The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-04-24

| ~ up I2ules rive uIuuLes pohAnN AA0SN
and another train due"
Katie did not know whether she was
bound for Danvil,e or not; probably she
had better get in aud let George follow.
So she entered the long and smoky vehi
Gle feeling very much at sea, and ready to
cry at the slightest provocation. The con-
ductor passed by her seat /; she caught him
by the arm.
lis my husband"
"Oh, yes, yes, all right" said the off,
cial ,hurrying on in way railway officials
have. "Pll send him right along" and
he vanished from view in the long line of
moving carriages.
Meanwhile George having seen to the
baggage-a proceeding that had occupied
more time than he bad iutepded-return
ed to the ladies' room to find Katie miss
ing-searched about wildly, inqurlng OF
every one he met, without success.
''She's probably already in the train,
sir" said ticket agent OF whom he made
inquiry. "You are going to Buffalo, |
think you said that's the train to Butfa-
10; you'll likely find her there. just
starting, not a moment to lose"
George grasped the railing of the hind
car as it few by, aud, aineing open the
door, be rushed through car after cal, but
seeking in vain for Katie. She was not
on the train. "Most likely she got on
the wrong train and went by Groton,"
said the conductor "Grotou is way
station fifteen or twenty minutes for re,
freshments. You'll doubtless find her
there" The cars few over the track. -
George mentally blessed the man who 10
vented steam engines-he could reach
Katie so much sooner. Dear little thing!
how vexed and troubled she must be
aud George grew quite lachrJnose over
her desolate condition.
But it seemed ages to George before
they whirled up to the platform at Groton
and then he did not wait to practice any
courtesy. He leaped out impetuously
knocked over an old lady with flower
pot and bird cage in her hand, dsmol
ishing the pot and putting the birds into
Mysteries. The old lady was Indignant.
and hit George rap with her umbrella
tha. spoiled forever the fair proportions o.
his bridal beaver, but he was too muct
engaged in thought of his lost bride t.
spare regret for his hat.
He few through the astonished crowd
mashing up crinoliue here, and knocking
over small boy there, until be reached
the clerk of the station. Yes, the clerl
believed there was one lady who had come
alone; she had gone to the Belvider'
House-she must be the one.
George waited to hear no more. III
hurried up the street to the place, wher
the landlord assured him that no lady oI
Katis's style had arrived perhaps sh
had stopped at Margate, ten miles back
George seized on the hope. There wa
no train to Margate until the next morn
ing, but the wretched husband could no
wait all night-he would walk.
He got directions abont the road wa
told that it was a straight one-for th
most ufthe way through the woods-rathe
lonesome but pleasant. He set forth a
once, not stopping to swallow mouthfuI
Excitement had taken away his appetite
The fine day had developed into cloud
oveniug-the night would be darker thar
usual.
George FASTENED on, too much excite
to feel fatigue too much agonized abou
Katie to notice that he had split his ele
0 CANT French CATERS out at the sides.
s After three or four hours hard waikiki
o he began to think that something must b
wrong. He ought to be approaching th
O suburbs of Margate 10 fact, he ought t
: have Reached the vilageitself soue tim
d before. He grew little doubtful abou
: his being 90 the right road, aud began t
: look about him. There was no road a
all, or rather, it was all road /; for al
. vestige of fences and wheel tracks hat
vaoished-there was forest, forest every
where.
The verv character Of the ground be
meath bis feet changed at every step b.
took. 1t grew softer and softer, until b
{ sank ankle deepin the mud !; and ,suddenl.
o before he could turn about, he fell in al
> most to his armpts. He had stumbled
into quagmire A swift horror cam
a over him People had died before nov
!. in places like this-and it would be s
dreadful to die thus, aud Katie neve
4 know what had become of him. He strug
sled with the strength of desperation t
free himself, but he might as we'll haV
) taken it coolly. He was he'd fast.
! Thus slowly the hours wore away. Th
night was ages long. The sun had neVe
. taken SO much time to rise in but prob
! ably it realized that pothiag could be don
: until it was up, and was not disposed t
= hurry.
n As soon as it was fairly light, Georg
heoan TO scIeam at the top of bis voice. il