Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-04-30
NO.. {.
STRANGERS YET.
Romantic Meeting of q Timid Chicago
Girl with a Volunteer Chaperon.
,>.,,o. ,.c. Co.ror ovopuo hut r.

Romantic Meeting Of q Timid Chicago
Girl with a Volunteer Chaperon.
never pass Carroll avenue but /
think of tho pretty little story told to
group OF friends one evening by one OF
our charming south side matrons. I
was country school ma'am it, Yer
mont, receiving salary Of S95 d
month, when made un my mind to
come to Chicago and learn stenogra-
pny Ihad n sister married and living
in a'suburb of the city, She promised
to help me all she could, and 1 re-
manned with her unit! had finished
studying and was ready for position.
Having, obtained the position l dis
covered that my limited income would
not allow me to ray cur fare to such 4
distance rs my sister lived As she
and her husband were poor it was de-
cided that should look for board
Ing place on the west side. l. searched
the papers diligently and found the de-
sired haven on Carroll avenue.
At first / found it very comfortable
and easy, and enjoyed coming home
after long days work and settling
myself to sewing or reading But us
the days grew shorter, and the nights
set in earlier, felt myself becoming
afraid to walk the two blocks that lay
between the street car corner and my
room, and this fear was not diminished
any after man had stopped me one
evening and | had rushed into the
house frightened and breathless from
running 1t may be very silly to one
who has never been afraid, but l suf-
fered cruelty as the car neared my cor
ner, and several nights could not find
the courage to get off, and remained on
the car, riding several blocks past, and
of course only prolonged the distance
of the walk.
One fearfully dark and stormy even
Ing the car was literally packed, and 4
stood holding on to strap in the ex-
trcme front, when the loneliness of my
position, my timidity and thoughts of
all employer out of hunor all day coin
p!etely overcaIne Inc and i began to
cry.
1t seemed rs If could not leave the
car and step into the darkness and
storm Presently felt a hand touch
NE, and voice said:
''What is the matter9"
II am afraid to go home" l said. I
was 10 years old, but | felt like baby.
Where do you get Off" asked the
voice
AT St. Johns place." I replied, and
Just then the conductor called out the
street, and ! pushed my way to tho
rear platform and stepped of. AS |
did SO the young man who had ques-
toned me stepped off also, and said;
II live up this way, and, if you viii
allow me, shall see you home
And all that winter, except tho few
nights when he did not chance to be OH
my car. for which think he sSllst have
watched he saw me home.
never learned his name or where he
lived, nor do think he knew my nare.
He never stopped at the door to talk,
nor presumed upon his kindness in any
way, and when the long days came
again lie disappeared entirely, and l,
soon after leaving the west side, have
never seen or heard Of him since.
often think of the incident, though,
and as grow older it shows up to me
in a very beautiful light, as compared
with SO many darker co!ors that go to
make up the annals of evening life in
large city. Chicago Letter.