The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-07-24
44e4%a@e4a49@9s9t444e8s34
A APrcdiCamcnt
BY
Rev. Henry NJ. Wharton


TWAS sitting in our private car at
| the Terminal station, St. Louis, Mo.
Ii must have been half past eleven az
night, and such a night. All day a
rainstorm had been beating
down upon the city and the night
closed in with gloom and mud WIN
pouring rain and driving wind.
Nv partner had not come in, nor
had the porter; both were late ana
was beginning to be anxious about
them. Scores Of trains and shifting
engines pass in and out of the great
station-and often persons have been
killed in getting across the network
Of tracks.
AsI sat reading, felt a slight
quiver Of the car. My Office door
which opens on the hall running
from end to end of the car and near
which l was sitting had been lett
opened. listened eagerly. 1t could
not be either Of our party for they
came always with a well-known
heavy step.
AsI listened 1 heard distinctly
gentle knock at the front door. In
stantly l went TO the door and there
before me plainly visible through the
glass stood a young lady. She looked
at me with a pleading, anxious eN-
preston, and at the same time mo-
toned with her hand as if there was
some one behind her l opened the
door and she stepped inside. Her
waterproof was dripping with rain
though she carried an umbrella.
Please lock the door," she said.
I obcyed, and stood waiting for an
explanation with increasing uneasi-
ness and anxiety.
"You do not know me- She spoke
hurriedly and excitedly. You do
not know me, but know you. / live
in Alton; have been here spending
the day. was starting home and
waiting for the train. a man has
been following me all the evening"
I went out TO supper with a friend
he followed me there, he followed me
TO the train, when ! went in the car
he went in and took a seat near me.
l came out, he followed me- he is here
now lurking between these cars. On
sir, can you protect me-
l assured her that l would do the
best in my power to protect her ana
would she please take seat. Ny
partner would be in in a few minutes
and we would make her comfortable
for the night.
"Oh, no, no, no. she cried u can
not stav here. The train to Alton is
gone. 1 have an uncle living near
Forest Park. ! must go there. is 1t
asking too much?'
THAT I go with you?' ] interrupt,
ed. Certainly not; take seat Will
get my macintosh and umbrella and
be with you at once
When we stepped of the platform
a man like a dark shadow dlsap
peared around the end of a Pullman
car. l had no weapon, not even
pocketl,nife. But the young woman
was so pleasant and her manners
were so easy and ladylike l had nc
thought but TO protect her and take
her in safety to her uncle's home.
We boarded an Eighteenth stree
car, changed to a suburban and tra'
eled for nearly an hour.
We talked together upon genera
subjects, noticed the people come ant
90 and nothing unusual occurred un
/ til she looked back in the car theI
suddenly in a hoarse whisper SAID
"He is there, he is in this car on tina
back seat. Oh, l am afraid he vii
wait for you and kill You. Nha
shall we do2'
confess I was considerably dis
turbed. Why should he still pursue
her when he knew l was with her?
We were running through darl
narrow street known as the "Righ
Of Way" when she touched the elec
trio button and stopped the car.
eve get of here" she said as sA'
rose.
The man was gone, but | caught
glimpse Of his retreating form goini
across an open lot along a pau
which we followed also.
"There he goes!" she said' ant
shivered as she took my arm.
The situation was growing NOR
and more mysterious. We were ii
utter darkness. The rain was rattlinI
upon my umbrella and the win
blowing a gale. We passed into al
alley. dark, narrow and repulsiy'
But for her appearance and conduc
1 should have gravely suspected fou
play.
We came out of the alley, however
in a few minutes into a well-lighte
street.
"Ah," she said with a good lon
breath, "we are nearly there. Iha
is the house, and am so glad. No'
YOU must come right in and sit a fe'
minutes. 1 will introduce you to m
uncle and tell him how good 20
have been. lie is very nice. Come in.
Feeling in no mood to 60 bac
into the fearful night and probabl
an encounter with a madman, l az
cepted her invitation. She led m
into a brilliantly illuminated parlo
where q grand piano stood oPen' an
handsome furniture and bric-a-bra
with well-appointed portraits an
other paintings made up very Il
yiting place. Take a seat and e.
cuse me-" she said. 81 must get o
these wet clothes, and introduce m
uncle"
She returned in much less tim
than 1 expected, and with her cam
fine looking gentleman, all smile
and politeness. But my blood fair
froze when I saw a striking resen
blance to the man who was IN Il
ear. l.
"Let me thank you, sir" he bega
"for the rescue Of my niece from II
unhappy thralldom in which she va
Z so unfortunately placed. And no'