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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1889-5-30, Page 6ady Helderswood, nee Smith. CHAPTER Vi, 66 1 13ow pretty to see such affaotioii in a married couple, observed Lady Beaulemore' at breakfast one morning in the little house in Curzon street, at which she had now taken up her abode. "So novel I And not alto• •other bad form, when not oarriod to ex- ams." "Glad you like it," acid; Helderswood calmly, after a long draught from hie tea- cup, l hoe we aro not in bad form at all, are we, Lady Beaulemore?" asked Cincinnati. "At lost, I mean myself ; of course Gilbert could not be." "Well, my dear," replied Lady Beaule• more, gravely, "I may say frankly that you are the subject) of some critict,$m, Not as regards your appearance—that always awak- ens enthusiasm. Wherever I go people say to me, 'How's your handsome niece, Lady Beaulemore ? They do, Gillie, really ; posi- tively everywhere." "How kind ,of them I" murmured the young husband, in a phlegmatic tone, "But your Ametf:an pronunciation is of course commented upon," continued Lady Beaulemore, addressing herself to Lady Ilalderswooi ; " not unkindly—always pity- ingly." "Pityingly 1" Cincinnati arose from the breakfast table, and stood looking with wide open eyes at her husband's aunt. "I don t see why you should be surprised, Sissy," remarked Lady Beaulemore. "You surely cannot suppose that you are not gift- ed with an American accent." " I deny that I have to be pitied for it,' returned Sissy, resolutely. " What sorb of accent did they suppose my American wife would have ?" queried Gilbert ; " Hieland lassie's?—or an Irish woman' ?s" " I always speak grammatically," asserted Cincinnati. " Lady Beaulemore could not truthfully say the same. She was a middle aged lady who had been educated by an English gover- ness of the old school. " And never drop your h's even in the middle of words 1 A great advantage, and rarely enjoyedby persons who are not ladies and gentlemen by birth," remarked Lady Beaulemore approvingly. "Naturally, every one supposes your wife to be exnead- inwly rich, Gillie." " How horrified they must be when you tell them i am nob," said Cincinnati, with a smile. " Why should I tell them that, my dear ?" returned Lady Beaulemore. " By your mother's generosity, as Gillie has explained to me, you are very comfortably provided for, indeed. Certainly I should be the last to complain of your position in that respect, as my nephew is now able to offer sic a home with you. You do not object to me being here, do you, Sissy?" The instinct of hospitality, so pronounced a characteristic of the inhabitants of Ohio and Kentucky, caused the warm hearted Cincinnati to cross the room instantly, and to seat herself in affectionate proximity to the speaker. "Dear Lady Beaulemore, of coarse not," she said, affectionately. " I am glad you are with us and nothing on my part shall be lacking which will give yon happiness." Her radiant smile lit up her charming face and every tone of her soft voice was melodious with truth. Lady Beaulemore kissed her on the brow, remembered a pressing engagement and left husband and wife together. Helderswood had thrown himself at full length upon a sofa and was puffing a cigar- ette. He waited until the last sound of his aunt's footsteps had died. away, .then hold- ing out his hand to his wife he smiled ten- derly. She flew to him and kneeling by his side she buried her face upon his breast. "To criticise you!" he exclaimedindignanb- ly, pressing to his lips ene of her silken curls, which had fallen upon her shoulders. "I care for no one'sopinion but yours." filer voice was tremulous with enraptured fondness. Silence followed—the delicious silence of perfect peace which comes with the luxury of perfect love. Gillie, wain did Lady Beaulemore mean when she spoke of your having told her of my mother's generosity ?" asked Sis ly pres- ently. "You've not spoken to me -about • that." Helderswood looked embarrassed ; arose, tossed his cigarette in the fender. "Don't ask me, Sissy," he replied. "Ah, bub I much 1" she exclaimed. I must know what she has done for, me. Dear old mother, I'm so fond of her." "It was her request that the arrangement should not be explained to you," he answer- ed, "She was afraid it might cause you anxiety." "Arrangement—anxiety," repeated Sissy, wonderingly. "Surely, husband," she cried, "there oan be nothing connected with our marriage to cause me anxiety ?" He bit his lip and walked to and fro. "Oh, tell me—tell me what it is!" she oried her eyes fillingwith sudden tears. "I cannot bear it—tell me what is wrong." He stopped, and put his arms about her waist. "Nothing is wrong, darling,—ah, you do not believe me ! I see I must tell you the little secret, or you will be imagining all sorts of foolish things. I did not pledge my word not to tell you. Your mother only thought that it would be better