked out of the window
again. The young man made another
ssue.
"Wnat on earth brings you to this for
aiken region2' he asked. Miss Gren-
lille looked at him inquiringly.
It's it ~forsaken2" she asked. II think
t is very pretty
"Weli, yes, pretty, but not-well-
,xciting."
ssDo you like excitementa2' asked Miss
5renvilIe, sweetly.
81 donot; but you door used to-"
ibid IL think | must have changed"
stProbably; you are changeable,n said
he young man, very bitterly. The young
Woman made no reply. Marden looked
lneomfortably at his boots for awhile,
hen he made a third attempt.
"Nill you please tell me where you
re going, Graceao he said.
Miss Grenviile turned slowly from the
Il think you had better call me Miss
'renville, = she said.
Very we'll. Miss Grenvilie will ron
lease tell me where you are going7"
Certainly. am going to visit my
mt at Wilmington. And yoraa
81 am going to WILMINGTON, too-on
usiness.n
Arc you! Then you must know
bout the coach from Readsboro.
ttWell-er the fact Isl don't.
to go very suddenly-that Isl
find out about the stage