Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-05-09
A STRANGE ADVENTURE.
BY Z. Fairfax Byrne.

career as a high school teacher. but
the solution of the mystery did not
reach ne until many years afterward.
Ny fathers will left US girls unpro-
vided for, the small fortune which he
possessed independently of his earn
ings only Sufticing for the needs of my
mother. There were three of us. | am
Eleanor, the youngest. The future of
my sisters gave no cause for anxiety,
as they were engaged to be married
it was | who formed the knOtty point,
for as | had not their personal attrac-
lions, and was, moreover, in character
somewhat pronounced and thOrny, the
resources of matrimony did not enter
INTO my calculations. My father,
whose favOrite companion | had been,
had, however, given me a first-ra te
education, intoxicating at the same time
a spirit of independence. Upon his
DEATH therefore, recalling his counsel
to stand in the world on my own basis,
[ armed my spirit to meet the future
opening somewhat obscurely before
me, and determined to solve its prob
lens for myself.
| considered myself fortunate when,
by a lucky chance, | was engaged al
most Immediately by the head-mistress
of high school i'll the northern town
of M, as the least among her under
teachers, at a salary of E30 per annum,
together with board and lodging
This seemed to me satisfactory as a be-
ginning; it insured me independence at
least. And when at the end of my
! tirSrt in 81 l.
ment of my SALARY in the shape of a
ten-pOund note no budding merchant,
contemplating the successful issue of
an early enterprise could have felt
prouder or more elated than / did
This was the foremost tiny ship return
ing laden with treasure from the land
of promise whittier | had sent all my
airy feet.
How my first ship was wrecked be-
fore it quite reached harbor forms the
subject of this story.
1t was a point of pride with me to
be able to carry home the note intact
My mother had supplied me with a
small sum to start with, and during
the term | had been so economical
that, when it was over, l had one SOW
coins would suffice for the journey
home. Accordingly l drove to the sta
ton with a full purse.
The train l had chosen to travel 10y
was an early one, and few save third
class passengers were likely to be
starting with me.
This improbability of any fellow
travellers of interest rendered the
sight of somewhat noticeable figure
a the station entrance matter for
surprise
\ tall young man stood leaning
against the door of the booking office,
perusing the ground with a depressed
and even haggard air. His dress was
shabby, and yet he possessed refine
ment, and his features were finely
cut. He looked up as | stepped from
the cab, and his expression of troubled
absorption changed gradually to one
of animated interest | cannot say
that there was anything Eattering i'll
the gaze with which he favored me,
neither did | feel it to be insulting;
there was in it something curiously
impersonal and yet eager.
| stood by the cab paying the driver
and giving orders about my luggage,
and he watched me all the time.
Then l passed him and went into the
station.
The next time l became conscious of
his presence was when standing be
lore the ticket window in the booking
office. | had opened my purse to take
out my sovereign, when something,
know not what, caused me to turn my
head sharply and to glance over my
shoulder Immediately l perceived the
young man stood on the other side Of
the rail He was leaning over me and
was looking this time, not at me- but
curiouSl- and eagerly into my purse.
''Second-clasS single to NIiddleford.' y
said l, and handed the sovereign over
the counter, to receive in return a
ticket and some change.
The ticket l placed, fortunately for
myself, in my glove; the change l put
into my purse. and this I continued to
hold in my hand.
On reaching the platform | found
that the young man. who had vanished
from the rail before | left it, was
standing by the open door of a second
class carria sc marked "MddlefOrd. :
To see this was a once to make up my
mind not to get in there, and | walked
to the far end of the train. Here hav.
ing selected an empty SecOnd-claSS
compartment. l seated myself in the
corner near the window. And JUS
then there befell startling event
The door of my carria ge was reopeneG
and the space suddenly filled up with
head and shoulders of the young mar
whom | had before noticed. His ap
pearance was entirely unexpected
and I surveyed him with a sentiment
of intense and Stupefied Amusement
rot unmiXed with that sort of fore
boding which is but the event il
shadow. Indeed. the expression of his
face excused some disquiet; it was full
of menace, his blue eyes (they We're
l remarked. peculiarly blue scin
tfllated with very diSagreeabl
threat, while his lips, under a Sigh
growth of mustache. looked pale an,
tense
For an imperceptible second W
gazed full into each others eyes, an.
then the mans glance dropped to tn
purse lying upon my knee. OF courS
| at once perceived that I was threat