The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1893-08-25
A LONG TRIP ABROAD.

and hustle Of the railroad station in
the heart of the 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 carelessly on
the shoulder Of Alfred Neville his
dearest friend. Both were wrapped
to the throat in furs.
$50 you are really setting forth,
HughW exclaimed Neville. "And
when shall you return homer"
81 can scarcely teI-certainly not
in many years, and perhaps never.
Imay become Russian, or possibly
pitch my tent among the palm trees
of Palestine"
"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, II re-
member when you were the quietest
and most home-loving Of prosaic in
dividuals. What has changed you
so entirely?"
''Time works changes in us all"
returned Southbank, evasively.
Hugh said Neville, reproach-
fully, surely we have not been fast
friends for twenty years for you to
deny me your confidence at last?"
81 have no secrets for you, New
lille, replied Hugh, somewhat soft
ened. "Nor am l unwilling to con-
TESS 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 a couple of foolish children, and
so we parted"
'And what has become of her2"
"She married Charles Calthorpe
years ago and I have long lost sight
of her"
"Why don't you follow her exam
pie, my boy, and take unto yourself
a wife?"
Southbank shrugged his Shout
ders.
"Hallo! here comes your train
In with you, old fellow-drop me a
line now and then, just to let me
know that you haven't turned mus
sulman at Constantinople or taken
to tiger hunting in the jungles Of
Bengal"
There was cordial grasp of two
earnest hands and then Alfred New
lille stood alone on the platform, q
mist that was not the dew of melt,
ing snowfakes 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 petulantly for the
conductors voice reused him from {
deep reverie into which he had fallen
The twilight of the half-illuminat
ed car, the heated atmosphere with
in and the swift, tremulous motion
of the train were alike favorable t.
dream fancies, and it was not par
ticularly pleasant to be reused up tt
make room for lady and two littl,
children.
"People haven't any business t,
be travelling with children" grum
bled the fat man with spectacle
opposite, across whose outstretchec
feet the little four-year-old hat
stumbled
Hugh OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES out o
the sheer spirit Of contradiction O
from Christian charity will never b
known-leaned forward and too
the four-year-old upon his kne
while he assisted the lady to dispos
of her manifold travelling bags an
''Thank you, sir!"
The words were spoken so low tina
Southbank scarcely caught thei
sound, but the rosy little boy on hi
knee quite made up for his mother
taciturnity by DANGEROUSLY demand
ing to see the strangers watch an
rubbing his cheek delightedly agains
the costly furs which edged Hugh
travelling coat.
"Papa had a fur coat like this
papa is deadp chartered the lit
fellow, lifting his brown eyes
Hugh Southbank's with innocer
confidence.