Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-04-16
CHAPTER K. co UPON A JOURNEY.

CHAPTER K.
 GO UPON JOURNEY.
 All day I tramped the long, hard, white road that seemed to stretch away before me forever. Hour after hour I trrfdged through narrow, hot lanes be- tween long lines of hedges or crooked rail fences. Now and then passed a farmhouse where all the children came out and perched themselves on the yard fence to stare at me in wonder, while half-dozen dogs of various sizes and breeds came out to bark themselves hoarse at an apparition that must have been truly astonishing. Occasionally I passed a traveller on horseback or in wagon, some countryman going to mar ket, and he gaZed at me as he passed as though 1 was quite an uncommon crea- ture, turning his head to look back after he had got by, until had fears for the safety of his neck Two or three times stopped in shady places to rest, and several times I had asked at farmhouses for drink of water but all day I ate nothing, for I had no money to buy food and could not beg.
 The sun was just sinking below the far western horizon when came to the top of a long, steep hill, and saw spread out before me n wide reach of level prairie across which the white road wound like narrow belt of ribbon. could see for miles ahead and on either side of me, and nowhere was there n sign of habitation. All about me, as far as I could see, there lay only wild, un- broken plain, with here and there in the distance small herd of grazing cattle. The solitude of my surround ings, and the near approach of night, filled me with dread and feeling of loneliness that I could not shake off, and for the first time that day felt how utterly alone in the world I was. Night was coming on and there was no prospect of shelter, and the thought of spending the long dark hours alone on the open prairie was dis dressing beyond measure. I was hun gry, too, and weak, and, exert myself as I would, knew 1 could travel little farther that night and that could not tramp the distance that lay between me and the nearest house.
 Thoroughly disheartcned I sat down by the wayside, wishing with all my soul that could go to sleep there and never awake again. My mind was too much confused to admit of any sensible reasoning and though I attempted to decide what was best to do could reach no intelligent conclusion. So 1 sat there while the darkness deepened around me, and, recalling all the long bitter past, afflicted myself with the old pains that had racled my heart so oft en. thought of my father, now so far away, and wondered if he wouldn't feel a little touch of pity for me could he see me and understand the desola- tion of my soul.
 It had become quite late while 1 sat there, and the darkness had increased until could distinguish objects but a few yards away. My mind had drifted back to the present and was wonder ing in a confused, uncertain manner, whether had better lie down and try | to sleep the night out or whether had better drag my weary limbs a little farther on toward my destination. was still pondering, and undecided, when I was arrested by the rumble of a wagon, which l discovered was ap- preaching from the direction I had come. sprang to my feet and waited in hopeful anticipation, feeling sure that whoever the driver might be he could not, seeing my distress, do less than take me safely to place of shel- | ter.
 After the lapse of two or three min utes the wagon came into view and I saw that its only occupant was a man. knew nothing of the world, nothing of humanity, as have said, so did not have that distrust of strangers which my sex acquires from experience. I had no thought of the man offering me violence, and did not hesitate to call to him when he drew up where I stood.
 "What you want?" he demanded, refining in his horses and glancing around.
 ''I want to ride in your wagon to a shelter for the night" replied, eff you will be so kind as to let me-"
 He looked very hard at me for quite a little while, and some way did not altogether like his manner. felt that there was something of familiarity in it.
 ''So you want to ride with me, eh?'' he questioned, and at the same time gave vent to low chuclrle.. ''I'd like mighty well to accommodate you, but I've zoo Q wife at home and guess she ' Weuldht much fancy Che ldsR of me nEG19 pthaP Wonan R10ulld with me. ul faalana, nso ta,
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