The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-01-01
A FAMILY AFFAIR.
DY HUGH CONWAY.
CHAt TER I.

All the lights of Paddington station
were needed to conquer the damp fog
which fl led tho archcd expanse from
end to end. The broad platform teemed
with the motion and hustle attendant
upon the departure of train The
guard shut the last door which some
body's carelcssness had left open,
jumped into his van as it swept by him,
and, punctual to the minute, the five
O'Clock train left London and began its
race to Pen'ance.
In ono of the first ella compartments
were three passengers although the
railway company would only benefit to
the extent of two fares; one of these
passengers being a child still young
enough 10 be passed OF as child in
arms. The two travellers who augment
ed the company's revenue were man
and woman.
hat they were strangers was evident,
and it was also evident that the man
was an old traveller. AS soon as the
train was in motion and he felt insured
for some time TO come against disturb
ance. he arranged his wracs in the most
approved fashion, donned soft cap,
lit lamp and buried himself in book
He was young man; but as he appears
in this tale only to disappear, detailed
description would be superluous. 1t
enough TO know he was gentleman,
well dressed, wcll-to-do in appearance,
and looked quite in his proper place in
n first class carriage.
There was nothing remarkable in
the woman's appearance, ccpt the
utter absence of individuality 1t dis
pla ed. For any guidance her looks
gave, she might have been rich or poor,
young or old, beautiful or ugly, noble
or simple. Had her travelling com =
panion been as curious as he was at
present indifferent about the matter, he
might have sat opposite TO her from
London to the Lands End, yet not have
known how to classify her. She was
dressed in plain black and black, like
harity and night, covereth and hideth
much. No scrap of bright ribbon, no
vestige of color, broke the somber
monotony of her attire, and thick
black veil hid the upper part of her
face, She sat like one in thoughtful
frame of mind. Her head was bent
forward and so threw her mouth and
chin into the shade Her hands being
gloved, it was impossible to know
whether she wore wedding ring or
not.
I the child, little boy, there was
nothing that could be seen except a
mass of bright golden hair. The wom-
an had wound thick shawl around
him and held him close to her bosom.
he was no annoyance to anyone, for,
shortly after the train started, he fell
asleep. Indeed, so inofensive were his
travelling companions, that the gentle :
man, who had felt somewhat Disguised
when q woman and child entered the
compartment, began to hope that, after
all, he need not shift his quarters at tho
first stoppage.
Near Reading the train slackened.
] he gentleman with the book breathed
an inward prayer that he might not be
disturbed. He did not notice that, as
the train drew up at the platform, the
woman half rose from her seat. as if
her journey was at an end; then, after
moments hesitation, re-seated herself
in her former attitude. The travellers
were not disturbed. The train shot on
once moro. Still the gentleman read
his book still the silent woman held
the sleeping child.
In less than hour Didcot was reached.
The woman, after quick CLAN @, to
assure herself that the reader was in :
tent upon his book, pressed her lips
upon tho child's golden head, and kept
them there until the train stopped. For
minute or two she remained mo-
tionless, then laying the child on
tho seat, rose quickly and open
ed the carriage door. The reader
looked up as the cold, damp air rushed
into the heated compartment.
''You have no { mo to get out.n no
said, "we are off in a minute"
If she heard the well-meant caution
she paid no heed to it. She made no
reply. but, stepping on the platform,
closed the carriage door behind her.
The young man shrugged his shoulders
and resumed his interrupted para
graph. 1t was no business of his If
stupid women chose to risk missing tho
train.
Although, two minutes afterward.
whom he found the train in rand
motion, and himself and the sleeping
child the only tenants of the compart-
ment, no saw that, after all, he was
primarily concerned in the matter. In
spite of his warning. the mother had
been left behind and he was in the un.
enviablo position of having a child
thrown upon his hands until the next
stoppage.
Although he was bachelor, and one
who knew nothing of the ways of child
rem, he scarcely felt justified in pulling
the emergency cord. Swindon would
be reached in less than an hour there
he would be relieved. So he could do
no more than anathematize the careless
mother. and pray that the child's
slumbers might be unbroken. What
ever effect the OBJ urgation may have
had, he soon saw that his PRAYER was
not to be granted. The child, no
doubt, missing its protector embrace.
opened its eyes and began to struggle.
1t would have rolled off the seat, had
not its enforced guardian, who was a
good-natured. nd-hearted young fell
low, picked it up and transferred It to
his knee.
He meant well, although he did not
handle it very skillfully A man must
go through a course of painful expert
ences before he'learns how to handle
child properly. Our friend did his
best, but so clumsily that the wooden
shawl fell from the child. and disclosed
large ticket sewn on TO the dress be-
peath. On 1t was written. ''H. Talbert,
Esq, Hnzelwood House, Oekbury, near
slaektowH." Then he settled down to