The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-05-23
81 cannot imagine anything SO
silly!" she retorted, petulantly.

/ else POSITION, he repHed, put L con-
ceive that we are proceeding in the
direction of Chelsea"
''Oh, but don't want to go Ia Chel
seal" she cried in alarm. 81 want to
go to Lancaster Gate! What shall ]
do?' she added, clasping her hands.
The Philosopher found himself mo-
mentarily embarrassed. AS far as
his own personal inclinations were
concerned, it was a circumstance of
equal indifference whether he went
to Chelsea or Belgravia. But his
companions distress was evident,
| and, in measure, he had constituted
| himself her protector. He felt, there.
| fore, that he must consult her preju-
dices in the matter of a destination.
"Look, look!" she interrupted.
Call him, quick!"
There was sudden flare of torch
in front of them and out of the dark.
ness link boy dashed swiftly past.
The Philosopher plunged toward
| him.
"Lucifer-Bearer of Light-stop!"
he cried.
The urchin paused, with grin.
"Call me, guv'nor?"
81 did. If you can spare the time,
be good enough to tell me-tell us
where we are"
"Where you are? Why, in Bond
street, o. course!'
"Bond street," repeated the Phil.
osopher.
"Bond street," echoed his compan-
ion, with gasp of unutterable relief
at the familiar home-like sound.
little boy, stay-don't leave us!'
"Leave yer-well, wot d. yer think,
Miss? I've got my bizness ter attend
to, tool" retorted the boy, impor-
family.
YOUTH" said the Philosopher, "you
are master of the situations plebe-
ian Charon controlling the vagrant
Shades. 1 engage your services. If
you insist upon going home," he
added, turning to his charge, "we
cannot do better than follow our
Charon to the neither world"
'But this is Bond street," she ex.
claimed, still with the ring Of relief
in her silvery voice.
81 know it-at least I am willing
to believe it, since Charon says so.
Who better than he can conduct us
to the Plutonian Realms-the Subter.
ranean regions of the 'Tube?'"
''The 'Tube?'" she cried. "We are
quite close to it,"
''The idea of distance is purely rela-
tive" he replied. 'When, an hour
ago, I left my club, I imagined my
self to be quite close to Trafalgar
square-yet, in the event, [ found
myself to be UNNECESSARILY far from
that historic locality. Boy! Lead US
instantly to the station called Bond
street. Charon shall have his fee."
''The Tube sir? Yes, I'll take
you there-Bond street; it amt very
fur, but the fog is that thick as no.
body 'cept mole could find is way
six yards afore him without torch.
Five shillin', sir!"
Ten minutes later they paused at
the mouth of the Central railway
station. The Philosopher paid the
link boy five shillings. "On the
banks of Phlegethon you will find
many Others" he said. go and
search!" Then turning to his COM
panion he motioned her courteously
to precede him down the steps.
Together they descended, and,
reaching once more world of light,
by mutual impulse stopped and
confronted each other on the thresh-
old Of it.
The Philosopher started. Before
him he beheld young girl of the
most bewildering loneliness. Her soft
blue eyes were directed to his with
an expression of timid curiosity. in
which there was the dawning blend
of gratitude diffidently conveyed.
She, too, started-for she had mag
ined herself to be in the company of
a benevolent and middle-aged gentle
man of peculiar, though interesting
views, whose protection, paternally
offered, maiden so situated might
without loss of maidenly dignity ac-
| cept.
Instead, she perceived, gazing into
her face with an admiration ill con-
cealed, young and singularly hand
some man of 25.
81 fancied. II thought you were
quite an old man all the time" she
| faltered, cor, of course" She broke
off with an eloquent blush, and
dropped her eyes:
"Facilis descensus Averno-" MUIR
INJURED the Philosopher, still gazing
on the half-averted face before him.
"Sed revocare gradum" y
she replied, darting at him a swift
little mischievous glance from under
a Pickering eyelid.
"What!" exclaimed the Philosopher.
els it possible that you understand
Latin, that you have read Virgil
you?"
''ft is sin, know" she answered,
demurely; 'but I dol have, really.
II am philosopher, too. You see,
I was at Girton, where they make a
study of the emotions" she added,
with little saucy laugh.