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<,