The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1895-12-14
UNNA AND HER LION.

IL IS not OIIen InaC we near OIL udu
'etiring to rest, poor and in difficulties,
rising in the morning rich and inde-
pendent. Yet such was my experience
a few years ago, when, on sitting
down to my frugal breakfast. I found
a letter on the table which Informed
me that distant relative was dead
and had left me the bulk Of his prop
erty.
With what satisfaction did I now
look forward to my next and final In
terview with certain small creditors,
whose claims, enforced with a peril
nacity, worthy Of a better cause, had
long filed my heart with bitterness
and made my life vertible burden.
Now all was changed, and I awaited
with complacency the weekly visit of
my landlady and relished in anticipa-
ton the Niagara of words she was
| wont to let loose on my devoted head,
as, with endless iteration, she an
nounced as yet further deficiency in
! her rent roll, and her determination to
'stand it no longer
Never after to-day should be dis
tressed with my tailors demonstra
tions on the doorstep, or my cobbler's
antics Ia front of the house; from
henceforth they became creatures Of
the past and the lodging that knew
them would know them no more lat
| least as Ear as I was cOncerned).
| But after a time I found the mono
tony of my new existence rather irk-
some, for unfortunately, had no hob
by to fall back upon, and l did not
care to embark in business. l soon
wearied of visiting the various places
| Of amusement, and of walking up and
down the streets and squares Of Lon
| don. with other devices for killing
time.
| 1t was while takiL 6 Ole of these aim
less journeys that an accident occur
red which entirely changed the whole
course Of my existence. and rescued
| me from the life of uselessness into
which 1 had drifted.
One morning 1 found myself in the
booking office Of st. Pancros Station.
| A young lady was just taking ticket
for York. when she dropped her purse
In STOPPING down to pick it up for her.
the thought flashed across me. "Why
not take ticket for York, too:' The
next minute I had done so, and soon
| found myself in the same cOmpart-
ment with her. She sat close to the
window, anxiously scanning the faces
of all who passed. Presently the
the guard blew the whistle, and just
as we were about to start. two men
rushed past and scrambled into the
train. higher up the platform.
But what a change had come over
my fair companion. She. WAS deathly
pale, and was evidently struggling
against a fainting fit that I made no
scruple about proffering my assis-
tance. After a time she came round,
and we gradually got into conversa-
tion, and she proved very communica-
tive, I soon learned the object of her
journey.
"I have" she said. "inherited a law
suit, in which large estate is invOlv-
ed. and the only thing that stands
between me and my rights is the proof
of certain marriage. and that have
not as yet succeeded in obtaining. Yes
terday received a message from an
old lady in York, who. it appears. is
now lying on her death-bed. who begs
that I will see her at once, as she has
something of the utmost Importance
to tell me, and that something l feel
certain is the very information am in
search Of. With that in my pocket,
the suit is won, and 1 become the mis-
tress of Wetherby Hall and estate,
which for many years have been in
the possession Of my cousin, John
Hardy. who was one Of those men Who
just ran past the window
The interest I felt in my companion
was in no way diminished by the fact
rthat she was very pretty, being tall.
fair and possessed of the most laugh
ing gray eyes that man ever looked
into to his souls undoing. I begged
she would allow me to assist her in
any way that lay in my power, as it
was only but too probable that
Hardy's presence on the train bodied
no good to her, even if it was not a
source Of positive danger. 1 also re-
minded her that she had already, to
some extent. given me her confidence,
which I looked upon as an assurance
that. although a perfect stranger. she
felt that she could trust me. This she
assured me she had done from the
first. and said how glad she felt when
I entered TIE carriage. We exchanged
cards. and I then learned that her
name was Ina Wetherby. So, after
some laughing and pleasant chat. it
was agreed that we should assume the
| characters of Una and the Lion.''
|
short time, 1 came to the conclusion
that the first thing to be done was to
ascertain. if possible. what Hardy's
! movements were likely to be. Accord
| ingly, when the train stopped, made
my way to the carriage where he and
| his companion We're seated. FOrtu-
nately, as it happened. the compart-
ment was full, so I took my seat in
the next one. which was empty. The
| carriage was one Of a nearly obsolete
class, IL which a single lamp. when
lighted, did duty for the two COM
partments: consequently the opening
made for it's reception formed a con-
venient 'Judas-hole' for listeners.
| At the next station many passengers
alighted and: Hardy and his friend
| were left by themselves.
"Alone at last' said Hardy, ''and
we must make the most of our oppor-
| tlnity for a quiet talk. AS soon as we
| reach York, We'll leave the train, and
I'll run up into the city to see about
| old Betty Wilson's funeral. am glad
! she has gone. as I never felt sure Of
her, Notwithstanding the hush money
/ ho1 1on f~~~