Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1879-09-03

lueTeS3 Bllueu INTO the ONCE DN
the opposite door. The pretended
widow was waiting her turn at the
ticket hatch. With the quick.
ness of thought Theresa ran up to
the barrier. A genial.looking old
man was taking his ticket.
"Might ask you, sir, to get me
q ticket for Brigh;Oni-
"Most certainly, madam said
the old gentleman.
She graspcd the ticket and hur.
ried on to the departure platform,
giving as she wen; the same signal
with her hand that she had seen
her double make inst before.
Yes, he had recognized the signal
and followed Der.
The train was Just due to start,
and she hastily jumped into first.
class carriage. "A gentleman jump.
ell in after her.
"Faithless fellow she thought.
"Constance,' said a tremulOus
voice at her side-"dcarest Con.
stance
"lou wretch cried Theresa, sud.
denly unwilling.
But the effect was not what she
anticipated. 1t was not her hus-
band ut all; it was Capt. Potter,
late of the Plungcrs.
1t is now necessary to revert to
the proceedings of Mr.. Black to &C.
connt for his presence on the scene.
Ernest had intended to take the
newspaper up to town with him,
having been interested in an arti.
Gle he had not had time to finish.
But having, with his customary
carclcssness, left it behind him, he
bought another at the station, and
then the advertisement caught his
eye-"Constance to Ernest Yes,
he knew wi ut it meant.
Ernest Black and Ernest Potter
had been schoolfellows and cronies
in early days; but their friendship
had long since decayed. Potter
was reckless spendthrift, who
had been obliged to leave the Plum.
gers and sell his commission,
swampcd with innumerable debts.
He had been an old friend Of the
Browns, too, and Constance had
formerly been infatuated with him;
but her father, who was n very VIC
lent, self wiled old fellow, swore
that she should never marry such
scamp.
Constance had a nice little for.
tune of her own, and she had just
come of age, SO that if she persist
ed in throwing herself aud her for
tune away, there was no help tor II.
Still Ernest thought it was his duty
to stop it if he could. He tlatter.
ed himself that he had some intiu-
cnce over Constance; and if he
couldn't put an end to the affair
altogether, he might yet prevail
upon her to have all her money
carefully tied up.
The advertisement meant an
elopement, Ernest thOnght-a clan.
destine marriage, and the sacrifice
of all the girls future to a worth
less scamp. He would be there,
too, and save her if he could.
At all events he found himself on
the platform of Victoria station ut
noon. All! there was Capt. Potter,
as he expected, stalking up and
down, evidently expecting some
body. Ernest didn't take any note
of him, and Potter seemed anxious
on his part to avoid any recogni-
ton. But there was no Constance.
He kept, however, sharp lookout
on the captain, and, all of a sud.
den, he noticed his eyes lit up, and
turning quickly round, Ernest saw
lady in deep mourning pass into
the booking office.
Potter now took up a position
close 10y the wicket that opened to
the departure platform where the
man stood who punched holes in
the tickets. Presently a lady in
black brushed rapidly past. Ern-
est followed her few PAGES to as
sure himself it was not Constance
Brown. No; the lady was of quite
different carriage and figure from
Constance-more like his own wife,
he said with jealous pang that he
laughed at himself next moment
for feeling. Whoever it was, she
jumped into the carriage, and the
captain after her. The guard wits.
tied of the train, and Ernest
turned away, thinking that he had
been rather a fool for his pains.
Then he saw another young
widow gazing eagerly about her
and running here and there, evil
IDENTIFY looking for some one she
couldn't find. At last, apparently
overcome with emotion or fatigue,
she flung herself upon bench, and