The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-05-01
LADY ATHLYNE,
Copyright, 1908, by BRAN STOKER
Entered at Stationers Hall-An rights reserved
CContinued.l

And then, right in front Of her. was
a dim glim of light. This so over
came her that she had to sit down for
a moment on the road side. The in
stant'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
wire fence between her and the light;
stumbled across a rough tumble of
sleepers and railway irons. Then the
light was over her head-the rays were
manifest on the fog. She called out:
"Huilo! Hulloi Is there any one
awaken" Almost instantly the window
through which the light shone was
opened and a man looked out:
AYE! Am awake! Did we think AID
be sleepin' on a NIGHT like this. 'Tis
nae time for q signal-man to be aught
but awake Am tellin' ye.''
Thank God, oh thank God!' joys
heart was too full for a moment to say
more. The man leaned further out:
''Is you a lassie? What are we dae-
in here a NIGHT like this? Phew! A
canno see ma ain hond"'
Yes. I'm girl and I'm lost. Will
you let me come in?" The mans voice
became instantly suspicious.
no in accord wiz the Company's rules
ii let lassie Until the signaI-box. Why
don't We go Until the toon?'
"Oh do let me in for a moment" she
and my motor broke down. I have had
to walk SO far that I am wearied and
tired and frightened; and the sight of
light and the hope of help has finish
ed me!' She sat right down on the
ground 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 a time ana
place might make trouble for him. He
knew from the voice that the woman
was young and refined.
"Dinna greet puir 1assie!-Dinna
greet. A Gamma leave the box for an
instant lest signal come But go
roond to the recht and yen 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 We or yer way Until the toon!"
With glad steps she CROPPED her way
to the door. A flood of light seemed
to meet her when she opened it, and
she hurried up the steep stairs to
where the signa1-man held open the
Coon in lassie and hae a soop o.
ma tea IT'S fine and warm!
Coon in and let me offer We some re-
freshment, an If A may max sac bold
may A offer We all A hae that'n warm
We? Coon in ma'am. Coon in ma
leddie!" he said in a crescendo OF well
come and respect us he saw joys hne
motor coat and recognized her air of
distinction.
Glad indeed was Joy to drink from
the worthy fellows tin tea-bottle
which rested beside the stove; glad to
sit down in front of the fire. Then
WEAKNESS, and in a minute would have
fallen esleep.
But the thought of her father, and
all that depended on her action and
his knowledge. Weakened her to full in
tellectual activity She stood up at
once and said quickly:
What place is this ?"
1.-THE signal-bo Of Castle Douglas
Junction"
"And where is that? I think have
heard the name before"
IT'S a toon as they ca it here. The
junction is o. the GlaSgie an South
Western. the CaIedonian. the Port Pat
rich an Wigtownshire, the London an
North Western, an the Midland lines
But for short there are but twa- One
frae Kirkcudbright, an tn ither fac
Newton Stewart"
"In what country are we?" Seeing
the establishment in his face she went
on: CT am an American. and not fami-
liar with the district. we came from
England this morning-from the Vest
moreland-from Ambleside-and 1 am
drive myself because my-we got into
trouble for fast driving, and had to
come on alone And then the fog over
took me. I went along as we'll as
lisle?'' Her face fell as she saw the
shake OF his head:
Eth ma leddie but ye're mony a
mile frae Carlisle. IT'S over fifty miles
way sair. Ye're in Kirkcud bright-shire
the moo" Her heart sank:
"Oh must send a telegram at once"
Eye Gamma telegraph the NIGHT ma
leddie! The office is closed till eight
''My God! What shall do. Ny
father from London tonight and he
does not know where I am. I came
out for a drive and thought to be back
in good time to meet him. He will be
in despair. Is there no way in which
I can send word? 1t is not a matter of
expenses; I shall pay anything if it
can be done" She looked at him in
an agony Of apprehension. The man
was stirred by the depth of emotion
and by her youth and beauty; and his
clever Scotch brain began to work.
His mouth set fast in a hard line and
his rough brows began to wrinkle.
After a pause he said:
'A'll do what A can, ma 1eddie;
though A can't be sure if twill wark.
The telegraphs are closed. Even If we
could find an operator it wouldn't be
possible to get the wires. Our own
lines are closed, for We'll hae no traf-
fic till morn Here an idea struck Joy
and she interrupted him:
could I not get a special train? I
am willing to pay anything?"
Lord love We. ma Teddy. they don't
have specials on bit lines like this. Ye
couldn't get one higher than Glasgie,
an not there at this time o. day. Let
alone they'd no send in such a fog
anyhow. But I'm thinkin' that A can
telephone to Durnfries. The operator
DOOR line there is a freend o. mine.
an if he's on dooty he'll telephone on
to Carlisle wheer there's sure to be
some one at the place. An mayhap
the latter'll telephone on till Amble-
side. So. If there be any awake there,
they'll send to the hotel. 1t is a hotel
yer father'H be fn?''
90 thank you. thank you," said Joy
Selling his hand in a burst of graft
tude 'I'Il be for ever grateful to you
If you'll be so good!"
Gam thinkin''' he went on that
perhaps twill cost yer ladyship a
mickle: but A dar say yell no mind
"Oh no. no! 1t will be pleasure to
pay anything. See. 1 have plenty of
money! She pulled out her purse
NAL ma! Not yet ma leddie- 'Tis
no for masel-unless yer ladyship in
eli On al TITS for the lad