Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-10-15

friend. I have only twerve snrnmgs
and six pence, and wish to save half
a-cr0wn to buy food, and to 60 as Tar
as half-a-sOvereigns viii carry me on
my way; after that I must walk.
There were other passengers throng-
| Ing to the window to be accommodated
and 80 the clerk hastily drew in the
half-sovcrelgn and pushed out ticket,
which she seized as she left the Win
dow, and Joined the crowd that was
hurrying towards the third-class car
riages. She had Just taken her seat
when the train started. ~
1t was the first train, and thus 1t
happened that az the very moment IN
which good Mrs. Corder discovered
the absence Of her favorite, Amelia
was fully forty miles from London,
flying nOrthward at the rate Of forty
miles an hour.
AS the train rushed onward the wild
girls spirits rose.
1t was beautiful day In spring;
the earth wore its tenderest and fresh
est green; the sky its softest and clear
est blue; and the sun shone out like
the smile of God over all nature.
Amelia was alone in the world; she
had just buried her father, and had
not a reliable friend left upon earth;
she had but one change Of clothing In
her parcel, and one-haf crown In her
purse: she knew not exactly where
she was going; where she should eat
her next meal, or take her next nights
rest.
And vet, in state Of poverty, friend.
lessness and uncertainty that must
have crushed the spirit of any grown
up man or woman subjected to the
trial, this child could not feel sorrow
full anxious or foreboding.
The sun was bright, the country
fresh and the motion rapid; and be-
tween the beauty of the day, the swift
ness Of the journey and the shifting OF
the scenery, her spirits were so exhil-
arated that she could have sung fol
joy. It was rapture to watch the
woods and fields, farms and hamlets
hills and valleys reel past her as the
train flew onward. 1t was delight to
stop at strange towns, with strange
streets and houses, and strange PEG.
pie coming and going. And it was &c.
stacy to rush onward again with
feel that she was free!
tie creature alive, but she did not
the next day, but she did not think of
ruin, but she did not feel it. Thus,
despite Of frowning Fate, the spirit in
her bosom clapped its wings and
crowed for joy.
|. And by this the reader may jump to
the conclusion that Annella's brain
was Slightly touched" that she was a
little "luny;;" that she had not her
right change" Nothing Of the sort,
dear reader. Amelia was simply I'M
disciplined, inexperienced and eccen-
trio. Her ignorance was bliss" And
so, though poor and friendless, she set
forth to seek her fortune with as brave
spirit as ever inspired Richard
Coeur-de-L Lion, Lady Hester Stanhope,
or any other knight or dame of ancient
or of modern times when sallying
forth in quest of new adventures.
The day wore on. The afternoon was
so much more sultry than the season
warranted that the weather-wise farm
ers in the carriage with Amelia pre-
dicted the approach Of one Of the heav-
lest storms that ever shook heaven and
earth. And, as If in justification of
this prediction, towards evening the
clouds began to gather thick, black,
and lowering over the earth. The face
of the country also changed. The love-
ly woods, fertile fields and fruitful
farms were all left far behind, and the
barren heaths Of the north lay all
around.
And still the train rushed onward in
the face of the approaching tempest.
And still with undaunted spirit, An
nella sped on toward her unknown
fate.
One after another of her fellow pas
sengers left the carriage In which she
travelled, until, at small roadside sta
ton, Amelia found herself quite alone.
And at this station the guard put his
head in at the door with the peremp-
tory demand:
t'Tickets!"
Amelia started from her day-dream,
and nervously produced hers.
you've Travelled thirty miles farther
than you've any right to do with this
ticket, and I've great mind to give
you in CHARGE" said the guard, an
grily.
'Have I? Indeed I did not mean to
DO it. I quite forgot to- look at my
ticket" said Amelia, beginning to
tremble in manner most unworthy of
damsel- Grant seeking her fortune.
''You know where you were going to,
I suppose, growled the guard.
Indeed I didn't; only wanted to
go as far by rail as this ticket would
take me-
"And that was to Howth, and you've
left Howth twenty miles behind you
''My gracious!' was the dismayed ex-
clamation of poor Nella.
'Come! that won't do, you know;
you've got to get out, and shall give
you in charge Of policeman. 1 see
one coming now"
'Don't, pray don't See, I've two shil-
lings left, that ought to be enough to
pay for a twenty miles ride in third
class carriage" said Amelia, spring
ing out and thrusting her last money
into the hand Of the guard.
That exemplary officer pocketed the
fee and ran forward to open the door
of first-class carriage to admit gen.
tleman and lady who were waiting for
seats