Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-10-11
XLpENX ARGU6
MISCELLANEOUS.
AN UNPROTECTED FEMALE.

You are not AFRAID 10 go Oh
alonep"
The speaker was a young man
who stood on the platform OF a
railway station, and he addressed a
young girl beside him, whose neat,
gray dress and little satchel, pro-
claimed the traveller.
ut is too bad" he added, "for
the Walters to disappoint you at
the last moment. Perhaps, to-
morrow"
"Oh, no! tomorrow won't do,
Nat! Leonie is to be married on
Wednesday, and ! must start to-
day. Mrs. Walters could not help
the baby's sickness, and | am not
afraid"
"You will have to ride all night"
"Never mind! No American
ever annoys an unprotected female.
must get into the cars"
Mr.. Ralph Howell very unwil-
lingly gave his arm to his sister,
led her to seat, babe her good-by,
and sprang off, just as the train
started.
AFTER all" thought Miss Nettie,
as she arranged her shawl on the
back of the seat, ut is not 80 bad!
The train reaches Rosehill at day
break, and there is sure to be some
one to meet me. 1t is now four
o'clock, and as soon as it is dark, /
can put on my nubia and 60 to
Sleep"
And, having reached this conclu-
sion, Miss Nettie looked up to see
what part of of the country they
were riding through. The cars
were very much crowded, for it was
October. All the seats were filled,
except the one beside Nettie, yet
there was only one person standing
in the car. 1t was a gentleman
who leaned against the door and
looked out over Nettie's head and
out of Nettie's window. She hest
tated for a moment-for the gentle
man was young and handsome
but another glance at his frank,
honest face, decided her; and, with
a dlgni6ed bow, she offered him the
place. He thanked her, and accept
ed her offer.
Having done her duty, Nettie
took from her satchel a book and
began to read, while her companion,
from behind his newspaper, studied
her face. He saw the rare but
beautiful combination of very fair
curls and large eyes, with black
eyebrows and lashes, pure blond
complexion, and a small, slight
figure. She read for a few mo-
ments; and then, seeing that her
companion had put away his paper,
she said, in quiet, ladylike tone,
that would have completely dis
armed either impertinence or mis-
construction:
II have the magazines Of the
month, which my brother handed
me as we started. They are at your
service, if you have no book"
81 can cut the leaves for you,'
he said.
THANK YOU"
The darkness gathered, and the
conductor lighted lamps enough to
make it "visible;" but not, by any
means, enough to allow anything
else to share the privilege. Read
ing, of course, was at an end, and
the cold was making itself felt as
the cars sped forward. Nettie put
up her hand for her shawl. In an
instant it was taken from her.
"Stand up and let me put 1t on
for YOU" said the gentleman beside
her. "Are you going to ride all
night? Because, if you wish to
wake at any particular time, | will
call YOU"
III ride to Rosehill."
1--WE reach there at six in the
morning. am going there, too"
"Yes?" There was an accent of
interest in Nettie's voice.
"Yes! am on my way to act
as groomsman at wedding"
miss Simmons?" 1t slipped
out before Nettie was aware of it.
"Yes. am first groomsman to
my friend, Dick Ross"
"And / am going there to be first
bridesmaid. You are DR.. Hol-
man?"
"And you Miss Howell, of course!
How glad | am to be able to do
what l have been longing for this
last three hours!
"And that lisp"
"Offer you my assistance; for ]
see you are alone"