New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-21
4 STRANGE ADVENTURE.
BY l.. FAIRFAX BYRNE.

did not reach me until many years afterward
My fathers will left us girls unprovlded , aJr,
pendently of his earnings only suillclng lol 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. II was | who formed the
knotty point for as | had not their personal at
fractions and was moreover, in character some
what pronounced and thorny. the resources OF
matlimony did not enter into my caicuIatlohs'
My father, whose faV0rite companion had Deeh'
had however, given me a trsi-rate educau9h'
intoxicating the same time spirit oi lnde-
pendence Upon his death therefore, recalling
his counsel to stand in the world on my own
basis armed my spirit TO meet the future open
ing somewhat obscurely before me, and de-
terIuined 20 solve its problems for myself
Considered myself fortunate when by a lucky
chance. | was engaged almost Immediately by the
head-mistress of a high school in the northern
town Of N. as the least among her under
teachers at a salary OF $50 per annum, together
with board and lodging. This seemed To- me
satisfactory as a beginning it insured me lnde-
pendence at least. And when at the END OF my
first term | received the first instalnleht 81 my
Ealary in the shape of a ten-pound note no pua,
ding merchant. contemplating the successful
Issue of an early enterprise, cou!d nave IeIt
prouder or more elated than dld Inns was tiie
foremost tiny ship returning Iadch WIN ti'dS
ure from the land OF promise whittier hdd sent
all my airy fleet. ;, ,.
reached harbor forms the subject OF TINS STORY
II was a point of pride with me to be able to
carry home the note intact. My mother mad sup
piled me with small sum to start with. ana our
Ing the term had been so ecohonlcal 'hat wren
Il was over | had one sovereign ana rev
shilings left; these coins would suffice Tor me
Journey home. Accordingly drove TO the station
with a full purse
The train had chosen to travel by was an
earlv one and few third-class passengers
were likely TO he starting with me.
This mprobability Of any fellow-iravellers Of in
&erost rendered the sight of a somewhat notice
able figure al the station entrance matter Tor
surprise.
Atall Young man stood leaning against the door
of the booking office. perus!ng the ground with
decreased and even haggard air HIS dress was
eba hbv and vet he possessed refinement and MS
features were finely cut. He looked up as
stepped from the cab and his expression OF trou-
bled absorption changed gradually To one OF AM
mated interest. | cannot say that there was any
thing fatterng in the gaze with which he favored
me neither did feel il II be insulting; there was
IN it something curiously impersonal ana 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. $3.50, -
The next time became conscious Of his pres
ence was when standing before the ticket window
In the booking-Otlice. | had opened my purse to
take ont nv sovereign, when something | know
MOI what caused me to turn my head sharply and
10 glance over my shoulder. Immediately per
ceived the young man stood on the oIher sAie -, T'
the rail. He was leaning over me ana was look
ing this time not at me, but curiously ana eager
"Second-class single to Middleford, said l, and
In return ticket and some change .
The ticket ! placed, fortunately for myself IN
my glove: the change put into my purse anu thls
continued hold in my hand.
on reaching the platform fcund that the YOUNG
man. who mad vanished from the rail before leit
a. was standing by the open door If secohd-claSS
carriage marked "Middlef0rd.' t. see ms was az
once to make up mind not TO get in there; ana
walked II the far end OF the train here hdNIHS
selected an empty secOnd-ciaSs compartment, J
seated myself in the rner near the window Ana
Just then there befel startling event The door
OF my carriage was reopened ana the space sua-
denly filled up with the mead ana SAou!ttiS Oh H'
young man whom had before noticed HIS APP
pearance WAS entirely unexpected, and sur
viewed him with sentiment Of intense and stupe-
fed amazement. not unmiXed with that sort %
forebodng which is but the event in shadow. In
deed. the expression Of his face excused some as
quiet; II was full of menace. his blue eyes tthey
Were, l remarked. peculiarly oluel Sclntllatea
with very disagrceaDe threat. while his lips.
under slight growth If mdsiache' looked pale
and tense.
For an imperceptible second we ga7ed full into
each others eyes and then the mans glance
dropped to the purse lying upon my knee OF
course / at once perceived that was threatened
with robbery. and that L. save my sell some action
must be taken and that very promptly.
But found myself already helpless. The young
man had put out one arm ana held me hInly pack
in my seat while with the other he grasped IN"
fingers which had inst.nctively closed over my
nurse As he did this he leaned forward thrust
Inc his face so near mine that felt his breath
against my cheek. while he Whispered, hJarsey
and hurriedy
a. 10 me, II is a matter Of life and death
For all reply uttered a cry which sounded 70
my own ears feeble and stifed Then made a
last faint struggle 10 free myself. WhereupJn
shadow of brutal determination passed over his
features ne violently loosened my fingers and
withdrew the purse from them. AZ thai very mo-
rnent a shrill whistle announced that time was up;
the train began slowly to move, and rough shouts
Of Come of that step. Now them smut that
door, assailed my ears.
The young man vanished and turned the handle.
I sprang to the window and attempted a wild ges-
ticuatOn 10 the pOrteTs. who were hurrylhs up.
But there still was the youth running by the side
and holding u the door. his pale face. with the
brutal look entirely eface1 from it, turned upward
10 mine Even in that bewildered moment could
not bur notice the change Of expression. The eyes
were now full Of compuncuon ana eaeerheSS'
Your address" he painted, give 1t me quickly.
You sha'n't regret this matter"
Already stupeiied. | seemed incapable %: resist
Ing this new demand. ] refrained from any fur
thcr attempt 20 attract the attention Of the por-
ters and suddenly leaning forward out of the
window pronounced. With care 10 make myself
understood. the words:
"Elcanor Keith Rose Villa. Millleford"
He Immediately loosed his hold of the handle,
and raising his nat to me with faint ghost Of a
smile turned on his heel. | thrust my head fur
Their from the window t. gaze helplessly after my
lost property and the last thing saw was the
young man walking off with an easy. swinging
gait and writing. as he went In "a notebook. Ana
with that the train dashed into tunnel, and |
saw the platform no more.
Then I sank back on my seat shiyering from
head to foot. ! was too angry to weep. and yet
my misery was as keen only very young
creatures misery can be.
The holidays lasted for six weeks or 50. 1t was
no; a happy time. for my friends did not spare
their ridicule: and il really relief when the
vacation drew toward close and could anucl-
nate a speedy return 10 useful work The last OF
the six weeks arrived. | had mended and patched
ALI my clothes, utterly declining assistance in the
shape OF borrowed money, though this was very
Kindly offered to me- and quite ready To take
my spirtless way back 10 duty. when one morn
ing a remarkable thing hapI ened.
Il rod no 70
room and at once saw lying upon my plate a
registered envelope
NV Aunt Barbara put up her glasses ana
watched me with some amusement TOOK up
the letter and turned It over In my hand with a
complication of feeling. The postmark was
London, T.. c.. the handwriting bold, manly.
nm ir1iyf he