Year: 1867

was about to Inform her, there came crash, and
for moment was not certain whether it was the
cloud that had exploded, or myself that had torn
some portion Of my apparel that was oVerstrained.
It required buta moment to see that both presump-


tons were wrong. It was the out train-2:27-
that had run off the track, smashing generally, and
spiing the contents of several baggage cars all a.
long the road, to say nothing Of frightening half
hundred passengers into condition bordering on
lunacy. This was pretty state of things, and to
make it still worse, was eight miles from my des
tination, though, as it afterwards appeared, not
mile from the next village, where heard it can
vassed, tavern, supper and bed could be had


81 was disposed to make myself agreeable, and
accordingly rendered all the assistance in my power
to unprotected females, for which I got my reward
on arriving at the haven of refuge, the promised


tavern, by being informed that sucha thing as abed
for the night was an impossible idea and that with
some twenty more Of the male gender, must be
content with chairs, while the beds were appropri
ated to the gentler sex. Slightly disgusted, 1
swallowed my supper and looked out upon the
night It was beautiful moonlight and vergiug
on ten o'clock. By Jove, would walk over to
Hyatts. No sooner said than done. Giving my
carpet bag into the hands of the landlord with the
most emphatic charges of its safety, and punctual
delivery at Hyatt's next morning, at my expense,
set forth. Eight miles is a triAe, and just as my
watch marked the quarter after midnight, went
up the lane that led to the house. They were ear
" to bed and early up I walked round the house
trying each entrance, but each and every one were
fastened. 1t was of no consequence; my bed room
window looked out upon the piazza I would not
disturb the house by knocking bit of climbing
would do the business and should it be fastened
[ would tap and wake Horace, who was my room
mate and bed fellow. The thing was executed as
soon as thought of, and my hand on the window,
which yielded, andI stoodinmyroom. Bythemoon
light which streamed in, saw that the bed was oc
|cupied, and by the heavy breathing knew that
Horace was in heavy sleep. would not awake
him, but save the story of my mishap for the fol-
lowing day. With this resolution I slipped quiet
" into bed and in three minutes was obivious.-
What ought l to have dreamed that night? But
I shall not anticipate. lay facing the window as
the sun peeped up above the distant hills, and
scattered the gray mists Of the morning. My bed
fellow was breathing heavily, but it was broad day
light, and there was no more sleep in me, so was
determined Horace should wake up and hear the
story of the railroad breakdown. turned quickly
and gave the sleeper sudden shake As rapidly
smy own motion, my bed-tellow, who had lain with
his back towards me, sprank to sitting position.
There are surprises without terror, which deprive
us of our speech, until the brain has time to act
and reason Such surprises do not generate screams
and faints. They are expressed by open-mouthed
and silent wonder. This was the case of myself
and bed-fellow, as we sat upright and stared
Right by my side, with her face within two feet Of
my own, sat young woman, not more than seven
teen with great, dark, hazel eyes, and such great
masses Of brown curls, tucked away under the neat
est little nightrcap that ever was. She had gath
cred the bed clothes, with q spasmodic jerk, up
about the throat and the most rigid astonishment,
looking as though doubling whether she was sleep
ing or walking gazing steadily in my eyes. Mem
ory serves man but little in such cases, but if my
memory serves me right, it was who spoke first.
I blurted out with


''How came you here? --


s'The figure started, still in speeches. astonish-
ment, but in moment, as though awakened from
its stupefaction, spoke:


care you Charles Morgan?


II answered in the affirmative.


"Wel, then, Mr.. Morgan said the figure, by
this time calm, with quite as much dignity as
though in thedrawingroom, liam May Stephens,
and was put in this room after an unexpected ar
rival. Horace had gone over to aneighbor's, afew
miles off, before got here, and was not to return
till to-day. This is how was put in this room"


$50 here I was, sitting uis us with this May
Stephens, mystical lady, for the first meeting with
whom intended to get up such superlative toll
et A nice style of introduction, and nice style
Of toilet! And she-she by this time as cool Us
the 3lst of December, and sat looking me right in
the eyes, as made some rambling explanation of
my being in that extraordinary position. 1t was a
lame explanation, wonderfully mixed up with If
relevent matter, and stammered and suffered
through in way that should have disguised any
sensible person. She seemed to be seriously pom
dering the recital, and at its end, looking at me as
though asking the most simple question in the
world, said:


"What's to be done?


"Let me jump out of the window as came in,
said I, in a sicky tone of voice, for the thought
came to me that to achieve this end, I must make
some desperate display Of myself in st;le of COS
tune which I deprecated. She relieved me in
stantly. No, that will not do; there are people
moving about, and you will be seem


ut was now my turn to stammer out:


''What's to be done? For saw the little ha-
zeeyed girl was superior to me in presence of mind
and energy of action. She did not wait long to
answer my question.


"You must Lie still here until I get up. When
I have left the room, you can rise, dress and so
away at the first opportunity, was her response,
delivered in quiet and business-like manner.


"And so I did. Under May Stephens COM
mand, buried my head under the bed clothes and
kept well covered until heard the retreating foot
steps on the stairs, which was but few minutes,
though it seemed an age; then, with desperate
bound, I sprang from the bed, and turned the key
on the departed one. 1t was the quickest dressing
I ever made, and will venture to say that no man
ever sneaked out Of his own apartment more steal
thily than did.


'That morning we met-May Stephens and l.
at the breakfast table; in the character OF the