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Incidents In The Life Of A Blind Girl

Creator: Mary L. Day (author)
Date: 1859
Publisher: James Young, Baltimore
Source: Available at selected libraries
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 2

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It was nine o'clock when we arrived at our destination for the night. The conductor passing, I spoke to him of my embarrasing situation and told him, if he would procure me accommodations at a hotel and defray the expense, the amount should be refunded by my friends, immediately after my arrival in Baltimore. He told me to sit still till he had got through with his business, and he would then attend to me.

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I remained in my seat as he had directed, till every passenger had left the car, and the lights had all been put out; still no conductor came. At that moment I felt friendless, helpless, and penniless. I was aroused from this painful reflection by the impertinent voice of the conductor saying: "Well, sis, what must I do for you?" I shuddered to think I was in the power of this man, for it seemed to me I could hear the villainy in his voice. He asked a great many questions, all of which I answered in monosyllables. I repeated my request that he would take me to a hotel, to which he replied: "There were some very kind ladies living about a mile distant, whom he knew, and who would be very happy to have me stay with them over night, or indeed a whole week if I liked." I told him I should prefer stopping near by, as I wished to be in good time for the morning train. He said: "There was no hotel near." This I knew to be false, for I had heard the gong sound for supper, and it seemed to be directly opposite. He then said, after I had informed him of my impression, "Oh I yes, that is the --- --- Hotel," and that he would walk over with me, and ascertain if the landlord would accommodate me for the night. Upon my taking his arm, he asked; "What made me tremble so?" I told him, "I was very tired," for I did not wish him to know I was afraid of him. When we had reached the hotel he took me in, and then sent for the landlord; he told him I had a through-ticket to Baltimore, but owing to several delays, my money had all been expended. "Oh! I understand," said the landlord. "She is welcome to the best my house affords." Then the conductor took him out into the hall, and they held a whispered conference, continuing about five minutes, and I could not avoid feeling a foreboding that it was concerning myself, for the conductor's actions appeared to me very singular and suspicious.

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The landlord returned to me, accompanied by the chambermaid, saying he would wait on me to my room. The girl led the way, and I followed with him; he left me at the door, telling me he would call at my room in half an hour, that I might go down to take some refreshment. After the girl left me I locked my door, and commenced a thorough investigation of every nook and corner. I should not have been at all surprised in my search to have put my hand on the conductor. The evening was extremely warm, yet I lowered my only window, fearful lest some one might be able to make their way in through it.

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I had just completed my toilet when I heard a rap at my door. In answer to my inquiry: "Who was there?" I recognized the voice of the landlord. On going out, I asked him to wait till I locked my door. As I put the huge key in my pocket he laughed as if he wondered what I had to lock up so securely.

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He treated me with the greatest kindness during supper. After having enjoyed this repast I was soon again safely locked in my room. When I arose the next morning, I felt much refreshed. After I had arranged my hair and dressed, hearing some one in the hall, I thought I would ask them to take me to the parlor. I attempted to unlock my door but could not succeed, it would not yield to my efforts. I thought I was locked in, and that at the conductor's instigation. I searched the wall of my room for a bell-cord; on finding one I gave it such a terrible pull, it brought the girl in quite a hurry. I told her I could not open my door; she pushed violently against it, and it flew open. I had unlocked it and it had required some such force only as she had rendered to "open sesame." So in one instance, at least, I had done the conductor injustice -- he had not locked me nor had me locked in my room. The chambermaid took me down to breakfast; just as I had finished, the landlord came to me, and said the train for Baltimore would leave in a few minutes. I hurried on my wrappings and went with him to the cars.

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After seating me he left, saying I would have no more changes to make, and that he had put me in care of the conductor. He had no sooner gone than I felt a presentiment of something wrong, and asked a lady near me if we were on the Baltimore train. She said, No! we were on the Newport train. I caught up my carpet-sack and ran out on the platform without assistance. Taking hold of some man's arm standing there, I said hurriedly: "I want to go to Baltimore!" He lifted me off the cars though they had commenced moving, and put me down on the platform. There I stood alone -- no one to appeal to, to learn whither I should go. But a gentleman passing by, observing my helplessness, offered to place me in the train I desired; and I felt greatly relieved that I had escaped that wicked conductor, for I always believed he was to have gone to Newport with the train that morning. His whole demeanor was to me inexplicable.

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