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Updated: June 16, 2025
It was very quiet, and even the train coming in hardly seemed to disturb the sleepy stillness that hung over the strips of asphalt, the beds of hollyhocks and lilac bushes against the whitewashed walls, where the rural fancy of the stationmaster had gone so far as to range a row of straw bee-hives. There were few passengers by the train, and little luggage except our own.
Such hard drinking as his, and so calmly avowed, must, even in the south of Ireland, be fortunately rare, for few constitutions can stand conversion into animated whisky vats. There was a farmer at Kanturk railway station who confided to the stationmaster that he himself on the previous evening had been as drunk as the very devil. A parson on the platform, overhearing him, said:
It was all very well apostrophizing the sky, but such heroics did not help him in any practical way. He cast about in his own mind to consider in which direction she had gone. The nearest railway station to London was five miles away; but she would not leave the district thus openly, for the stationmaster knew her well.
We gather it is called a "democrat," for we heard the stationmaster say, "Put 'em in the democrat" as sundry square wooden boxes were gathered up from a storehouse. Our luggage was a mere trifle compared with the miscellaneous mass of sacks and boxes and bundles that were piled in behind. We were six hours late, as we were due at two this morning and it is now eight.
If so, I should like to send a message to your head office. I want the name of the firm in London who consigned the coffin here. I suppose the stationmaster could manage this for me." An hour or so later the information came. Merrick, at the telephone, wanted a little further assistance.
He reasoned that Stabber and his people were probably gone to strengthen the attack, and that having an hour's start at least, and riding faster, they would get there somewhat ahead of him. But one of his own old sergeants, a veteran of twenty years in the cavalry, was now stationmaster on the Dry Fork, and all the Sioux from the Platte to Paradise couldn't stampede old Jim Kelly.
And at that moment George Cannon, throwing apparently a last malediction at young Lawton, sprang towards the train, and, seeing Hilda's face, rushed to the door which she strained to open again. "I was afraid you'd be left behind," she said, as he dropped his bag on the seat and the affronted stationmaster himself shut the door. "Not quite!" ejaculated Cannon grimly.
Human happiness reminded her of her own loneliness, of her solitary couch beyond the hills and dales. "The train is coming!" said Varya, "how jolly!" Three eyes of fire could be seen in the distance. The stationmaster came out on the platform. Signal lights flashed here and there on the line. "Let's see the train in and go home," said Sasha, yawning.
I've got the telegram here from the stationmaster at Terrebasse. . . . Ah, the villain to steal away like that only a child from her own father! Here it is the telegram. But believe me, an actor, a Protestant and a foreigner what a devil's mess!" He waved the telegram towards Jean Jacques.
A dozen other guests and their servants and baggage crowded the platform, and half-a-dozen carriages and luggage-brakes the yard behind; and Deb was at once in charge of a tall footman, Rosalie struggling through the press with jewel-case and dressing-bag, chattering French to one of her familiars in the rear. Distracted stationmaster and porters uncovered to the stately woman as she passed.
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