Delta chief., 1883-09-19

she loved in his first flush of happiness
with another she must, she would go
| away.
II need a change l will go TO Ben
ton for the Winter" So, quietly, the
next morning, she said SO to Aunt En-
dicott and Jacques, and two days later
she was on her way to the little Western
town which, past time, she called her
home.
1t was long journey; she always
dreaded it, and this time it seemed as
though it never would reach its end.
She turned surprised as one in the car
remarked that they We're travelling at
breakneck, dangerous rate of speed.
For her the train logged on all too
slowly, whatever its rate might be.
She was SO forlorn, so lone amid.all
this chatting crowd of people she had
not even that absurd fancy which other
times had borne her company She
had
Only ghost, she thought.
II was "A relief when a man entered at
a station and took the seat beside her.
II seemed not quite so dreGr. so lone.
though the still long journey he never
once looked at her. nor vouchsafed
word. She had dreaded most he would.
yet she could but wonder he did not /:
she could not forbear an occasional
tieeting glance of curiosity into his
grave but handsome face
IL grew a fascination il grew-a
terror. For the thought suddenly seized
her il was all a fancy-that the man be
side her was simply vision her imagi-
nation had cOniured up. 4 fresh
thought flashed she could not endure ::
quite beyond herself. she stretched out
had to touch and know what this strange
thing might be.
"Only ghoSt-her ghost ?"
The c:r "Tas on her lips almost the
words were pouring out, when sudden
ly-
4 crash one dreaful little moment
of shock of horror, she found herself
sitting amid a mass of debris, close at
the waters edge. She was too stunned.
too daZed to remember what had hap
pened lacking the consciousness that
she was unharmcd. and impulse to ex-
tract herself. she sat DULY listening TO
the cries and groans around her, most
fancying ii dream.
Suddenly looking downward. she saw
the face of the man who had sat beside
her in the car-upturned. white, mo-
tionless, at her feet. The eyes were
closed. little stream of blood trickled
down from the forehead he WAS surely
dead. she thought, As the dreadful fact
of the accident came back to her but,
quickly she bent and stanched the flow
as best she could, dipping her hand in
the near, blessed waters, and bathing
the lifelcss face.
Might il be that he should live? So
IL, ...l L 4
ing interest and anxiety down at him.
with strange growing feeling of right
and kinship she never thought 10 ques-
ton. A cry of JOY burst from her lips
when, at last. the lids trembled. and
the dark eyes opened slowly.
Just then he looked AT her. and then
smile broke on his face. 1t was a
smile men had not seen on that face for
years.
Dear he said. family. lis il YOU.
after all this time am glad-so
glad.
He CROPPED weakly for her hand. and.
MI naturally. she gave it To him. A
pang thrilled her as suddenly he drop
ped II, with fading smile. and another
look la his face. But it was Kindly still.
81 thank YOU. he spokengain ''you
are very kind
The voices of helpers interrupted.
As If by impulse. he struve for n card
in his pocket, and handed it to her.
She simply glanced at il. aud
Her hand dropped she fell backward
in a swoon.
John Bcnniman.
That was the name upon the card.
1t was DAYS ere Rcnic Endiroit was
herself again. Uuiniurcd save few
triting bruises. she was able to travel
the little distance 10 Benton by herself
but, with the reaction. fever and de-
lirium set in and waged brief but
mighty war against her.
Her first clear thought was to the
strange event of that last moment. and
II absorbed her through the days. At
times il seemed all dream. a wild
fancy born of the excitement of the mo-
ment and the white face she looked up
on. Again, and each time surer. 1t
was simple. rational fact: this was
only another John Renniman whom she
had chanced to meet.
She strove 10 forget il quite. so sure
the latter grew and somehow SO much
plcasantcr seemed her weird. But she
could not: each day ii filed her mind
the fuller, each day she saw more clear
" the rare, fond smile. more distinctly
heard the mysterious tender words this
John Renniman had spoke to her. She
was lost in it still the day this little note
4