The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-05-18

management. Mrs. Esterhalt was ner-
vous and unaccustomed to travel She
began to cry softly behind her veil.
"Ah," she thought, If ever | live to
get safe home again, I'll stay there
I'll never tempt Providence more, on
these night roads"
Across the aisle two Young girls were
seated-the one pale-faced and rather
plain, as Mrs. EsterhalI had already
noticed by the light of the cluster of
lamps under which they were seated;
the other brilliant young brunette
with soft hazel eyes, peachy checks,
and wavy darll-brown hair, brushed
carelessly back from low, broad fore
head Presently the latter rose, and,
coming to Mrs. EsterhalIs side, asked
in a soft, sympathetic voice:
Are you ill, madam
''N-no," stammered the old lady.
quite forgetful of her society dignity.
Only am SO faint and weary / ex-
pected to dine at home, long before this
hour; and took almost nothing to eat
before | started"
Il have some nice, homemade chicken
sandwiches in my bag" suggested the
pretty girl My aunt insisted on nv
taking them, although dined heartily
before leaving home; and have a little
alcohol lamp with every convenience
for making good, strong cup OF tea as
we'll If You will allow me to prepare
it for you"
Mrs Esterhall was a genuine tea
maniac \ new brightness came into
her eyes at this suggestion.
You are very kind, " said she. But
you will want it yourself"
No smiled the girl II don't care
for tea. But my kind old aunt would
put the things in Now am glad that
she did So
In five minutes Mrs. Esterball had
eaten and drunk and felt infinitely re-
freshed. How il happened she did not
pause to question herself, but she pres
emily found herself reclining comfort
ably, with her head on Z. pillow impro-
vised out of the folded blanket shawl
that belonged to the young girl; and.
mingled with her dTowsy reflections,
came the soft. low murnurs of the
sweet-eyed brunette. who had changed
her seat and that Of her companion to
the one directly back of Mrs Ester
hall, and was talking almost in a
whisper.
No, l am not going back; and | do
not intend to communicate my address
to anyone"
Not even to him?''
No not even to him.''
But he loves yon, dear"
Yes; and that is the very reason l
am determined to create no dissension
between him ard his friends Perhaps
he will forget me 3"
He will never do that"
But at least l shall feel that have
done my duty" said the hazel-eyed girl,
firmly Il shall love him 10 the end of
his days, but l shall not have ruined
his future"
And ali this" cried the companion,
..out of Difference to the whIms of an
old woman W hom you have never seen!'
''Out of Difference to his mother,
Alice" gently corrected the first
speaker.
What a quixotic notionl'' dreamily
mused Mrs. Esterhall But she has an
excellent idea of duty, this dark-eyed
little girl!'
That is you, all over, L file. said the
friend You are always etfacing your
self in favor of some one else Here
you are giving all your tea and sand
wiches to a person You have never
| heard of, abandoning your seat To d
poor little woman with d crying baby,
because il is Il trifle nearer the stove,
and To cap everything, giving up the
man You love and who loves you, be-
cause"
Because it is my duty" said Effie
| please. Alice, don't let us discuss the
matter any longer. 1t is because L love
| Guy that / am willing to sacrifice every
thing for his sake "
Guy! Bless my soul! Guyl" thought
Mrs Esterhall, sitting suddenly up.
| Bat, of course, there are other Guys
| than mine in the world
| Just ,hcn there was a tremble of the
! frozen ground under them, a roar and
rush of lighted cars past them
The western express at last" shout
ed the choleric old gentleman, bobbing
| up in his seat like an India-rubber ball
"AII abo-o-ard!'' bawled the conduc-
tor, with a twitch at the bell-rope' and
| on moved the train at last, creaking
| and croaning like some monster ser
| pent in pain. Mrs Esterhan leaned
| over the back of the seat, toward the
hazel-eyed girl.
MY dear" said she, between the
throbs of the engine, is it Guion Es-
terhali that you are speaking of?'
! The girl started and coIored- She
could not repress a cry of surprise.
| Yes, | thought so. Come over here
and sit by me. / am his mother, and
| | want to talk to YOU"
1t was two o'clock in the morning
| when they reached Esterhal station,
| but the covered sleigh was waiting for
them, wit h hot soapstone foot-warm-
! ers and about half ton of fur robes
and wrappiEgs And Effie Dallas
| stepped into the luxurious conveyance
| with Mrs Esterhall. for the old lady
had insisted on taking Eff e home with
her to the manor
she is such contrast in every way
to that selfish, cold-hearted Chlppen-
dale girl" said Mrs Esterhall. IN
telegraph to Guion at once Really, it
does seem as if there was a special
providence in our train being kept so
long waiting for the western express
| to pass
As if there is not special provi-
dence'' in everything that happensuin
this wo Id of oursi-Amy Randolph. in
y. Y. Ledger.
| The Compass i'Iant-
On the western prairie is found what
is called the compass plant, which is Of
great value to travellers The long
leaves at the base OF its stem are placed,
not Nat, in plants generally, but IN
vertical position, and present their
! edges north and south. The peculiar