not." "I am listening, Gillie," she said, sinking down upon the sofa to which he had led her. "Well, then, you mush know," he said, "that I was a poor —a very poor man when I asked you to marry me ; poor and with no expectations." "Why then did you not marry a rich girl instead of poor me 2" asked Cincinnati, sadly :— "Can you ask me why, Sissy," he replied, gravely. "I loved you—loved you madly when first I saw you. Yes. I loved you almost as madly then"—he drew a deep breath—"as I do now. " She looked in his eyes fixedly. "1 know you were nob an heiress—one al- ways gets told thab sorb of thing you know," he continued, "and I thought bhe fates were against our marriage ; for I don't understand low to make money as other fellows do— particularly men in America. So how could I marry ? I was just going away from Oinoin- nati'in despair when a man was pointed out to me -tali, fair haired chap, with light mustache -good looking, rather --know who I mean, Sissy ?" She lowered her eyes. " I see you know quite well," he wont on rapidly. '" A man named Monroe --deuced handsome creature—in love with you, they told me. Is that true ?" "Yes," she whispered, without lifting her eyes. "X was afraid if I left the place he would get you. Jove 1 I could not endure that thought. I then spoke to your mother." " What did you say to her ?" "1e told boil the stab of affairs with hie. She wee very sympathetic, good old crem tare t" he exclaimed, twirling one end of his mustache. . Very anxioueto aee you mar - rind well, See made some sacrifices, no doubt•," " What were they ?`' "1 don't know. She and her brother— "Uncle Napoleon?" "Yea, your uncle, Mr. Napoleon Jones. What namesyou have, you Americans 1" he Dried, with a laugh. " Napeleon Jones, Cincinnati Smith." " What did Uncle Nap. do :" asked SIsay, with interest. " I can't say exactly. All I know is they so arranged it between them that you are to have £3,000 a year." "Fifteen thousand dollars a year t" ex. claimed Lady Helderswood, excitedly. " Why, that's a very large income, isn't it, Gillie ?" she asked. "Ah, that depends on the way you have been accustomed to live," he replied, coolly. "To some fellows it would seem a mere bagatelle as wife's dot. By strict economy we can live comfortably upon three thoueannd a year —three thousand five hundred; my five hundred, you know." "Oh, your five hundred 1" she repeated- " Yes I've about that. Now you under- stand why I couldn't marry, eh ? Ono thing I will say, wife of mine. Come closer." She bent her head to listen. "If I had nob loved you eo muohl I would notetave married a wife with only'three thous- and a year. I would have held my name' for a higher bidder." "Did I bid for your name, Gillie?" ''No," he whispered, "you bid. for my life—" "I didn't even bid for that," she protest- ed. "At all events, it fell to you," he replied, "and it is yours, to have and to hold forever." She sank into his embrace, and in its ecstasy forgot all other things. " CHAPTER VII, Helderewood'a only landed possession was a small estate in the Isle of Wight. From the letting of this pleasure Beat his income was derived. It was now without a tenant. Enraptured with the beauty of the place Cincinnati begged her husband to refrain from again placing it in the market. The London season was over and the small house in Curzon street was now insufferably hot and close. Often flew the thoughts of the young wife to the picturesque heights above the Ohio River, where after summer sunsets of bewildering splendor the evening atmos- phere was freshened by the soft and perfumed breeze. How large, how honest seemed the life there led 1 Already she was dinenchant- ed with the existence into whioh she had been brought by marriage, Even Lady Beaulemore, the only woman in all London whom Cincinnati could call friend, was a disappointment. In point of polished man- ners she was a model to the neophyte in London society ; nor could one allege that her heart was bad. Bat the bitterness of her tongue was gall itself ; and the inex perienoed Sissy was amazed at the duplicity which could assume the aspect of friendship to those whom privately she abused or ridi- culed. Lord Helderswood's companions were very unpleasing to Cincinnati. They belonged to the most turbulent set of men of fashion, and, married or single, were all rushing along the downward path of dis- sipation. Although courteous in the extrem- to Lady lielderswood, she maintained a dignified reserve in her manner to them which kept them at a distance and com- manded their respect. Nowhere is nature more softly beautiful than in the Isle of Wight. Green Hill Towers is a small and picturesque edifice suspendei on a hillside, with barbizens and battlements of stone. The sapphire waters of the Solent swell before its windows, and the ardent vegetation of the garden isle renders the landscape, as far about as eye can reach, a ammo of superlative beauty. What richer joy