Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-02-25
TRAVELLING ALONE.

Il
why have done II over and over
ag lin. D." said his wife languidly. She
was tall, fair woman whose pretty
face bore traces Of re ent illness; and,
a. she spoke sho pr ed her delicate
hand, laden with costly rings, over her
fore cad.
at is too vexatious, too" continued
her hus band, noting anxiously the gcs.
ture, that every seat in the drawing
room car is taken. Don't yon u nix /
hid be ter ask the conductor to look
"a ter you
NO, plonso don't Jack. answered
his wife; "he wo ! only worry me. I
shall bo comfortable enougl and
after all, II is only six no rs before
arrive at R. where | will meet the
u ---s. Goodbye, dc r. and don't
fret; ! will wiro you this evening"
After her husband left, Mrs. A
gave careless look at her follow pas
scngcrs In the scat across tho aisle
sat IL respectable Looking. rudy faced.
middlc-agcd woman. whom the inval.
Id regarded with satisfaction. A man
and II woman, with family Of several
children, occupied the place near the
door; the rest Of tho car seemed omp.
~ but a. her eyes followed the line OF
scnts, she felt a disagreoablc start on
linding her gaze mot by the bold, dl.
rect stare Of well-drcsscd. sinister
looking mgn, who occupied the third
seat in her ropi BY his side sat n
Onriy-lOoking g nt who, although
clcanly ana nertly dressed. was owl
IDENTIFY Of nm inferior class. Disagree
ably impressed sho knew not why,
she turned around. and, openinp her
boo s. underworld to bcguile tho tcdium
OF tho Iourucy
After couple OF hours the express
stop cd AT .---, and hero. 20 her ro-
greet she saw her lslnd-looking neigh.
Dor leave hor seat The family party
that she h.d noticed also hurried past
with children and bundles. pushing
past the new people who were coming
In, and 1t was with feeling OF posi-
tive annoyance that she saw tho two
men behind her leave their piece and
quietly take pr cssion OF tho seats
the plcnsant-taccd woman had left va
cant
AGAIN tie train sped on. Mrs.
A II cute We icd with herself on
account OF the uneasy, nervous feeling
that gradually stole over her. an the
hall dread she felt OF the dark. Mo-
phistoph linn-looning man WhO had
placed himself so near her. Several
times she looked toward him. feeling
instinc lively that Lis eyes wcro fixed
upon her and elch tmo she never
failed to fad tho bold and glittcring
orbs staring into her face.
How absurd ami" she slld TO
herself, impalicnt'y; what harm
could any one do me In car full Of
pooploP' ane he rcsolutcly turned her
back and b gun to road.
But suddenly she gave u vlolo
start d half-scream as sho folt
rather than saw. the drcudcd face
bonding over her shulder. while he
said. We get out ut the ncNt station.
madam"
just mt that moment tho Welcome
sound Of Tickets" was heard from
the CONDUCTOR W was m ~ his
rounds before the train stoppc :. The
man, to hor great relief le nor i'm
mcdiatoly, but to hcr surprise, walked
up The cin' a"l, ru"'ng him
aside, engaged HIM in earnest CONVEX
satiOn. In spite OF herself sho cou,d
not help turning around TO see what
her prosecutor was about although
she deyoatly hoped to SEQ him leave
the train, thus making II a. necessary
to take amy rot'co OF his ba.uvlor.
That thoy were tul'-'rr abou her was
evident for the conductor kent glanc.
ing toward hor as tho man spoke. and,
to her annoyance. she saw hi n resume
his seat ard he I to conf rapidly
with his companion.
Resolved to save herself from
further trouble she laid her hand on
The conductors arm as he pase II.
please bend down your head. she
said 10 him in low voice. "that man
mus be out Of his senses; no has been
me over since we left c..
viii you please take mo to the next
CARP
To her utter amazcmeut aud tor
ror, tho conductor only gave her a
compassionate glance, and said gently:
Madam, you are under this gentle.
man. charge, ana he is going to take |
you whore you will bo made quite well |
again; ! nm suro n lady like you will |
go with him quietly"
Liao q flash the frlghtful situation |
dawncd upon her bewildcred sen es.
The man was pretending she was mad,
and that he with his assistant were |
taking her TO an asylum. In vain she |
att mpicd an explanation; terror par
alyzcd her tongue and made hor quite
incoherent The horrible man smiled !
down upon her and she iet in her
wea ness that a growsome fate over
which she had no control put her in
his power Her vehement protesta-
tons and sobs were regarded by the
kindly conductor a. so many symptoms
Of her malady,
Meanwhile the train was stopping.
A little crowd collected around
The poor m d lady" who was protest
Ing so vainly against her fate; and so
In the broad day light in the midst OF
plying, warm-hearted people tie un.
Fortunate woman was gently forced
tut OF tho train, put In a carriage by
he two men, and driven rapidly
way, More dead than alive, she
in lily tainted,
When she came to herself she was
Ilone in a strange room, lying on a
ola. All the most recent dreadful
occurrences rushed over her distracted
nlnd us sne came TO hersolL The
ause for the desperate piece OF viii