The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-11-22


sick like. The smoke? No, no, sir;
it's the memory of what once befell
me In that same tunnel. I've gone
over this line some ten times since,
and every time my heart gives the
same twist. II that big lion they cali
Arthur's Seat was alive and growl-
ing. ] couldn't feel more scared ev-
cry time | go or come from Edin-
burgh. You would like to hear what
happened? Well, If you care to pass
an hour hearing the plain story of
plain woman. I'll do my best. I'm
bound for Glasgow, and If you're the
same, well just have the hour.
All my kinsfolk belong to Glas-
gow-I'm going to visit mother now
but John, my husband. sir, Is an
Edinburgh man. Maybe you've no
ticed that big fruiterer's shop on
Princes street, with the queens
crown over the door, and John Matt
land, Fruiterer to Her Majesty"
across the front. You've been in it?
oh, thank you, sir, to say so. Yes,
my John is pleasant-looking fellow,
and just as good as he looks. But
that's neither here nor there.
Ten years ago, when he kept shop
away down in the old town, and never
dreamed of becoming queens fruit
erer, we were married at my moth
er's on the eleventh of this coming
month, and l took my first trip to
Edinburgh as bride.
had on a white bonnet with
orange blossoms in it, and white
cashmere shawl that my brother
brought me from India, and John
had brought me great wedding
bouquet of real orange blossoms and
white camelias and lovely white roses
from his own greenhouse, which l
was so proud of that l must carry
them all the way back again. To
this day the scent of orange flowers
and heath turns me deathly sick.
Pity, isn't it, that ones nose should
have such a long memory, as one
might say?
Well, as mischance would have 1t,
what with bidding them all good-by,
and running back to pass wedding
cake through the ring for Sister Jes-
sic, and crying with brother, ours
was the last carriage that ratified to
the train station and John had bare
ly time to get our tickets, put me into
an empty compartment, and rush to
get the luggage on board. :.
While he was away a gentleman
jumped in very hurriedly to the seat
opposite to me. and beckoning to
guard, gave him half crown, and
some directions. The next moment
the door was shut, and we were NOV
irg off without John.
= | tried to open the window and to
scream for them to stop. IC wasn't
very pleasant, you'll agree, for me to
take my wedding journey home
alone; but it was the exprefs train,
bound to be t Edinburgh TO the
minute, and there would be no stop
page at any station by the way
where l could get out and wait.
While | was shaking at the vim
dow, the tears of distress running
down my cheeks, l was pulled for
chilly back oy the gentleman l have
mentioned. who cried, sharply:
Keep inside, or there will be
head OFF,"
He struck his hands together, and
looked so fierce as he said "a head
OFF, that I felt quite startled, and
sat down.
He was the only person IN the
compartment with me, and had such
an odd-such an unaccountable ap-
pearance-that the more l looked at
him the less l liked him.
He had the dress and air OF gem
tleman, but his face was curiously
bleached, and his great, burning
black eyes never rested for a mo-
ment on anything; and what with a
queer habit he had of licking his lips
like lightning, and biting his nails
till the blood came, every other min
ute, l thought him the most un-
canny kind of a stranger could have
been left alone with.
Just as l had come to this con-
clusion conductor opened window
to get our tickets, and stood on the
narrow footrail outside, holding on.
ooh, sir" | cried, cant you leave
me off somewhere? I've come away
without my husband"
impossible to change until you
reach Edinburgh. Don't be uneasy,
ma am; I'm pretty sure your husband
got into one of the cars behind. Saw
him jump on" said the good-natured
official.
Then beinP assured that ha uo,ld
get our tickets, he disappeared
| would have been quite consoled
at his assurance if l hadn't been
horribly shocked at something my
companion made a move to do when
the window first opened. He stealth
lily tried the fastenings of the door,
with the intention plain in his eyes
OF dashing it open and showing tie
conductor down on the track. For
tunately the door was securely fas-
tened
AS soon as We were alone. hr Dut
ON very bland smile, and remarked:
What a pretty bride you are!
What is your name?"
| was 80 fiurried that i forgot tnat
l had married name, and an.
swered:
Alice, SIR"
Ay! said he, devouring me with
his stealthy glances, just as If he was
making raDid snatches at me. $50 you