Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-03-25
A MISTAKE.

and her mother had spent the last two
years in travel Lona's mother was u
wealthy widow, and IONA was an only
child.
Tic important subject under discussion
on the October morning which brings
the our notice is an invitation to be
prs t at the wedding in the north of
England.
But here was dilemma. Mrs. Sheldon
was 50 indisposed as to be unfit for the
journey, yet she did not wish iona to stay
at hoMc. Mrs. Sheldon had u firm belief
that it was II perilous undertaking to
travel in compartment car unless there
were so many passengers that there was
no possible dagger of assault.
Morning saw our heroine at the Kings
Cross station anXi Dusly scanning the car
RACES to make sure of one we'll filled and
at least one or two ladies in it. At last
| she saw one that met her requirements,
and, slipping Il coin into the hand of the
guard, she entered.
The train steamed out Of the station,
and iona took Il survey Of her fellow tr,lv-
elors. There was Il family-ltthcr, mother
and three CHI 'tirCn, an elderly 'ady, two
| business nlcn and in one corner o man
whom she did not particularly notice
Iorawhlc she boxed out of the window,
atlnirine the Wing landscaPc. Then she
lrotluc Il Il BOOK ;,s,d BEGAN to read. Anon
now sensation stirred within her. Sha
drew olt her G..in;y little watch and looked
at it. Twelve "'e!5cll and 20 minutes.
/ Two hours sinec sa, h&t, started
She Laid down TIE box and opened the
little lunch basket; t.: i she Grew off hvr
gloves, tuc,.td them i'll the pocket of her
! jaclttt and bean to cat. The man in the
corner took This opportunity to read the
title of her boo.i.
'''2ielow Iarers,' l know she's an
American. ! can see it f"om the tip of
her nose to 3e toe of her little boot. |
didn t know before that eating was one of
the fnc arts.
iona, all unconscious of his scrutiny,
finish, Il her dinner, returned to her book
and flll ;ISlct tor awhile She did not
know when some of the other occupants
of the com rartIucnt got out, and about
O'clock she was rousCl by hearing the
moth OF the lamily sly: "Nu.lc up now,
Tillc Wake up! We get out at the next
station. "
iona looked about with u start to see
the October day Ciarkening down and real
izc that when the family party should
leave the train she and the man in the
corner would be the only occupants of the
compartment.
Tor IL moment IONA was possessed with
an insane desire to scream, and only hy u
strong effort controlled herself. The man
in the corner who up to this time had not
moved from his seat all day. now rose and
walked to the other end of the car.
He reached under the scat and took out
n small hand satchcl, which he opened.
Was he going to get revolver? No, it
would be u knife. A revolver would make
too much noise she watched him with
fascinated eyes.
He took out sonnet hing small and slipped
it into the pocket OF his coat. soon he
| rose again and s;.untcrCd to the far end OF
the car. He lit Il taper, bent down and
was engaged with something. What was
it?
iona put her hand to the window and
made Gespo rate e., ut to open it, that she
might be ready to c,.ll the guard. The
man heard and turned. He came quickly
forward. ALLOW me-" he said.
ooh, no, thank you" said iona hastily.
She f. sure he had Gisccrncd her pur-
pose, and That there Was Il covert menace
in LIS tone.
What t, powerfully built follow he Isl"
went hsr thou~'.t5. ''What u villainous
countcnance! one can see he is a d2sper
ate follow am sure he is looking ut my
rin@.
Now, tho ring was a very beautiful dia
mond, Given t. IONA by her "ot4cr, and
IONA Nh = ;lier, ard OF conventional Y,
wore it On the finger which is usually set
apart to carr? the signal of engagement.
1hor,.orc his thoughts w,re: I'm 80
ed MuIl, | don't wonder, She surely is
the loveIicst girl | ever saw, | wonder
who the happy fellow is: What can tie the
matter with her though? She doesn't look
a bit like she did the first Part OF the day.
I've a notion 10 speak t. her. An Alncri-
can girl isn't likely to lie SO squeamish as
native, Here goes.
Il beg your PARDON" he said aloud.
You look wcaried. Do you go much far
thcr?"
An En~lishman wouldn't speak with
out an introduction, thought IONA, ii he
hadn t some design.
1t was some little time before the ques-
ton was answered, for she WAS making a
calculation whether if she told him that
her journeys end WAS near he would be
likely to make the best of his time and at
tack her Immediately, or whether he might
perhaps abandon his purpose altogether.
So some time had elapsed in the uncertain
ty when she said, Il don't know, sir. :"
iona again attempted to open the win
dow, and this time with success. soon
the darkness increased and the hollow
rumbling told that the train had eni.rld
tunnel. All at once she felt II sharp
sting and Shrek from hor l:lingl, d woh
the yen Of the engine as it gaze vent to
its JOY ut emerging into day light again.
The man was at her side
81 beg PARDON 1or intrttding. Are you
hurt he ASKED ,.nAiously.
iona thought his anxiety was caused by
fear lest the g-iard might haze heard mr.
scream AT the same tilae she bces.ne
CONSCIOUS tha- the pain was in her right
eye \ cinGlr from the open window had
lhe,d III Il.
-. .,..l " II ,,cn r..tl ~. at,. .rl.r