Evening star., 1909-04-26

patch Of light disappeared. When She
had taken but few steps she looked back
and found all as dark as II was before
her. One thing alone there was which
saved her from utter despair: the fog
seemed not to be absolutely dense. In
reality 1t was not that the fog had lessen
ed. but that her eyes. 50 long accustomed
to the glare of the lamps which had pre-
vented her seeing beyond the radius OF
their power, had now come back to their
normal focus. Though the darkness seenr-
ed more profound than ever. since there
was no point Of light whatever. she was
actually able to see better. After all, this
fog was a sea mist unladen with city
smoke. and its darkness was q very differ
ent thing from the cimmerian gloom of a
city fog. To her. not accustomed to win
ter fogs. it was difncuit and terrifying.
When, however. she began to realize.
though unconsciously. that the nebulous
wall in front OF her fell back with every
step she took her heart began to beat
more regularly and she breathed more
freely. 1t was terrible position for a
she was brave girl with a full share of
self-reliance her absolute ignorance OF all
around her-even as to what part of the
country she was in-had somewhat
paralyzing effect upon her. However,
she had courage and determination. Her
race as well as her nature told for her.
Her heart might beat hard and her feet
be heavy, but at any rate she would 20
and consciousness remained to her. She
shut her teeth. and In blind despair moved
forward in the fog.
In all her after life Joy could never
recall the details Of that terrible walk.
Like most American girls she was un-
used to long walks: and after a couple OF
miles she felt wearied to death. The long
emotional strain OF the day had told sore
ly on her strength. and the hopeless nerve
racking tramp on the unknown road
through the ginnnn and nf fhe
fog had snapped her natural strength.
Looking back on that terrible journey
she could remember no one moment from
the other. from the time that she lost
sight of the lamps until she found her
self In a dip i'm the road passing under
railway bridge. The recognition OF the
fact terminated her. 1t was an evidence
there there was some kind Of civilization
vague way to doubt. She would follow
that line IL she could, for it must lead her
to some place where she might find help.
where she could send reassuring word tn
her father and where there would be
shelter. Shelter! At the first gleam OF
hope her own deplorable position was
forced upon her, and she realized all at
once her desperate WEAKNESS. She could
now hardly drag herself along
Beyond the railroad there was a branch
road to the left, and this she determined
to follow. rather than the main road.
which went away from the line. She
stumbled along IL as well as she could.
The time seemed endless. In her weari-
ness the flicker OF hope which her juxta-
position to the railway had given her died
soon away. The fog seemed denser, and
the darkness blacker than ever.
The road dipped again under the line:
not straying from II. She hurried on In
stinctively: found the road wider and
rougher with much use. Her heart beat
hard once again, but this time 1t was with
hope.
And then. right In front OF her. was
a dim glim Of light. This so overcame
her that she had to sit down for a mo-
ment on the roadside. The instant's rest
cheered her: she jumped to her feet as
though her strength had been at once
restored. Feeling in her heart a prayer
which her lips had not time to utter. she
climbed over a wire fence between her
and the light; stumbled across a rough
Then the light was over her head-the
rays were manifest on the fog. She
called out:
"HulIo! Hullo! Is there any one
through which the light shone was opened
and a man looked out:
"Ayei Am awake! Did ye think AID be
sleepin' on a NIGHT like this. 'Tis. nae
time for signalman to be aught but
Thank God: oh, thank God!' Joys
heart was too full for a moment to say
more. The man leaned farther out:
'Ts you a lassie? What are ye daein'
here NIGHT like this? Phew! A Gamma
see ma ain hond!'
''Yes. I'm a girl and I'm lost. VIII you
let me come in?" The mans voice became
instantly suspicious.
ma! nal A Gamma let We In. 'Tis no in
accord WI the company's rules to let
lassie Until the signal-box. Why don't ye
go Until the toon?"
''Oh do let me I'm for a moment" she
pleaded. II have been lost in the fog. and
my motor broke down. I have had to
walk SO far that / am wearied and tired
and frightened; and the sight of a light
and the hope Of help has finished met
She sat right down on the grourN and
began to cry. He heard her sob. and it
awoke all the man in him. This was no
wandering creature whose presence at
such time and place might make trouble
for him. He knew from the voice that
the woman was young and refined.
"Dinna greet puir lassie!-Dinna greet.
A Gamma leave the box for an instant lest
a signal come. But go roond to the
recht and yell find a door. Come recht
up! Rules or no rules Am no gangin' to
let We greet there all by yer lanes. There's
fire here. and when ye're warmed A can
direct you on yer way Until the toon!"