The record-union., 1898-12-08

IOuS- declare you are more ike some
stony hearted monster than woman Of
] flesh and od!"-surveying me with
a pair Of angry eyes. However. you
shall not escape me For the children s
sake, I shah take you home; / know
best what is for your good and theirs,
and nothing you can say or do shall
move me. You remember my will of
old"
| Here the train began to slacken. and
I suddenly let down the window.
What are you about?" he demanded
sharply.
| opened the door ere he discerned my
purpose, precdpitated myself upon the
platform, and called for the station
master.
A burly official with a weather-beaten
face came hurrying UP.
"Oh, station-master," I cried, II
throw myself on your protection. This
person pointing to my companion.
who had hastily alighted-''has annoyed
me the whole way from London; he
has mistaken me for some one else, and
prosecuted me most cruelty. Find me
another carriage, and lock me in"
She is my wifei" roared the stranger.
II can swear to her. She ran away
with a French jockey three years ago.
| and left her home and children. I've
hunted for her everywhere, and, by
good luck, she got into the same car
| riage with me at Victoria. I claim
her. do you hear?"
He is insane!" shrieked. II never
saw him before!"
| now noticed Mrs. Uppingham, her
sister and the young man all staring
out of the window, watching the scene
with every symptom Of the iivenest in
terest. Indeed, every open window in
the train was full of heads. The por-
ters, the cabmen, the very newsboys,
had gathered together and made a ring
round u.s.
She says I'm a stranger" continued
| the man in his loud strident voice,
that was audible even above the hiss
ing of the engine: "but don't mind
her; she's been an actress. L took
her off the boards; acti1S is her sec
Eond nature. I'm willing to take her
home, and give her another chance
! Now. Mary, you come along with me, !"
and he laid his hand upon my arm.
"Stationmaster, / said, here is my
y
! the company are responsible for me to
my lawful husband"
| Then, as he smiled and shook his
head, I appealed in my desperation to
Mrs. UDpingham-
THAT lady lives close to me she
knows who + am. Don't you?" I be-
sought of her with outstretched hand.
But the detestable woman merely
yoi cb az
head, and / could actually hear the
girl choking with laughter.
do you know her. ma'am?" de-
manded the official.
mo, thank goodness she answered
with great scorn.
Meanwhile we-that is to say, the
stranger and I-were OBTAINING the
train, and the stationmaster suddenly
said:
Take your hand off the lady, sir!
And you, Missus, get into the car
riage, and I'll keep the gentleman until
the next train. I'm going beyond my
rights, but there's no other plan, as
can see. TIL wire to the police, and in
quire about you," he added, as he took
my card.
I did not wait to hear another word,
but made dash for my compartment,
and scrambled in, just as the train be-
+ gan to creak and move, still closely
pursued by the stranger; and the last
glimpse I caught Of him he was strug-
Cling like a madman up and down the
platform in the arms of four porters.
I have never seen himasince-
This terrible experience has naturally
made me extremely nervous. 1 never
now travel alone. feel misgiving
respecting every figure ensconsed be-
hind newspaper, and the first sight
of a NAM with a sallow face and a
red tie gives me a sort of chill.
I related the whole story to Thomas
when I had recovered from the shock
and had eaten my dinner, and he was
immensely amused. So like a hus-
band! s.e4
Mrs. Uppingham has evidently i'm
parted her version of the occurrence to
the neighborhood. I called upon her
to explain, but she was not at home
Though / saw her in the window, and
has never returned my visit-no, not
even through the post. I am sorry to
say that some of my acquaintances
have evidently listened to her lies. A
friend of mine was solemnly assured
that I had been a burlesque dancer
and a divorcee Several nice people
haye dropped me; no explanations, no
matter how ample, appear to avail me,
I believe that it will take years and
years-if not my whole lifetime to
live down my only adventure.-B. M.
Croker in the Sketch.