Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-04-26
"Isn't there dining car attached to

express, but hope we shall not be de-
tanned here much longer" the conduc-
tor cheerfully added
Slowly the minutes dragged them
selves by, gradually lcngthening into
hours. The passengers gathered in
knots and whispered. One or two of
the more adventurous spirits got out,
peercd into tho darkness, feclSed only
by the driven snow, and then got in
again, with the customary uncompli-
mentary comments on tho railway
management. Mrs. Estcrhall 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
seoted-the one pale-faced and rather
plain, as Mrs. Esterhall 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 cheeks,
and wavy dark-brown hair, brushed
carclessly back from low, broad fore
head. Presently the latter rose, and,
coming to Mrs. Esterhalls side, asked
in soft, sympathetic voice:
Are you i'll, madam"
"N-no," stammered the old lady,
quite forgetful Of her society dignity.
"Only am so tnint and weary. ex-
pected to dine at home, long before this
hour; and took almost nothing to cat
before l started"
81 have some nice, homemade chicken
sandwiches in my bag" suggested the
pretty girl. my aunt insisted on my
taking them, although Idined heartily
before leaving home; and | have little
alcohol lamp with every convenience
for making good, strong cup of tea as
we'll If you will allow me to prepare
1t for you"
Mrs. Esterhall was q genuine tea
maniac A new brightness came into
her eyes at this suggestion.
"You are very lsiud," said she. "But
you will want it yourself"
NO" smiled the girl. ~ don't care
for tea. But my kind old aunt would
put the things ia. Now am glad that
she did SO"
In five minutes Mrs. Esterhall had
eaten and drunk and felt infinitely re-
freshed. How it happened she did not
pause to question herself, but she pres
emily found herself reclining comfort
ably, with her head on pillow impro-
vised out of the folded blanket shawl
that belonged to the young girl; and,
mingled with her drowsy reflections,
came the soft, low murmurs 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.
mo, am not going back; and do
not intend to communicate my address
to anyone"
mot even to himP"
mo, not even to him."
"But he loves you, dear"
"Yes; and that is the very reason
am determined to create no dissension
between him and his friends. Perhaps
he will forget me-"
"He will never do that"
"But at least / shall feel that have
done my duty" said the hazel-eyed girl,
firmly. 81 shall love him to the end of
his days, but l shall not have ruined
his future"
"And all this" cried the companion,
"out of Difference to the whims OF an
old woman whom you have never seen!'
"Out of Difference to his mother,
Alice" gently corrected the first
speaker.
What quixotic notion!" dreamily
mused Mrs. Esterhall. 'But she has an
excellent idea of duty, this dark-eyed
little girll'
THAT Is you, all over, Effie!' said the
friend. "You are always effacing your
self in favor of some one else Here
you are giving all your tea and sand
wiches to person You have never
heard of, abandoning your seat to a
poor little woman with crying baby,
because it is n trife 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 Efie.
"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! Guy!" thought
Mrs. Esterhall, sitting suddenly up.
but, of course, there are other Guys
than mine in the world"
Just then there was tremble of the
frozen ground under them, roar and
rush of lighted cars past them.
1.-The western express at lastv' shout
ed the choleric old gentleman, bobbing
up in his seat like an india-rubber ball.
"All abo-o-ard!" bawled the conduc-
tor, with twitch ut the bell-rope; and
on moved the train at last, creaking
and groaning like some monster SER
pent in pain. Mrs. Esterhall 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-
terhall that you are speaking OFF"
The girl started and colored. She
could not repress 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 Esterhall station,
but the covered sleigh was waiting for
them, with hot soapstone foot-warm'
ers and about half ton of fur robes
and wrappings. And Efie Dallas
stepped into the luxurious conveyance
with Mrs. Esterhall, for the old lady
had insisted on taking Effie home with
her to the manor.
'She is such contrast in every way
to that selfish, cold-hearted Chippen'
dale girl" said Mrs. Esterhall. "I'll