Bradford Academy - Chimes Yearbook (Haverhill, MA)

Page 94 text:

NINETEEN THREE 103 He smiled rather peculiarly, and a twinkle came into his eyes as he said, I humbly beg your pardon. Of course I should not have spoken so about your cousin. I-le tried so hard to look contrite that I forgave him on the spot. There was a long uncomfortable silence, during which I gazed out of the window into the darkness. Finally he broke the silence. Perhaps you will tell me your name, as we may meet again, sometime 5 'I but as I was about to reply, the guard opened the door and called Lancaster, in a loud voice. I rose quickly and seized my dress-suit case, but it was as suddenly taken from me, audi found myself following this stranger from the car to the platform as one in a dream. He left me for a moment to call a carriage, and as I stood on the strange platform, watching the train glide away into the darkness, I con- fessed to myself that I did not know what to do. At this instant he returned, and leading the way to a carriage, helped me into it and took the seat beside me. I had forgotten to give the address to the driver, butjust' then he leaned over and I heard my strange friend give him the correct one. I started with surprise, and was about to ask him how he knew the address, when I remembered that, as he knew john Sylvester very well, he probably knew where he lived. We rode on in silence until the carriage stopped at a large, beautiful man- sion, which looked bright and homelike to me, from the glimpses I caught through the windows, after my long journey. Up the steps I flew, and in the hall was met by my dear aunt. In the warmth of my welcome I had entirely forgotten my strange friend, but suddenly remembering him, I turned around to present him. What was my surprise to find him coolly hanging up his coat and hat, as if he owned the house I I gazed at him, speechless, and seeing my be- wilderment he proceeded to enlighten me. I am john,'l he said simply. At the dinner table that evening, after he had finished telling the family about our meeting, he turned to me, and with a smile which brought the color to my cheeks, said, Truly, I never expected to lind such a warm champion.

Page 93 text:

102 THE CHIMES 1 A Strange Adventure. BY FANNY BADGER HAYDEN. HAD been riding in a dingy, smoky car all day from London to Lancaster, and as I never before had travelled such a distance alone, and never had been in that locality, I was beginning to imagine all the dreadful things that might happen to me if I had passed Lancaster without knowing it. Fur- thermore, my aunt, whom I was to visit, had written me that at Gloucester one of my cousins might meet me and accompany me the rest of the journey, but although I had scanned the face of each passenger who had entered the train at Gloucester, none of them were at all familiar looking. Suddenly the train stopped at a little station and a tall, handsome young man got on. After looking through all the cars, he Hnally came up to me and asked if the other half of my seat was engaged. Of course I said no,- there seemed at that moment nothing else to say. After riding awhile in silence, my companion turned to me and asked my destination. I-Iow my voice did tremble as I answered, Lancaster. I imagined I saw a faint suspicion of a smile on his face, as he asked again, 'f Have you friends there? I have some and possibly you know themf' I know no one but my aunt, Mrs. Sylvester, and her son john, Ian- swered. All this time I was hesitating whether or not to speak to the guard, should he appear. 'fBut, thought I, my fellow traveller is very pleasant and I am so lonely, surely I can take care of myself. just then he interrupted my reveries with the exclamation: jfjohn Sylvester your cousin! Why, I know him quite well-rather an odd looking fellow and not an especially agreeable one, either. Poor fellow, he hasn't made much of a success in the world. At this I became quite angry, and forgetting that he was a stranger, ex- claimed, Odd looking and disagreeable l I think you are very unkind to run down my cousin. I have never seen him, at least not for ten years, but he was very nice then, and I won't believe he has changed. To my horror I felt my- self blushing. .

Page 95 text:

SONGS A N D POETRY 5 -A IN ITA NQN 'ELIINITA li z! CADEMY