The Indianapolis journal., 1893-02-19
A LONE WOMAN" In DANGER
She Was Not Beset by Perils in Big
City, but in the Streets of Village.
In the Darkness She Vainly Sought Shelter,
but Was Always Refused. and but for
Kind Doctor Might Have Lost Her Life.

Every now and then." said an Indian
spolis ladv the other day. 81 read in the
papers about the emDarrassments and an
noyances suffered by women travelling
alone. especially In going to hotels in large
Cities. some OF which are said not to re-
ceive women who come without certifi-
cate of character or other voucher of re-
spectabilIty in their pockets. 1 have trav-
eied without escort great deal and have
had no experience of that sort. SO far as
transit from one place to another is con-
cerned / really don't see how q lone
woman with her wits about her. can have
trouble. Travel is made easy for her. As
Tor hotels, i never found any voucher nec-
essary beyo ond q fairly well-filled pocket
book. But when It comes to find
ing accommodations in a. little coun-
try village without formal introduction
that is q different matter. / can tell YOU
little story about that. Tell 1T Why.
never ehall forget that adventure. 1t
haunts me yet In my dreams 1t happened
this way: Upin - II won't mention the
name of the town il you are going to print
it. but will merely say that il vas not more
than fifty miles distant). lived. or had
lived. an old man whom 1t was important
for me TO see. lie had once been neigh
bora sort of back-alley neighbor-bad
done odd jobs of work for me. and If his
memory was good might now serve me In
little business matter whose details have
nothing TO do with this narrative. L might
have sent some one TO see him. but am
accustomed to look after my own affairs
and thereby be sure they are properly at
tended TO, so one day took the train TO go
mp there. 1 started at noon, thinking to
give myself plenty of time and
get back about g. or if not then
on the night train at IL o'clock.
About thirty live miles out was freight
wreck. and we were delay ed there for hours.
The down train came along just as were
ready to move on, and might have gone
back home, but decided that. having got
that far. i would 90 on and finish my er-
rand. even if It became necessary to remain
In the village all night. Ten miles further
came a broken rail. or n broken something
about the eDgine-I forget just what-that
delayed Us two hours more. Meanwhile 1t
had been snowing-one of those heavy
SHOWS. you know, that covers the ground
and all the land marks with amazing swift
ness. and that fills the air. and whIrls and
blows. and is most unpleasant to be out in.
by the time reached my station It was 10
o'clock; the train barely halted to let me
OF, and minute later | could have cried
TO think had not gone to the next
town. where were people knew. and where
was hotel. i was the only passenger. the
station was closed and had no sign of life
about it. and the village was at least q
quarter OF mile away.
DIscoURAGING OUTLOOK.
'I could see the dozen scattering houses
looming darkly in the distance when the
snowfall slackened for q moment. There
was nothing for it but to walk over and
find lodgings. There was a narrow board
sidewalk which | tried to follow. but
stumbled off 1t so many times into ditch
or drift that finally took the middle of
the road, and plowed my way along. 1t
was dIsagreeable, but my courage had not
yetforsaken me. At last / came TO a house
snc reconnoitered. All was dark and STILL
In fact. every other house was the same.
Not gleam of light was visible any where
Evidently there were no lnvallds or fretful
babies in that hamlet TO keep the house.
holds from peaceful repose. l opened q
gate with intent TO lombard the front
door. but at the click of the latch l heard
threatening grOwl from the rear
of the premises, then single tre-
mendous bark, followed by the
appearance around the corner
of a dark body that looked to my alarmed
eyes as large a horse. 1t Is hardly nec-
essary To say that i did not linger long at
the gate. but fled up the street L fiatter
myself that l am more courageous than
most women. but strange dogs after night
fill me with terror. i did not dare TO open
another gate. because most of the houses
were set back SO tar that could not have
escaped from the door had q dangerous
beast pounced at me. L wandered on and
finally came TO a house set even with the
street. i walked mp boldly and knocked
loudly at the door. / knocked long time,
q half mile ought to have awakened. when
at last window was cautiously opened
and q mans voice asked what was wanted.
i hastily explained that had just arrived
by train, vas unacquainted. and would like
q place TO stay till morning, adding
that l would pay well for ac-
commodstions. The man drew his
head back. i heard parleying within, and
woman. with voice of the sharp and
v.xeDish order say something about 'wom-
an at this time of night don't know any.
thing about her. what business hereP etc.
by this time / began to feel almost dis
reputable, and that needed credentials,
and when the woman came to the window
herself humbiy explained that my errand
TO this town was with Mr. James Slocum
who. believed. was resident. The wom-
seemed to be a Rratifed and triumphant
ring. Jim Slocumi Him! Jim. he lives in
yon shanty, bout q quarter of q mile mp
the railroad track Yell have TO 60 back
20 the depot and walk mp that away. We
hain't got no accommodation fer ye. and
there don't nobody In town take bOarders.'
Then / remem bered that Jim Slocum. w hen
knew him, had some holes IN his moral
reputation which had PROBABLY not been
mended since. ! had not helped my situa-
tion by acknowledging On acquaintance
with him.
DRIVEN TO DESPERATION.
"By this time l began TO feel desperate.
i walked MP to the next door in def ance
of possible dogs and raped vigorously.
Once more q window opened and / stated
my case. Don't harbor yrampsp said a
grutf masculine voice. and down went the
window. Not being q woman. you can't
Imagine my feelings at that moment. In
the middle of a winter night, IN a strange
place. and refused shelter on every hand.
the full horror of my condition was forced
upon me. ! was tired and cold, hungry
and Oedraggled, and in reality, for that
night. an outcast. Must / stay out In the
STERN and freezef 1t was getting colder
now. i tloundered along In the snow. un-
certain what 10 do and just then. making
amlsstep. fell from the elevated sidewalk
1our or hve feet into drift Of snow. |
was so weary. discouraged and forlorn that
i made no attempt to rise. but lay there
and cried aloud like aseven-y ear old child:
IL was n regular boo hoo.
Hello therev said a voice. Iscrambled
mp, and there vas man on horseback look
Ing down at me curiously. / was SO spent
with excitement and tears that / could
scarcely talk coherently. and it took a Sc
rles of questions TO bring out the facts
The man, who turned out To be- the village
doctor on his way home from visiting pa-
tient. III ade two or three indi ignant ex xclama-
tions: then he laughed: then, allghting
from his horse and saying. Come with me.
madam; i Will give you shelter he laughed
again. loud and heartily. This reused me
more than any thing else could have done.
and as followed him sputtered: Its no
laughing matter TO be turned ont in the
street in Your inhospitable town and called