The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-02-26
ON CHICAGO LIMITED


sladdest, most hurried day in all the
year-the day before Christmas. The
scene is the Grand Central depot, that
portal through which, IN the morning,
pour the countless thousands who are
As the sands Of the shore in the midst Of
the great city; through which at night
these countless thousands depart, and
the city knows not that they have gone.
On this evening the crowd Is glad
and a merry one, and though there
Is much pushing and jostling every one
Is good-natured; for, indeed, is not this
the eve Of gladness-that gladness
which Is the touch Of nature making
the whole world kin?
In the waiting-room Of that road
which leads to Chicago, on the edge of
the crowd forcing its way through the
narrow gateway leading to the limited
train, is little lady, who to keen
eyed observer shows notable lack Of
the holiday atmosphere. She Is fault
Iessly tailor-made as to garbing, she
Is gloved and booted and hated IN the
most exactly correct Of the smart
styles; and she carries small handbag
which looks as assured and self-con-
tanned as does the little lady herself.
She waits until she can pass the gate
without being crowded, then shows her
ticket, walks through, finds her car,
hands her little bag to the porter say
ing, Section No. g." and is presently
comfortably seated facing the engine.
Altogether a very we'll regulated and
systematic little lady, but evidently
little lady who either does not know
it is Christmas eve or, knowing, Is for
some reason trying to forget it. AS
the train moves out Of the great depot
and the little lady watches the lights
flashing rapidly by, two great tears
creep out Of her beautiful eyes and
gleam for a moment on the veil that
falls from the jaunty travelling hat
Soon dinner is announced in the dining
car, and the little lady walks calmly
through the train, eats her dinner,
then as calmly returns to her place.
AS the porter passes she glances at
the unoccupied section opposite and
'nQuires pleasantly:
"Porter, Is No. 10 not taken?"
Reserved for a paEts' G.: &}hanY>
Miss" is the reply.
'Then may sit there for while and
watch the river" says the little lady,
and she takes the seat by the window
and looks out across the Hudson and
watches TIE lights coming out one by
one along the Palisades. After time
she return to her own place, takes q
novel from her sachel and settles her
self to its perusal, but by and by she
discovers that it IS all about Q husband
aud wife who become estranged, and
:hen make it all up and live happy ever
more. and the little lady signifies her
diSapproval by closing the book with
4 vicious bang and saying, afEer mo-
ment's thought "Never!' She then
called the porter and had her section
prepared for the night
Ere long she had dEifted 20 that land
where dreams take possession Of US,
and whether she would or not her
dreams were all about tall, dark man
with merry eyes, which could look Sc
we're, and with a pleasant voice which
called her Edith, and all through the
dream was little dos. a skye terrier,
for which she did not seem tc care at
al, but which seemed to have O gleat
deal to do with every thing-and then
pleasant voice said briskiy:
Porter, is No. 1G ready?" And the
voice somehow seemed to go with the
tail, dark man in the dream, and she
half awoke with dry little sob, and
murmured sleepily, 'Never" and went
back to her dreams until the sunshine
Of Christmas morning came through
the curtains and brought her again to
the world Of real things. AS she emerg-
ed from her seclUsion to complete her
toilet she discovered that the opposite
section had been made up and the oc-
cupant had departed to the smoking
compartment
A dress suit case and travelling coat
we're lying on the seat. AS her eye was
caught by the Initials on the dress
suit box her heart seemed to stand
still, then she looked hastily at the
coat and gasped, ut is Philip" then,
becoming conscious Of her disheveled
condition. she made frantic rush for
the erd Of the car. When she appeared
again she was as fresh and blooming
us Il rose. Her section meanwhile had
been made up, and she settled herself
comfortably and gazed out at the
beautiful snow touched country
ell:sugh which the t-alp Yves hQrryin&.