has earth to offer than days of wedded love at such a spot? The sole drawback to Sissy's happiness was that disturbing thought, her mother's well being. Try as she might she could nob understand how it•had been possible for her mother to arrange en income of $15,000 a year for her daughter and yet retain anything for herself. She wrote frequently, and 00ceston- ally a reply came. Sometimes this effusion would bear the illiterate scribblings of poor Mrs. Smith ; more often it was from the hand of Uncle Napoledn J ones ; always its tenor was cheerful. Her mother was con. fortable and was glad to hear that Cincinnati was happy. The money would continue to be paid regularly That Gilbert Helderswood deeply loved his beautiful wife no one could doubt. Life was full of joy to him ; he had youth, health, station and a competence. But all delights sank to nothing when compared with the preciousness of Sissy's love. ,Her face, her smile, her form were each, separately, all con- jointly, his conceived idea of beauty. Her sweet and unspotted nature was a refresh• meat to the soul. How it came to pass that he was caught in the vortex of the old London life he scarcely knew. He had declined many in. vitations here and there ; but after his wife's removal to Green Hill Towers the inviters took upon themselves to invade the house in Curzon street, invited thither in turn by Captain Conover, a cousin of Helderswood, and known as a jolly dog in all the gayest capitals. Captain Conover was an ex -army officer whose retirement from the service of Her Most Gracious Majesty was not an act of hie own volition. At least such was the re- port, one whioh few or none of his numerous acquaintances in arbistio life had ever taken the trouble to verify or disprove. For of all the delightful, the gay, the popular beings in London Con, Conover was indisputably the chief. He was a tall, slen- der, aristocratic looking man of over fifty, but for the practical purposes of jollity he might have been but half that age. Such frequent breakfasts, dinners, luncheons as he gave 1 Suoh drives to the Derby San - down and the Oaks 1 Such house -boat parties to Henley and other pointe on the river 1 Ah! he was a famous favorite, was Captain Con. The agreeable reputation of this open handed gentleman had been seoured and was retained with little or ns, expense to him- self. Indeed, bad ib involved the dieburse- ment of any personal funds it never could have been attained, for Con Conover was notoriously one of the poorest men in his set. He was gifted, however, with a re- markable obtuseness in the matter of mine and thine, which enabled him to use the bo - longings of his friends with absolute free- dom. Here and there one of these protest- ed against hie liberties, it is true ; but in the generality of cases the mon to whose coaches, houtes and boats the gay Captain invited merry parties of pretty women and jolly fellows write not displeased at finding a ready made opportunity to amuse them. selves. It costa effort even to have fun,. The departure of Lord andLady -Heiden- wood forGreen Hill Towers afforded the mirthful Captain a long desired opportunity. Summer and autumn sports were over, end the long, dark, damp winter of .London was closing in upon a vast population shrouded' in pea soup togs and mental gloom. What more delightful than to avail himself of his, kinsman Gilbert's house, to gather around the convivial board a large number of choice spirits, eeleoted from a numerous asgpaint- ance in many walks of life ? The army, the navy, the law, the medical profession, the abage, the abndios all could furnishes rollick- ing contingent to the gay Cap''aiubi call for forces. Conover believed that no reason- able householder could feel himself serious- ly aggrieved at this invasion of hie domain, the repasts being ordered from a neighbor- ing purveyor of note, who was particularly desired to send his bill, as fregnenbly as he felt disposed, to Captain Conover him- self. To these rattling festivals Captain Coma course invited Helderswood, Being held, in hie own house Gilbert joined the revels, as a mere matter of good nature at first. He had enown what in is to be a gentleman without fortune. Why should he not Brant his less favored friend, poor Con, every pos- sible opportunity to enjoy the privileges which only wealth affords?'