The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-05-03

r0SbloSS DIack eyes, and dressed IN a
loud, bragadocia style, with a self
satisfied air, and sinister smile over
spreading a rather villianous looking
countenance. 1 could not help draw
ing comparisons between these two
men, and my mental deductions were
not very fattering to the short indi-
vidual, for / fatter myself that | am
a pretty fair judge Of human nature,
as most drummers are. Then my eyes
would involuntarily wander to the fair
vision before me, and 1 observed that
she constantly cast furtive chances at
theparties opposite. 1 watched thisfor
some time, all the while feeling ill-at-
ease and nervous, as if partially under
some mesmeric spell, and felt that |
must do something in order to divert
the magnetic influence which seemed
unconsciously to be stealing owe me-;
SO Itook out my order book and turned
over the leaves in an distracted man
ner, when it slipped from my fingers
and fell over the seat in front of me,
almost in the lap of the lady sitting
there. This so confused me that l
scarcely knew what to do-whether
to apologize ID the lady and ask a
return of the book, or whetherI should
lean over and secure the book without
attracting her attention. At this mo-
ment she picked up the book, cast a
wistful, timid glance at me, drew a
gold pencil from a recticule in her lap,
and turned her face determinedly the
other way.
ITO say that I was dumbfounded
would mildly express it. She deliber-
ately commenced to write in my book,
and shortly after threw that fair,
rounded arm and shapely little hand
carelessly over the back of the seat,
with the book clasped in her fingers,
but never looking at me, or turning in
her seat the while. Securing the book,
I read, to my intense surprise, the
following:
"'Your face looks like a kind one,
and I am in dire distress. Will you
help met Ny name is Lydia Moss,
from Tennessee, AMI the gentleman in
the opposite seat is my step-father,
who is taking me home 10 become the
bride of the brute beside him in order
hat between them they may control
my property, which is considerable;
but / had rather die than wed him.
But there seems to be no way to avert
their wishes; but l will kill myself
before I will become the victim of sheir
vile Vaccinations. Will you marry
me? l am aware that this not maid
emily, bus there is no time for false
modesty. If you are free l will trust
you, and prove to you that all l say
is true, and that | am worthy Of your
| confidence. [ do not know you, but
will trust you. If your answer be
yes, we must arrange to leave the cars
at Greensboro, without their knOwl-
edge, and have the ceremony per
formed Immediately
81 was bewildered. 1 knew not
what to say or think. l was placed
in a position where it was necessary
to make a decision at once, without
actually knowing anything whatever
of the young lady; but I recklessly
decided that matrimony was a lottery
at best, and I felt that I could die for
the fair being before me; and without
stopping to reason, 1 wrote on a leaf of
the book
"'I WILL
"This sealed my destiny; and just
before reaching Greensboro I saw the
two gentlemen go into the smokingcar.
I followed. I drew my cigar case, and
offered each a smoke, which was &C
copied. We conversed for some time,
during which I learned that they were
to go through to Columbia.
LAS the whistle blew for Greensboro,
III felt that 1 must do something in
order to keep them where they were,
and suggested that we have a drink of
some very superior old apple brandy,
which I told them l had in my valise
in the sleeper. They accepted, and I
requested them to keep their seats
until I could go for it.
"On entering the sleeper l seated
myself behind the young lady and
said:
care you determined on this stepP
81 am, if you are willing to trust
me-
"'Then follow me. out to the real
end of the car
The wheels of the car had hardly
ceased to roll before we were off and
safely in a hack standing near.
Where to, bossi"
"'Drive to Mr.. Blanks naming a
personal and intimate friend of mine.
Arriving there we alighted, and 1
explained the circumstances and my
| Miahas to NV friend mhn n.onnl