Morris tribune., 1899-07-29
CHAPTER II.
In the Train.

The London express from Crewe
was on the point of starting.
The guard had all but raised his
whistle to his lips, when porter was
seen hurrying along the platform with
young lady, dressed in slight mourn
ing, who was evidently anxious to
catch the train.
The porter pulled open door; it be-
longed to a first-class compartment
and there was a single passenger in
side-an elderly gentleman with a
thick travelling rug wrapped round
his knees, and books and papers litter
ing the seat beside him.
The young lady gave little inco-
| herent exclamation, and seemed as
though she would have drawn back.
But there was no time for this.
The guard banged the door, the
whistle sounded and the train moved
out of the station.
| The young girl-for she was nothing
more, being barely eighteen years of
age-sank into one of the comfortably
cushioned seats, with look of such
unmistakable agitation and distress
i that the gentleman could not but OBJ
serve it.
Il hope there is nothing amiss,' he
said, courteously. Surely they have
not put you in the wrong train. This
is for London"
I'm in the right train, thank you;
| but" she flushed crimson, then added,
braVely, though with an evident effort:
''But this is frst-class compartment
| and am only third-class passenger"
Indeed! That is a very trit1ing ac-
cident," said the gentleman, pleasant
ly. II think you need not worry over
it. No doubt the porter made mis-
take"
Eyes, that was it." murmured the
girl, with a suspicion of tears in her
eyes. Can you tell me how far l
shall have to go before can changer"
well, we stop at Stafford, l believe.
Don't be uneasy. You may take my
word for it, the railroad company will
not be hard on you"
And he smiled in a frank, pleasant
fashion, calculated to set her entirely
at her ease.
After this there was silence for a
minute or two.
The gentleman turned to his papers;
but, nevertheless, he gave, every now
and then, quietly scrutinizing look at
the girl sitting opposite.
She was of middle height, slender,
and graceful, with refined and ex-
ceedingly lovely face.
A pure oval face-the eyes large and
lustrous, and fringed by long dark
lashes, the complexion delicate as
rose-leaf, the shining hair of beau
tiful golden brown.
A truly lovely face, the gentleman
decided, but rather sad one just now.
He noticed the extreme plainness of
her dress-indeed, his clear gray eyes
seemed to take in everything at
glance-and came to the conclusion
that she was gentlewoman, though
poor one
He himself was distinctly aristo-
cratic-looking man of sixty-his hair
gray, his somewhat military-looking
moustache almost white.
From head to foot he was pervaded
by that air of extreme neatness and
cleanliness which is even more attrac-
tive in ian old man than in young
one, and which pleasantly character
ICES a certain type of elderly English
gentlemen.
After a few minutes, he laid aside
his papers and looked at his young
travelling companion.
1t was easy to see that she was in
deep trouble; the tears were standing
in her lovely eyes.
my child" said the old gentleman,
"you are too young''-his look added,
land too pretty''-''to be making this
long journey all alone Have you
friends to meet your
The pleasant, fatherly manner APP
pealed to the girls Utmost heart; it
caused her tears to flow faster and
faster.
You are in trouble, see. Is there
anything am an utter stranger, and
don't wish to be inquisitive-bu is
there any thing can do for your"
Sympathy is always welcome.
The girl needed no further encour-
agement to tell her simple story.
She was an orphan, she said; had
lost both her parents while she was
very young, and had been brought up
by relation of her mothers, who had
lived in the south of France.
This relation having died recently,
and her annuity dying with her, the
girl was left to make her own way in J
the world
She had no other relative that she !
knew of, and no friends in England.
Through the medium of an advertise
ment, however, she had, fortnight |
ago, obtained an engagement as COM
panion to an English lady, and had
Travelled from France yesterday to full
fiji it,
Imagine her grief and horror to find
on reaching her destination that the
lady had been suddenly called to At
RIGA, to nurse her husband, who was |
Il. l. -