. He encouraged, therefore, the Captain in hie breakfast and dinner giving, and to prove to the genial exp• officer that he was sincere in his assurances of welcome, Helderswood finally made it a point of politeness to be present in Curzon street at every rollicking party Con Conover mustered there. CHAPTER R'Il'. Meantime my Lady lielderswood dwelt in the castle by the sea. Latterly she had, again Lady Beaulemore as a gueet, for Gil- bert's kinswoman was as fortuneless as his kinsman Conover and was always glad of an invitation to bed and board. Cincinnati. welcomed her cordially. She was- not an amusing companion, but she was better than• none. Gilbert was frequently in town now, and his beautiful wife found life in the conn• try a trifle heavy. " You can't expect to keep your husband tied forever to your apron airings," said Lady Beaulemore one morning as Sissy was driving her in her pony carriage, along the winding roadway, the deep, aware sew on one hand, the luxuriant vegetation on the other. " Those sort of things"—Lady Beaulemore used old fashioned governess grammar—"do not prevail in our circle." "Oh, I have no desire to tie my husband, Lady Beaulemore," replied Sissy sadly. "It would require something stronger than an apron string to tie Gilbert—something ma- terially stronger and yet materially weaker. You know what I mean—the glance of an eye, a loving word—these used to be sufyt• Ment to keep him by me." A tear fell from her long eyelash upon her driving glove. " Ah ! that was during the honeymoon, of course," observed Lady Beaulemore. "Surely, my dear, you did not expect the honeymoon to last more than a calendar month 1' " Why, Lady Beaulemore 1" exclaimed ,Sissy, almost indignantly. "How can you oast such a slur on the character of his love for me ? Indeed, I did expect it to last ; I expeoted the honeymoon to last as long as we live." " And the poor planet—is the moon a planet ?—is eclipsed already. Are planets eclipsed ?" murmured Lady Beaulemore. Astronomy was no more frequently taught than astrology by the old fashioned gover- ness. " Cannot—answer—any of your ques- tions," returned Sissy, in a doleful voice, as she drew rein at the Towers entrance. At dinner they were alone, and although the banqueting hall at Green Hill was far from being of vast proportions, nevertheless Cincinnati thought it looked too large to be coney ; yet, when Gilbert and she dined there alone together it seemed well filled. "Do you know, aunt," said Cincinnati, when they had returned to the drawing - room, " I think I'll shut up the Towers and return to town," " D4y dear 1" exclaimed Lady Beaulemore, raising her gloved hands with a mot ion of horror. " Town in November 1 Such a thing is not., to be thought of." "Yet Gilbert thinks of it, you see," replied Sissy. "He's a man—he's different," remarked the elder lacy. "But you can't possibly be in town in November 1" During an almost sleepless night Cincin- nati pondered this problem. Could she or could she not be in town in November? Reference to a local guidebook which lay on her dressing table confirmed her in the belief that she could. The train she took happened to be a slow one and made many halts. Groups of per- sons entered and departed; at length there remained but one individual in the carriage, who, like Lady Helderswood, was going on to London. He was a tall man, with a wide brimmed felt hat drawn down over his eyes. For a long time he sat with hie back turned to the interior of the carriage, looking out persist- ently at the landscape which flew past the window. Lady Helderswood threw a care- less glance in his direction. She could not see a feature of his face, but there was some- thine in the pose which gave her heart an excited throb. He turned at length, and pushing his hat off his brow looked steadily in her eyes. "Roderick Monroe 1" she exclaimed. "I wondered if you would know me, Cincinnati,' he observed, quietly. "Bub I suppose I ought not to call you that way, ought I ? "No," she replied, firmly. "All right, I won't," he said, with a smile. "Ib's all one to me." "'Have you been long in Europe?" asked Lady Helderswood. "Your uncle Napoleon and I came over three weeks ago on a matter of business. We are working together now." His eye was clear, his lip orimeon, his complexion radiant. Nis folly had evidently been die• carded before it became a fixed habit. " Indeed 1 you surprise me 1 And my mother—how was she when you left home? " A pretty sink woman:" Laconically, " Why, I hadn't heard of her not being well 1" exclaimed Lady Helderswood in an alarmed tone of voice. " Perhaps not," was his reply. "I guess they don't let you know everything that goes on there." " Who does not? Surely you do not mean my husband?" "Of course I don't," he replied doggedly. " What do I know about your husband I mean your uncle and your mother. They don't want you to bo worried about them away off here." " " Tney are so good 1" she said, tears of love and gratitude springing to her eyes. " I must see Uncle Napoleon if he is here." He has railed at your house several tithes and wee told that you were away. They didn't say where." "You mush both come and dine with tie' in Cprzon street," she said impetuously. "Lord Holderawood will be to glad to nee you' —the current thraseology of the situa- tion. "Me dine with him ?'' E>xolaiined the handsome Westerner, with a weary smile. " Rod Monroe dine with Lord Thingumbob Well, I sho:nld gasp • !' Not mraoh, I guess— nob this tine." " You are thinking of mattere