River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-02-25
A HlGHWAYMAN.

the last two years IN travel
Zona's mother was wealthy widow,
and iona was an only child. Her read
ing and culture had given zest to her
travels, and she had understood as well
a. seen.
The important subject under discus
sion on the October morning which
brings them to our notice is an invita-
ton to be present al = wedding in the
north of England.
But here was a dilemma. Mrs. Shell
dou was so indispOsed as to be unfit for
the Journey. vet she did rot wish iona
10 stay at home.
Unhappily, among other ideas per
haps little erroneous, Mrs. Sheldon
lad firm belief that II vas perilous
undertaking to travel in a compartment
car, unless there were 50 many passen-
gers that there was 10 possible danger
of assault.
Il don't want YOU 10 consider me at
all, iona" said her mother. Il am not
i'll, only Just indisposed enough not t.
feel able 10 take such n journey. You
fnow Mrs Cannot will take good care
OF me. II you will promise not 20 go
iGtO an empty compartment. | think
can rest easy.
very well, mother, l VII promise
YOU Tat, said iona.
Morning saw our heroine at the
KirL Cross station anNiOGsly scanning
the e. --l yes t. make sure of one wei
filed j at least one OF two ladies IL.
il. at last she saw one that met her e
qUiTements. and slipping DIN into the
hand of the guard she = tered.
The train steamed out o. re station
and iona took a surrey Of her fellow
travellers. There was a famiiy-father,
mother and three children. an elderly
lady, two business Elen AMI ia one cog
mel man " hum she did not particular
ly notice.
She took out her fountain pen and
sheet of paper. and wrote: All safe;
compartment full" ~ the first stop
ping place she gave il to the guard and
the busy wires carried il to her mother,
setting at rest her fears.
And now iona. who was good trav-
eler. settled down to enjoy herself. For
awhile she looked out Of the window.
admiring the flying landscape. Then
she produced book and began to read
Anon a new sensation stirred within
her; she drew out her dainty little watch
an" Okcd al il. Twelve O'Clock and 20
minutes. Two hours since she had
started She laid down the book and
opened the little lunch basket, then she
drew or her gloves, tucked them in the
Il So aF
The man in the corner took this OPP
purtunity 70 read the title of her book.
.Rigelow Papers, Il know she's an
American" he thought. i can see il
from the tip of her nose TO the toe of
her little boot | didn't know before
that eating was one of the fine arts"
iona. all unconscious of his scrutiny.
finished her dinner, returned to her
book. and must admit. fell asleep for
awhile. She did not know when some of
the other occupants of the cOmpart-
ment got out. and about four o'clock
she was reused by hearing the mother
of the family say: Wake up. now,
Title! Wake up. We get out at the
next station"
iona looked about with start to see
the October day Gardening down and
realize that when the family party
should leave the train. she and the man
in the corner would be the only occu-
pants Of the compartment.
Hereupon occurred a strange thing
IONA. Who had never before felt a fear
in travelling. began to recall her moth
cr's stories with which She was wont 20
furtify her theories Of the dangers of
travelling in compartment cars.
For a moment iona was possessed
with an insane desire To scream. and
only 10y strong effort controlled her
self. The man in the corner. who up 10
this time had not moved from his scat
all day, now rose and walked TO the
other end 81 the car Zoua trembled
with fear. lie reached under the seat
aud took out a small handSaichel " hich
he opened. Was he going To get re-
vOlVer2 No. IL would lie knife, re-
NOlver would make too much noise. She
watched him with fascinated ewes. lie
took OJt something small and slipped
il into the pocket Of his coat. Soon he
rose again and sauntered to the far end
of the car. He lit a taper. bent down
aud was engaged in netting -wnat
was IL? IONA put her hand To the win
dow and made a desperate effort 10
open IL. that she N ight be ready to call
ti.c guard. The man heard and turned
he came quickly forward: ALLOW ME, $
he said.
'Oh. no. thank you.' said IONA. Iasti-
IL. She felt sure he had designed her
purpose and that there vas a covert
menace I'm his tone.
lie settled down ia his corner again,
end IONA east furtive Chances at him,
aud always when she looked he with
drew his gaze from her.
What powerful built fellow he is. -
went her thoughts. What yillaiuous
,ouUtenauce. Oue can see he is a des-
perIte fellow How foolish I was TO let
my watch and rings he seen. lam sure
he Is booking al my ring"
Now the ring vas a beautiful dia-
moud. given To iona by her mother. and
Zoua. with a disregard of con,cntionali-
~. wore il on her finger which is usual
II SGT apart TO carry the signal of en-
gacemcnt. Therefore. his thoughts
were: "Enzagcd! Well. / don't won
der. She surely is the loveliest girl ever
saw. I wonder who the happy fellow
Is. What can be the matter with her.
shOUgh2 She doesn't look bit like she
did the first part o. the day. I've a no
tiOu 10 speak To her: an American girl
isU't likely 10 re so squeamish as 6
natiye-here goes
Il beg your PARTON" he said aloud.
you look wearied. Do you go much
further2"
An Englishmsn wouldn't speak with
out m Introduction" thought iona. If
be hadn't some design"
IL was some time before the question
was answered. Tor sfe was mskinr a
calculation whether IL she should tell
him that her journeys end was near
ne would ne likely TO make the best
IF his time. acd attack her iu.m. diately
or whether be might perhaps abandon
his purpose altogether. 50 that. as
said. sorle time had elapsed in the IN.
certainty when she said:
Il don't Know. sir"
"You have never been IN this part oi
the country before" be said. tenta
lively.
She answered in brief monosyllable:
TO this and several other remarks. and
ae. DerfOrce, relapsed into silence.