The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-05
IN THE MARYLAND HILLS,
sr LEE ASHLEY.

It was an early December twilight, and snow, which had been rain an hour be. fore. beat against the car windows ana stuck there In large. soft flakes. It fol- sieety gust. and the girl in the third seat shivered and drew the imitation sables closer about her throat.
 Steve Patterson glanced from under the visor of his conductors cap at his one lady passenger. She was not a pretty girl according to Steve's standards. Her face was too small and r pale n under s the the . ed the car two hours earlier there had been an excited brightness in her eys and faint color in her cheeks. Now she inert and there was a pathetic droop at the corners of her mouth. AS she glanced up at him shyly Steve thought of kit ten that he had fished out of horse pond years ago. and he smiled at the comparison as he passed on into the next car.
 and crealSing of the train had stopped.
 s.Tunnef caved in ahead, he explained to the three men in the front ef the car. Then he smiled reassurinsly ct his lady
 Tain't nothin to. be scared, about Miss" he assured hef sitting down on the arm n9f the .s seat oppSOsits; JHsi ",sg;i vatin' a little patience he added jo- coseiy as drummer swung himself out growing as he went
 The girl smiled. but her eyes were som- aDo you reckon we'll get into Phila- delphia on time?" she questioned timidly. Steve shook his head.
 "Couldn't make 1t before 10, Miss, or il mebbe. It's three-hour job. anyhow" The girls chin quivered. But whatll doT" she na demanded: c with wait! Mebbe heli think aint comin' I ain't used to travelin alone!" and two tears dropped among the fuzsy tails of Steve smiled encouragingly.
 Don't you fret. Miss. Your friends'll wait" he assured her. They won't take no chance of iettin' little thing like you But she shock her head.
 T ain't got any friends there-but him, |" and a wave of color swept up into her face.
 Steve had tender, conscientious heart. He leaned across and laid large pro- fecting hand on the arm of the opposite lis it your brother that's goin' to meet you--or your uncle. raebbe7" he suggest She shook, her head again Then sud denly she lifted her wet childish eyes.
 "Tm-rm runnin' away to get mar riedr she gasped in tremulous comics. 90 straight to the. preacher's; but now ohi I wish I hadn't come!" and she buried her face :n her muff.
 side her. '.Eiopements were no novelty tc the young conductor; but this pale little girl of 17 or so was q different matter He patted her slim shoulder with awk. ward gentleness.
 You tell me about it." he suggested, .an' nnebbe can help you. lay of al Phtladelphia myself"
 After Q little she poured out her story. an old one to Steve, but a new and TO- mantle one to the little milliner's ap- prentice from Smithshurg. Her face frightened fin the telling. Her innocent eyes sparkled and she spoke of her lov- CTS fine clothes and city manners with a pretty air of conscious pride
 One Tessie Bickford, the milliner's ''oth- CT help figured largely in the romance It was she who had arranged the clan deRtine meetings, and had declared many times that shed like to see any Rtep. paw meddlin' in her concerns an sayin' shouldn'ti"
 Steve knit his brows as he listened. How could he tell this Innocent. unsophisticat- ed little thing of other girls who had left their homes to meet lovers who wore rich in promises. or of women who haunt ed the city streets after nightfalI--wo. men with bold eyes that had once been soft and innocent, and haggard cheeks under the pitiful mask of paint?
 "Does your step-pa treat you bad?' he
 Sundays story WHERE THE ROAD Fc