Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-01-30

aninnons Mace, where she knew IL
must be found. ot
Sovt she made a large.
bundle of all the most valuable poftion
of bar nersonal effects; then II put
nm , small parcel containing Only u
single change of clothing. And theh
Sha looked into her purse, thai con
tanned just half Il crown, Wh,cu -
been slipped into her hand by huooia
and accepted as a loan, to De reP@iu ~
some future day. oa
LASTLY. she lay down upon the pea
IN rest while waiting for the dawn Vi
doy TO commence her journey. one
did not expect, or even wish, 10 sleep
vet scarcely had her head sunk upoG
her inflow when Ler fatigue overcalhe
her excitement and cast her into d
deem sleep that lasted until morhlhs
Day was dawning when she aWohe
with a start and 4 sudden recoiiecli"n
of her purpose.
She sDrang from her bed ana COM
mrnced cautious but hasty prepaEa-
tons for her fight.
When quite ready. she G ler "uLi-
dies in her arms and silently desccnu-
cd the stairs until she reached the mar
row entrance hall. She softly Gllueu
along this hall until she reached tue
front door. She unlocked the dooT.
passed tirOugh it, Closed 1t bchlhd
her. and went forth alone loto the
world.
The street was, at this hour, more
deserted. still and silent than at any
other time of the day or night. Inc
latest wayfarers had long since re-
tired. and the earliest were not yet
astir. The rows of houses on each
side the street presented long. DARK
lines of unbroken gloom and quietneSs.
For a moment Amelia stood before
the door she was about to leave, and
looked up and down the street i'll per-
plexity where to first direct her steps.
Then she turned up the street ana
walked briskly in the direction OF the
city.
1t was growing quite light, so that
by the time she reached London
Bridge the sun waS rising and throw
ing a fleece of golden glory over the
waters of the river.
She crossed the bridge and hurried
onward up King William street until
she reached the shop of Il Jewish deal
er in secondhand clothing.
She entered this shop, united her
large bundle, displayed its contents on
the counter, and inquired OF The jew
cSs in attendance:
What will YOU give for these
How muSh do you Wantsh:' asked
the woman.
Il think they are worth three
pounds, but you may have them for
two" replied Amelia, hcsitatingly.
Two poundsh. YoU are jOkinSh,'
said the JewCss. turning the balf-worn
dresses over in diSdain.
What will you give me for them.
them inquired Amelia. impati@ntly.
Five shillingSh for the lOtsh.'
That will not do" replied Amelia,
beginning to tie up her bundle.
'rStOpSh, StOpSh, letsh talk q little
more" said the woman, OBTAINING her
customer.
Amelia paused, and n little
bargaining ensued, i'll which, AS a
matter OF course, Amelia was cheat
ed. Impatient to be off. she closed
the sale. diSpOSing OF her wardrobe tor
the sum OF ten shillings. and left the
house.
Keeping nearly due south, she
walked OF until iii due cOurS COf time
she reached the Kings Cross hallway
station.
1t was now . o'clock.
She entered the ticket office gfTr1
asked when the next train would
start. She was told at ten minutes
nast thu Tnrp rh,s ~ "a hnr ftCt
time enough to get a cup of coffee and
q bun at the paStry-cook's stall, oppo-
site the Office.
When she had partaken of this re-
freshment that her long walk had
made so necessary, she went up to the
third-class ticket window. laid her
half sovereign upon the ledge, and in
quired of the clerk:
How far on this line will this mon
ey take me-
Instead of answering her question
the clerk regarded her with such Il
look of suspicion that she FASTENED TO
say:
Il have just lost my father. and
have no relations here in London. |
wish to 20 north. where have a
friend. | have only twelve Shillings
and six pence, and | wish to save half,
a-crown to buy food. and To 20 as far
as half-1-Sovereign will carry me or
my way; after that | must walk"
There were other passengers thronS.
ing to the window TO be accommodated
and SO the clerk hastily drew in the
haif-soyerelSn and pushed out a 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
whoa the train started.
1t Il the first train, and thus /,
happened that at the very moment in
which good Mrs. COrder discovered
the absence Of her f~avOrite. Amelia
was fully forty miles from London
lying ~northward at the rate Of forty
miles an hour.
Az the train rushed onward the wild
giri's spirits rose.
1t was a beautiful day In spring
the earth wore its tenderest and fresh
est green; the sky it's softest and clear
est blue; and the sun shone out like
the smile Of God over all nature.
Amelia was alone In the world: sh,
had Just buried her father, and haI
not a reliable friend left upon earth
she had but one change OF clothing In
.Ier parcel, and one-half crown in he
purse; she knew not exactly wher,
she was going: where she should ca
her next meal, Or take her next night
rest.