The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-12-17

There came a reverberation of the
rails. The clerical looking man cleared
his throat. The pudgy, elderly woman
in Widows weeds gathered up a bag
and some bundles.
"It's about time" she said. 81 never
heard of such slow trains! The trains
coming. ! say, Het"
The third occupant of the platform
nodded. She was a tall girl, whose face
was dominated by a peculiar calm, as
of Tel- 5siou. Her eyes We're bright
and fine. though there was no eagerness
in their light Her lips were frightened
in a f"i.t, fixed smile.
eve rot everything" the elderly wo-
man went on. IF you're going to say
any 'I.udbys,' you'd better say EN-
1 hardl" think the train'll wait for any
nonsense
The girl put out her hand and let it
rest in the extended palm of the man.
"GoCGDy. Henrietta" he said. Write
to US when YOU get west Anything we
have lie t undone we will be glad to do
for you. And, Mrs. Baldwin" he went
on to the other woman, you mustn't
feel too much cut up, you know"
I'm not saying anything as 1 know
Of" responded she aggressively. Your
hats too far front, Het."
The rirl righted her hat
"Thal more stylish" the other said
with q sniff.
Mother will soon feel better over
this, H,nrietta," said the man.
"Will she?" asked mother. Here it
is"
For the train. which was asserting it
self WIKI twinges and gasps rounded a
curve ald drew up at the platform. The
man ain pressed the hand of the girl
and lCt her toward n car. Her mother
had already preceded her and was i'm
PARTIAL humping the passengers inside.
The girl leaned back as though she
would say something to the man. We'll.
Hen-ie ta?" he asked kindly. She looked
deeply into his eyes. Il hope your
Christi as will be-peaceful" she said
and went in after her mother.
She lelt that the eyes of the rest Of
the car were on her. She felt that some
Of the passengers guessed the meaning
Of he. entrance from that little plat
form So near the massive pile of archi-
lecture which two or three leaned from
the car windows to view. rs that the
place." said n young girl of about her
own "a. How picturesque, How very,
very picturesque" lingering on the
words very picturesque."
The mother had found a seat and
called sharply, "Het!" The seat was
directlN back Of the girl who had called
the place picturesque.
"Wlat a hardened old sinner she
looks" said a woman in q loud whisper
rose the young woman is an attendant
se5ng Ter safely home"
"Het" said her mother. who had
heard very word. I'm awful sorry any
one C"n see what | am. I'm such a
hardened old sinner. Anybody can tell
you're eeng me home" And the wom-
an who had whispered retired in confu-
sion behind book.
and I'm glad we're rid of that
preach ng crank" Het's mother Went
on in n lower voice. The idea of him
saying ia soon feel better over it, Min
listers act as if everybody else Were
children. What are you looking at that
girl in front of you for? Because she
admired the place you've just come out
of? Her bangs cut crooked. Now keel
quiet. I'm going to sleep all the way.
had to get up early enough this morn.
ing, and l won't sleep wink tonight
going west. A pretty Christmas eve
for me, Lizzie's cooking the Christmas
dinner for today. / won't be here to.
morrow" She settled herself with hel
head on the velvet back of the seat
Het locked out the window.
How pretty that girl was who hat
called the place picturesque! She sup
posed the girl, like many others in the
car, was going somewhere for the
Christmas holidays. She could hear the
pretty girl talking in her high, thr
voice to her girl companion.
"He vas not bit like the other men,
she was saying. Mamma liked hin
the very first time she saw him. And
oh, what do you think of Marie's en-
gagemcnt?" Their talk was cheerful
so man" insisted upon creeping into it
IIet tried to think of herself She wa!
going back to the home that had beer
hers two years ago!
"A ri should help those she loves a
any risk" the pretty girl said to he
companion. "A woman does not Low,
who is not a willing sacrifice for thosr
she Low IS" and her voice lowered.
The girl back of her smiled. She wa
neither happy nor unhappy, and sh,
was going away tonight out to a new
country where she might begin life owe
again and where her shame" would
not be known.
shame! What a farce it all was, lif
ana everything else! And that prett.
girl to speak of sacrifices
She glanced at her mother and notet
the bitter marks on her aging face