The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-02-11


Hugh Rushton had so far descended
the social ladder as to become a mere
tioket-agent at a little wayside station.
He was of excellent family. His father
had been judge, and his grandfather
member of Congress. Whether they had
been good men is quite another thing.
We think OF bequeathipg lands and
money to our children, and too often for
get alas the awful inheritance we gener-
ally leave them-the stamp of ourselves,
what we mentally, morally and physically,
are !
Hugh was barely thirty, yet he had
squandered all his money--sown acres of
"wild oats'-and now the reapng was at
hand
On certain April evening he sat alone
at the window OF his little office. Nature
generally gives balm to aching hearts, rarely
though to the pangs of guilty conscience ;
and the peaceful view upon which Ruehton
gazed was no more to him than the faded
scenes in show.
The SIN had set a half-hOur before, and
the tops OF the distant hills were changing
from rose and gold to amethyst and deep
purple. Shadows began to creep across the
nearer meadows, green and fresh, and with
faint, fragrant odors of Spring rising from
them little east OF the weather beaten
station creek came hurrying down from
cleft in the hills the foamy, whring
waters full of petulant murmuIings, as il
angry that they had been spanned by an
audacious bridge, over which ran the shin
ing tracks OF the railroad
Tall, dark woods on one side, border
OF rocks and boulders on the other, made
the place picturesque, indeed, but no less
gloomy.
robin lighted on the telegraph wires
and sat there, swaying to and fro, trillipg
out his vesper hymn, quite unconscious of
the messages Of Joy or sorrow that might he
flying beneath his feet.
The birds ringing anthem brought no
smile to Highs gloomy face.
He was ever haunted by horrible fear
and the consciousness that he was on the
eve OF sorrow and shame, and that perhaps
prison cell threatened him.
A few weeks previous, when carousing
with several dissolute companions, he had
gambled away not only his own earning-
but also one hundred dollars Of the railroad
companys whose agent he was. To. day the
new superintendent had unexpectedly sent
word that he was coming to settle up 40
counts. Exposure and disgrace were inev.
table.
"I've half a mind to 20 out and fling
myself under the wheels Of the express ~
he muttered to himself, as the roar Of an
approaching train fell on his ears. ''If the
worst comes l can kill myself anyhow, he
added, with a grim smile, as he took his
signal-laDtein and went out.
The express stopped minute or two to
take on four or five packages lying on a
truck beside the track, and as the conduc-
tor was idly watching these hoisted into
the car, there alighted, unknown to him,
from she rear of the train, lady and
four year-old child.
A sharp whistle, snort puff, and away
went the train up the shining track, and
was soon lost in the purple distance.
The lady, who had alighted, gazed around
her in bewildered manner, and then APP
preached Rushton, saying, in a nervous,
tremulous tone:
''This is Brunswick, believe-is it
not 9''
"No, madam" he replied, removing his
cap with the breeding Of gentleman. 81
fear you have made mistake. Brunswick
is farther on. This is Dunn's Creek.
Doubtless the similarity in the sound Of the
two names deceived you'
Eyes, yes, that was it. surely thought
the breakman oalled out Brunswick. What
shall / do? / ought to reach Brunswick
tonight. My husband expects me. He'll
be so worried. When will the next train
come? Or, perhaps can go the sooner
with carriage Pray tell me, is there any
conveyance?"
mo, madam, this is only a little way
station, the people who get on the cars here
are mostly farmers from up the country.
Besides, Brunswick is twenty miles from
here, and you could get there soonest by
waiting for the next train, due at eleven
here this evening. 1t is quite cool out
IN make fire in the ladies room, madam,
and try and make you as comfortable as
can"
Damp airs from the creek crept up, and
chilling wind from the hills swept down,