that ere— that are quite past and over, she explained, with a coufueed, downcast look and a heigh- tened color. " Why not let, bygones be bygones Y" "-I mean to do so," he ejaoulated,with emphasis. "'After yew married your five foot four--" "I begyour pardon •?" she queried, in surprise,. " Well, there or thereabouts," said the handsome, tall fellow,. quietly. " I never measured hunt I stood watching the train se you. rolled eastward' out of the depot on your bridal tour, and I said, to myself, 'Rod Monroe; if you drink yourself to death for a woman thab don't ease two straws for you • you're as blamed fool.' " He spoke with great deliberation, slow- ing, dropping syllable after syllable, and staring in her reddening fade with entire imperturbability. She east her eyes from side to side, desperately uncomfortable. How gladly would she have escaped from this unexpected thraldom r But there is no escape possible, from an Ehglish railway carriage when in motion.. "'When I saw the tail end of that train I made a vow never to drink another drop of wine, beer or spirits, and 1 have kept my pledge," " I congratulate you on your firmness, she murmured • faintly. " Why, it would have been sheer matinees in me—an insult to my Creator—to wreak my constitution because I had had a dis- appointment. Life's full of disappoint- ments," " So it is," she acsuieseed with a sigh thinking of Helderswood's sudden fondness for town. " I hope you are happy," he said coldly, after a•pause. "O;c, quite so 1" she replied quickly, with a feint of enthnsiasm. "I am glad to hear it. I'm perfectly happy myself. The train is in. Can I assist you in any way ?" as the long line of carri- ages cavae to a standstill. "No, thank you," she replied, giving her bag to a railway porter. He lifted his hat to her and strode off. She watched him until he disappeared. What a splendid looking man ho was 1 But what cutting coolness he had employed in his conversa- tion with her 1 Her mind reverted to the vanished days when hie wild love for her was, as she well knew, the leading sentiment of his life. Now he was nothing to her, nor was she aught to him. So fade our fancies ; so evaporate our mistlike dreams 1 (TO BE CONTINUED.) Horses in Battle. Said an Army Captain to a reporter recent, ly :—"In the drills in the artillery service the horses will themselves preserve their alignments as well as the infantry. I shall always remember one illustration of this trait which I noticed at a very exciting and critical period of a battle. In order to save some of our infantry from being surrounded and captured, I quickly mounted the canon- eers on the guns anti put the whole battery at a dead gallop across a stretch of meadow about half a mile wide. I was quite ac- customed to such sights, but when we were half way across the field I noticed the array, and for a moment I was lost in admiration of the magnificent picture. Every driver was plying whip and spur, the great guns were rocking and • thundering over the ground, and every horse reeking with foam and fall_ of animation and excitement, was straining every muscle' as he galloped for- ward, yet it seemed to me that a straight line drawn along in front would have touched the heads of the lead horses in front of the six guns. That was an artillery charge, one of the most thrilling eights in bhe evolutions of war. " It is surprising how quiokly they learn the bugle calls. After we had been in ser - viae some time, my first sergeant once asked me what call that was, as the bugle blew some command. 'That's a pretty question for you bo ask,' I said. 'How in thunder do you know how to march?' 'I don't know,' he said, 'but my horse knows,' Let the first note of the feed or water call be blown, and there will be a terrible stamping, kinking and neighing. Once, in a terrible storm, our horses and those of several other batteries broke loose, and there was a wild rash among the artillery men to get horses in the morn- ing. All was excitement and the horses were hard to get, but when I ordered the bugler to mount a stump and blow the feed call the horses all made such a mad rush for our battery that the men could hardly get out of the way quickly enough. "When it comes to battle a horse seems to know everything that is going on, but, he does his duty nobly, and seems to be in his element. He enters into the spirit of the battle like a human being. He shows no fear of death, and it is singular that if his mate is shot down he will turn to look at him and seem pleased. A horse in my bat- tery was once struck by a piece of shell, whigle split his skull so that one side was loose. The driver turned him loose, bub he walked up to the side of the gun and watch- ed the firing, and when the shot was fired would look away in the direction of the enemy, as if to see the effect of the shot. When a shell would burst near by he would calmly tarn and look at it. When he saw his own team going