St. Paul daily globe., 1893-05-24
HIS LOST LOVE.
Boston Clio be


The winter night was closing dark
and drear around the tumult and hustle
of the railroad station in the heart of
he city. Without the snow fell, white
and ceaselessly, and the fiery eye of the
locomotive threw line of light through
the darkness for yards around.
Hugh Southbank was walking slowly
up and down the platform, with his
arms resting carelesSy on the shoulder
of Alfred Neville, his dearest friend.
Both were wrapped to the throat in
furs.
$50 you are reallys setting forth,
Hugh?" exclaimed Neville. "And when
shall you return home?"
81 can scarcely certainly not IN
many years. and perhaps never. [ may
become Russian, or possibly pitch my
tent among the palm trees of Pales-
tine"
Hugh" said his friend, turning so as
to look into the dark eyes that were
partially hidden by the fur-trimmed
cap of the traveller, 81 remember when
you were the qbietest and most home
loving OF prosaic individuals. What has
changed you so entirelyW
| turned Southbank, evasively.
'Hughw said Neville reproachfully,
"surely we have not been fast friends
| for twenty years for you to deny me
| your confidence at last?'
II have no secrets from you. Neville"
replied Hugh, somewhat softened. Nor
am unwilling to confess to you that
| the whole current of my life has been
| changed since that unlucky quarrel
with Edith Sayre six years ago. We
| both acted very like couple of foolish
children, and so we parted"
"And what has become of her"
"She married Charles CalthOrpe
years ago, and have long lost sight of
| her."
why don't you follow her example.
my boy, and take unto yourself a
wife?"
Southbank shrugged his shoulders.
"Hallo! here comes your trainl In
with you, old felloW-drop me line now
and then, Just to let me know that you
| haven't turned Mussulman at COnstanti-
nople or taken to tiger hunting in the
| jungles of Bengal"
There was cordial grasp of two
| earnest hauds and then Alfred Neville
stood alone Oh the platform, mist that
was not the dew Of melting snow fakes
| before his eyes, and the express train
| was speeding away through the
gloom and darkness of the winter night.
''IS this seat engaged, sir?"
Hugh SOuthbank answered in the
negative. almost petuantly, for the
| conductors voice reused him from a
| deep reverie into which he had fallen.
The twilight of half-iiluminated
| car, the heated atmosphere within and
the swift. tremendous motion of the
train, were alike favorable to dream
| fancies, and it was not particularly
pleasant to be reused up to make room
| for lady and two little children.
People haven't any business to be
| travelling with children" grumbled the
fat man with spectacles opposite, across
whose outstretched feet the little four
year-old boy had stumbled.
Hugh outhbank-whether out of the
sheer spirit of contradiction or from
Christian charity will never be known
leaned forward and took the four-year-
old upon his knee, while he assisted the
lady to dispose of her manifold travel
ing bags and bundles.
'Thank you, slr!"
The words were spoken so low that
Southbank scarcely caught their sound,
but the rosy little boy on his knee quite
made up for his mothers taciturnity by
clamOrouSly demanding to see the
strangers watch and rubbing his cheek
delightedly against the costly furs which
edged Hugh's travelling coat.
.1Papa had fur coat like this-papa
is dead" chatted the little fellow. lift
ing his brown eyes to Hugh South
banks with innocent confidence.
Southbank did not answer.
land mamma is going to B.! Nam
ma has only SO left" went on the small
chatterer, sand
"Hugh, dear, don't talk any MORE"
interposed the soft, tremulouS voice at
Southbank's side, with an accent that
thrilled him to the very heart.
Southbank leaned forward to get
glimpse of the face that belonged to the
sweet. low voice. but it was useless
the car was too dark.
sAnd what is your name, my little
fellow" he asked, sudden inspiration
coming to his AID.
Mamma says Pm not to talk" pout-
ed the child.
"Tickets, If you please" shouted the
conductor, bustling down the aisle.
! "Hold your lantern here minute, ms