The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-10-07
CHAPTER vi.

There being no sleeping cars on
that line they were obliged to make
the journey in an ordinary tirst-class
carriage. The train was somewhat
crowded, and Mrs. Somers thought
their having a whole compartment to
themselves was a fortunate accident.
She never suspected that it had
been secured with some trouble for
her special comfort and convenience.
Indeed, everything was being done
that could be done by the most
thoughtful kindness to make her po-
sition easier for her, and one Of the
proofs of the delicate tact with which
she was being cared for and protect
ed was the fact that NJ sense Of OBJ
legation oppressed her.
All this attention came as natural
ly to her from these two strange gen.
tlemen as it would have done from
her own father and brother.
But the Journey did seem inter-
minable, parts of it especially
those long stretches OF time between
the rare stoppages, when the world
beyond the narrow limits Of the car
riage was blotted out by the i'm
penetrable darkness, and nothing oc-
Cured to mark the rate of progress,
or even to assure the anxious, weary
one that they were progressing at all,
but rather the contrary, for by a
curious trick Of the senses she found
herself ~fancying that they were not
moving in spite Of the rush Of the
grinding steel, or else that they were
going back, which was worse.
Lord Wartlebury sat opposite and
patiently dozed the greater part Of
the time, waking up, however, when
ever the train stopped, and talking
to her with that unfailing cheerful
ness which is one of the characteris-
tics of his class, or maybe a part of
their creed.
Doubtless, in many cases their
manners are idle, but in Lord War
tlebury's they we're certainly a proof
of loyal nature and of lofty mind,
and he would not have forgotten them
at deaths door. But at seventy years
Of age even the most vigorous nan
must show signs of fatigue after eX-
ira exertion; and during his uneasy
| sleep Mrs. Somers noticed how worn
he was, and her heart brimmed with
gratitude and smote her with re-
morse.
But on, and On, and on, rattle, and
c~latter, and rumble, shrek of wills
tie and rush of steam, the mighty
crank and the quiyering wheel, con-
| scious of the dreadful noise at times,
and conscious also of the appalling
silence caused by the absence Of hui
nan voice, rendering an account to
herself of all this, and then slipping
away from it, as it were, into the
| outer darkness of a doze, into the
sweet oblivion of snatches of sleep
from which the inclination Of the
train as it swept round a curve would
rouse her with a start, and rouse her
| companion, too, whose eyes met. hers
as they opened, making it appear as
if he had been watching her in her
sleep.
Il am afraid you are very tired"
he said more than once, but quietly
ignored his own fatigue when she
ventured to observe it.
After one Of these momentary
awakenings, into full consciousness.
it always seemed as if some important
incident had occurred refreshing
them both. Mrs. Somers would
straighten herself then and look
about her, and it would e as if
the Pickering yellow light Of the
lamp burned brighter.
But she would sink back inevitably
into her old attitude, the light would
fade into sickly dimness, Lord War
telbury's head would nod, and his
whole body sway to one side. little
by little, down, down, down, till she
almost started from her seat 10 save
him from falling againsc the glass.
and it seemed a miracle that lie
should have recovered himself with