back for ammunition he ran to his own place and galloped back to the caissons with the rest. When the Lieutenant pushed him aside to put in an• other horse he looked at the other one sor• rowfully while he was being harnessed tip, and when he seemed to realize that there was no further use for him he lay down and died. The Lieutenant strongly aaaert- ed that he died of a broken heart. "At the time that Adams's, Jackson's and Preston's brigades charged me at M:urfrees- boro some officer was killed, and the brigades were driven back. But the fallen officer's horse had not been taught to retreat, and he did not. He just came at full speed through the battery, and I tell you he looked simply grand. He was a large, fine animal, his nostrils were extended wide, his eyed fairly blazed, and he clutched the bit with his teeth as be came on, He came like the wind, and with his saddleflaps flying he looked as if he wer flying himself, instead of running. Everybody gave him a wide berth, and I oalled to the infantry that I would give $100 to the man who would catch him, but no one tried it, and he is running yeb for all I know of him. " 1 tell you I was sorry to lose Charley at Murfreesboro. Ho was my friend as well as a faithful servant, and was as fine an animal as I ever bestrode. When be was shot I tried to got him to go on, but he told me plainly that it was all up with him, and I had to leave him where he fell," Once more the Home of Lords has;rojeoted bhe Deceased Wife's Sister Bill. $..ILLI �" i1iG AB"P Evrim, OF A FE- MALE TELEGRAPHER. Whsle in a small towns in Wyoming terri- tory, says a writer in the Baltimore •'News," I learned that a lady living -there had been the heroine of a thriliin;;.adveuture with train -robbers, and ouriosiey end love for the brave undated me to call on•.her to tell one the story:. When I went Maher house I was welcomed by a handsome lady, oI'36; and in response to my earnest reggiest for this, one chapter of her life she related the following true tale In 1873; when but a girl ct'181 I left my home in O+ -paha and came otry 'here to all the lonesome position of night operator at a small station on the Pacific railway in this territory. It was a dreary, desolate apotein the midst of a desert. The only buildings at the station, apart from the depot, were a seetima+houso, 000u• pied by a track foreman and as few Chinese laborers, a water•tank, and a coal -shed. The day operator and agent, a mere boy, slept at the seotion-heuee, about 200.yaede-distant, so that during the long, dreary night "I was alone iu the depot. No. 4 express train, bound east, was due ab•2:15 in the morning, but it never stopped unless signaled, and as this -was the only train during the latter portion, ofl the, night you oan imagine my lonely situation, upon the desert wild. I had my book-aand,guitar as companions and passed muoh of the time reading, and when the doleful.rhowlings of the wolves were borne to my Bare from the distant sand Mlle I would pink up my guitar and endeavor* to drown their cries,, with mu- sk: add song. The superintendent of the division, a buoyant, light -spirited young; gentleman, came over the road at frequent intervaleand cheered me ftp with promises of'a•bebter po• sition when a vacancy should, 000mr. Ile often found nee on the very brinksof despair, almost on the point of reeigningemy position and returning to my humble home and the mother who depended on my salary for the necessaries of life ; but hie promisee, hie gen- ial conversation and words of encouragement drove away the gloom, and I,came to look for his visite with a sense of the keenest pleasure. I began to regard, him,with a aim teriy affection, he was so kind and tender and solicitous for my welfare and comfort. One night, shortly after midnight, as I sat at my table reading a late n oval, I thought I heard a shut ing:Iootsteps on the depot platform, but as it was -not repeated I concluded it was but a wolf moire daring than his cowardly fellows,- and I resumed 'ny book. A few moments later I hearda.low knock- ing et the door, whioh I always-frept locked, and a strange feeling came over me. Dur- ing my several weeks' stay,at the station I had never had a visitor, and the sudden knock, so low, yet so startlingly clear in the stillness of the night, caused my form to tremble and my cheek to bianoh. My first thonghb was of Indians, and then I reasoned that it might be some tramp do - siring shelter. Whi'e-Lsat there in affright, the knock was repeated louder than before, and, mustering all my eouraga". I approach- ed the door ani asked: "Who's there?', A gruff voice replied:. "A traveler who desires to •take the east- bound train." It was my plain and unmistakable duty to admit him, and with trembling fingers I drew the bolo. Instantly the door was puehed violently open and 1 sprang back- to the table and sank into my chair in terror, when seven burly men, wearing cloth masks on