The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-08-23
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the holes in the tickets. Presently a lady
in black brushed rapidly past. Ernest fol
lowed her few PAGES TO assure herself i
was not Constance Brown. No; the lady
was Of quite different carriage and fgur,
from Constance--more like his own wife
he said, with jealous pang. lie laughed
at himself the next moment for the feeling
Whoever it was she jumped into the carri
ageand the captain otter her. The guard
whislled off the train, and Ernest turned
away, thinking he had been rather fool fol
his pains.
Then he saw another young widow gazing
eagerly about her and running here and
there, evidently looking for some one she
couldn't find. AT last, apparently over
come with emotion or fatigue, she flung
herself upon q bench and hastily threw ur
her veil, revealing the pretty, agtated face
of Constance Brown.
Ernest sprang toward her.
constance" he whispered, "you are in
disguise What does it mean ?"
Constance burst into tears and sobbed out
that she didn't know.
al know he said severely "you have an
agreement with that infamous Potter"
"Inlamous, indeed, ;" said Constance, "and
he has gone off with somebody else" At
this moment a man in livery approached
and touched his hat to Earnest. 1t was his
own coachman, an old and faithful servant,
who had been coachman to Ernests father.
"Beg your pardon, Mr.. Earnest, for COM
ing up here without leave, but have you
seen the mistress, sir2"
"No. What do you mean ?"
"Well, sir, she drove to the station after
you left, sir, and she seemed so wild like
and unaccountable that made bold to fol-
low her for fear that she might come to
harm and I followed her here, sir, where
she changed her dress for widows weeds,
and got into the Brighton train, sir, with
Captain Potter"
Ernest turned pale and almost tainted,
He recovered himself with great effort.
al know" he cried, al sent her to Brigh-
ton, and have just sent her off. How dare
you follow your mistress, sir?"
The man turned away in blank dismay.
ernest" said Constance, eve have both
been deceived"
"StuTl" said Earnest, at was a trick we
played you, that's all; we found out the
plot, and counter plotted to save you"
But still there was a terrible doubt at his
heart. What could it all mcan?"
Come into the waiting room, Con-
stance" he cried, "and let us have a talk.
Ali what miseryp he muttered to him
self
They turned into waitng-roon, and
Ernest threw himself upon seat, leaned
his arm upon table and groaned,
"Whut do you intend to do, Ernest2" said
Constance, clutching him by the arm. at
is all very well to tell your servants such
stories. l admire you for it, Ernest but
know better. 1t is deliberately planned.
We are both deceived"
at is impossible" said Ernest
Chow blind you are?" said Constance;
" always mistrusted Theresa; she was
my early friend, you remember, and be-
lieve that Potter used to come to our house
on purpose to see her, using me as a blind.
Oh, Ernest, what shall we do?"
81 shall call special train and follow
them" said Ernest
"Then l will go with YOU" said Con-
stance.
Ernest rose and staggered to the platform
once more.
"Ernest?" said decisive feminine voice
at his elbow.
He turned and beheld his wife and Cap
tain Potter.
"Hullo!" cried Potter, ernest, my boy,
how are you? Cad, I've got into pretty
mess with all this ambuscading; wrong,
wrong party after all, jolly row, pull the
string, stop the string, stop the train-Cla-
pham Junction. guard in an awful rage.
Give us into custody, Ell? Ha, ha Here
we are again, back first tram. say, old
fellow, III just change widows with You"
"Come into the waiting room, 'cried Black,
'and tell me what it all means. Potter,
consider you an unprncipled fellow, to in
veigle this young girl into such trap. You
know you only want 10 waste her fortune
as you've wasted your own"
"Gently, old fellow" said Potter, "all
mistake My uncle died last week, and LETT
me three thousand a year"
"Then why do you make Off in this clan
lestne woy?"
"It'sa all right Black i assure you. I have
got special license in my pocket, parson
waiting at Brighton. We are both of age,
you know"
"Oh, that was my doing" sohbed Con-
stance. 81 was dreadfully afraid of papa
"And how did you get the widows
things"
"F-frohi-your-Auut Blake. It Wasn't
very wicked was it?"
Il think" said Theresa, who had recov-
cred her equanimity aud her usual aspect of
Of proud serenity 81 think, Constance had
better come back 10 Shrubland with me,nnd
be married in a respectable orderly way"
And they settled that so it should be.
They all went back to Shrubland, and Con-
stance was married the next week, not in
the widows weeds but in full bridal COS
tune, with several bridesmaids.
Ernest" said Theresa, alieotionatelyj
when ii was all over, am never be jealous
again, but for all that artful mink is safely
disposed Of she shall never enter my doors
again, never"
Potter always speaks of his frehd Black
with afectionate commiseration, aud says
that the worst FIVE minutes he ever spent in
his life was passed in the Brighton express
in company with Nine. Theresa.
.a-----7---u---------------
Mis-, Madeuu Oldgnl yes, love the