their faces and armed to the teeth entered the office. One of them, evidently the leader, walked up to me, and pointing a large re- volver at my head, said in a• low, firm voice : " Gal, we don't want to hurt you, but if you make a suspicious move, or scream, or give any alarm, so that any. o' the men in the section house kin hear you, I'll spile the looks o' that pretty face with a bullet. Bs quiet and sensible, and behave yerself and yer shan't be hurt. Wliar's yerred signal iau,p 2" " What would you. do 2" I gasped. " None o' your business, We don't want to hear any unnecessary back talk nor no impertinent questions. Whar's the red lamp 2" A chill of horror swept over me when the truth burst upon me -that I was in the hands of a band of desperate train -robbers whose evident intention was to signal the train and rob the expresecar at my station. What could I do ?' It was yet time hours until the brain was due, bub I could not elude my captors to arouse the section men and I knew by the gleam in bhe leader's eye through the holes in his mask that if I made the least outcry he would not hesitate to carry out hie threat and murder me. I knew they could fund the lamp easily by searching for it and in a trembling voice I told him it was hanging just inside the door of the freight -room. One of the men got it and after examining it to see that it was in order the rough band took seats to await the incoming of theltrain. The leader lit his pipe and looking at me steadilyefov a few moments said : " Young gal, when that ar train boots her whistle we've got some work for you—an official duty as you might call it You must go out thar on the plateform an' signal the train to atop an' take on some first-class pas. aengers. An', lookee here, if you make a sus- picioustha`r or don't swing the red lamp in. the proper way we'll just ventilate that graceful body with bullets an' jump on our horses an' git. Do you understand?" A desperate resolve had been taking shape in my bewildered brain. I replied that I fully understood him and with a piteous ory, "Oh, you will make a murderer of me 1" I threw my arms and my hands down upon the table and began to cry and sob as if my heart were breaking. Had he seen my face, he might have noticed a total absence of tears, I was crying for a purpose. When my areae dropped upon the table I allowed my hands to fall upon the armature of the telegraph instrument so that 1eould stop it from ticking, while my right hand reeted upon the key. Sobbing so that any slight clioking the key might make would nob reach the robbers, I opened it and slowly made telegraph char- actere: H '.dE L.P These I repeated several times, hoping they might reach the ear of some operator on the lino. I then slowly and distinctly wrote these words, still sobbing violently: Whc—hears—this—for—heaven s—sake — report—to—train_dispatcher—at—Lara-', mie-quick—that—I—am—in—the-- hands —of— seven—robbers— who— will— compel — me— to— flag — No. 4- Send— help — quiak." Then I signed name and office call. I released the armature and the instru- ment allotted out: "Braoo—up—libtle—girl-I— hear— you It," " was the train dispatoher's pall. With a fierce shout, the loader sprang forward and rudely snatched me away from the table, and asked: "Gal, what's that?" "" Oaly a distant office asking for ordme for a freight train," I responded. " None o' yer lying, you little iasp,•l" he' roared. "ler up tcsmome trick 1" "No," I replied, "I am not. If I were•" doingthat h my fingers• would he on the in- atm:Twat, Dent you.see I am not touching it, and yet it works?' It is only on order to a freight train awaya' clown ab Medicine Bow." "Keep away from that table," he said. savagely. " An' if I koteh you at any tricks I'll choke the like out o' you," Oh, how eagerly my ears drank in every word the insbrument ticked out 1 I heard a telegreera to the sheriff of Green River, twenty miles wept, aching him to arm a posse of men at once ,sad got on board a special train which would be ready for him.. Then another to the young superintendent who was at Green River, telling how ;my' slowly written words had been hoard blg the dispatcher and asking him to euperizn• tend the preparations to dy+to my relief. Then a third dispatch to the master me• ehanio, instructing; him to fire up his fastest : passenger engine and couple on to a carriage and await the superintendent's ordera. M*. heart beat so violently that ib almost took k my breath way. It seemed an age ere I neard the Green River operator call .the dis- patcher and say, " The superintendent, with sheriff'' and t twenty armed men are aboard, and train , ready for orders." The order came flying. It told the engineer' he had a clear track and to run at hie very, highest speed to .within a half toile of my, station, and with his party to alight. Then came the welcome report from the Green" River office : "Special east departed 1ald," Oh, how my poor heart beat, and how my. every nerve tingled with excitement ;dtivs-•• I mentally figured that the Main on, such a desperate errand should make nearly a mile a minute, and reach the stopping" point at 1:36. The robber chief gave hie men their in- atructions. I was to be sent alone to signal •. the train, and whenit halted the band would make a rush and board the train. "Bill, you jump on the engine as soon, as. she stops and hold the engineer and fireman under your gun. Jack, you pile into the•, mail -car an' make the clerk, give up his reg- istered letters, an' Yank and Aleck'Il work; the express car while Tom an' Shorty hold the conductor an' brakeman back. Do your work quick an' bold, an' don't be afeared to burn powder if necessary. Thar's a big haul on that train, an' we've got to have it."' How eagerly I watched the clock and how slowly, how very, very slowly. the hands seemed to move -1s` ti 1t23 and,lt30 were ticked off -1:35 1 Would they never come ? The men sat on the bench along the west side of the room facing the two windows on, the east. I tried to figure- how long • it , would require for the men to walk te the - depot from the stopping place. P$thaps• even then they were aurronnding the station, and I might hear a knock at the door any instant. Would there be.a fight ? Oh, horrible thought ! 'In a few mementa- I•might see men shot down before my face and I myself migbt,, be killed. I almost fainted with fright. The blood seemed to freeze in my veins and Lgraeped the chair or I would have fallen to the floor. h;1 There came a fearfnl crash of glass and the blank nitzoles of a perfect cloud of rifles: were thrust through, the windows and. pointed directly at the "robbers. Then a voice cried out :: "Men, throw up, your hands ! I am the sherifeand in the name, of the law demand,your surrender. Make, but a move and I'Il.order my men bo fire 1" "Yer little cab le 'hissed the leader, glare ing at me savagely, as- the band suddenly held aloft their hands, Then the sheriff' and three men enter. and disarmed and hand- cuffed the robbers, and• I saw the superin- tendent looking, at me, and heard him say t " What a debt Rowe you, my brave girl!" Then I fell faintinginto his arms. When I regained, consciousness I was lying in my room at Green River, with several ladies around me, and was, told that seven days had elapsed since the capture of She robbers. It was suffering from brain fever brought on by the terrible strain o had passed, through, and had been uncon- scious for that long period. For many days therefore I hovered on the border between life and death, and the superintendent was at my bedside several times every day, cheering me up; with words of encourage- ment, and doing all in his power to alleviate my sufferings. I finally recovered and was palled int, court to testify against the desperate gang. I shall never forget their fierce glance to ward me as I told how I entrapped them. or how, in spite of the efforts of the judge and oourt oif sers to suppress it, the crowd cheered me as I left the stand. The men were sent for long terms to an easternprison and,I' have•never heard of them since. "And did the company reward you for saving; the train 2" I asked. "Well, only slightly. Corporations have no Souls, you know. But I revenged myself on, the superintendent in a manner," "In what way?" " 1 married him," she replied, with it charming smile. Nice Country to Live In. In the Bombay Presidency no fewer than 11,168human beings were destroyed by snakes during 1887, and 72 by wild animals. The total mortality, though less than in 1886, was higher than the average of the three years 1883 to 1885, and of the three years at the commencement of the now expiring de Dade. Even making allowances for the great- er accuracy of the returns, hardly as much progress as might have been expected tip. pears to havebeen made in the protection of human life. More than half the persons des- troyed by wild animals were killed by tigers, panthers, .and wolves; the two former of which were especially p y deabructive in Khan- deish, and the wolves in Soinde. Over 300,• 000 venomous snakes and 931 wild animals wore destroyed at a cost to the Gn erbment of Rs.11,658.—[London Times. The Old Man's Little Mission. " What is your mission here, sir?" asked, the old man with a frown. I am on three missions, sir," replied She poor young man, who was also a humor- ist " Well, what are they?" inquired the old man, impatiently, Per -n: iseion to marry your daughter, d a -mission to your family circle and sub- missionito the regulations of your house- hold," Ugh 1" grunted the old man, who was something of a joker himself. "" I have one libtle mission to offer before 1 conclude any arrangements with you." " Name, it," pried the poor youngman eagerly. "I will be onlytoglato rform ib." " Dia -mission t' shrieked bhe old ideal with a loud, discordant laugh, and the young roan fell dead ht hie feef<,