Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-06-29
CHAPTER vm.-CoNTrSuEp.

but there was mo- lack OF conversation
between the couple inside. Miss Brax-
ton speedily learned that Harmon Quest
had began life ~ boot-Aack, and had
ambitions toward ending Il n quarter
millionaire.
"Not that I've advanced very far
toward that point" said he, "but
have firm faith that will strike my
prcdcstincd occupation yet, and make n
fortune out Of it,
And in turn Mr.. Quest was informed
regarding Miss Braxton's past, present
and future. rs fully as that very out
spoken young lady chose TO tell.
Instead Of waiting for good fortune
to come To me, am going To- it," she
said, with flash of her white teeth and
bright eyes. There was n certain CLEAN
and glitter about this young lady ut all
times. She had thrown aside her outer
wrappings and sat revealed. STYLISH
looking girl, even In her cheap travel
ny dress, her head crowned with n
mass Of fcathcry, bluc-black hair; her
Eyes Of deepest blue. her complexion of
pure milk-aud-rosc.
- ann going 90 it," she repeated. n
'aucy look dimpling her very cookbook
Ing face: "Ill tell YOU ali about il.
since YOU have been So very candid with
me, MIR. Quest. have rich un-
rlc who Is Just back from Southern Eu-
rope. and ann going TO throw myself
un his tender compassion for the sort If
home / was born 20 grace He can't
very well turn me out Of doors when I
get there, and thcn--well, and then. /
will follow up my chances when / have
got in the opening wedge"
I'll trust you Co do IL. muttered
Mr.. Quest. These two people, strangers
To each other and never expecting to
meet again, were In perfect accord, and
talked rs familiarity as il they had
known each other half their lives.
Any chance Of being made the rich
unclc's heiressP" he asked. because
I've pcHchGHt for rich hcircsscs, and
upon my word! 10 would not take much
To persuade me that could have apcTl-
chant for YOU"
Il" Not the slightest chance" and n
cloud dimmcd the splcndor of Miss
BraNtOn's COunteuance. "No, not the
slightest, since he is inconsiderato
enough 10 have daughter and
hcircss of his own. What on earth has
happened now. dO YOU supposc?"
The coach gave a violent lurch. top
Piled sideways. and then stood still.
ANlCs' broke said the driver. ap-
pCaring nj the door. "OnhOrsc has gone
lame and tuthcr's east n shoe. You
'uus 'll.hoy Ia walk II YOU wants 10 ret
to Junctionvllc today"
The distance was three miles. The
clouds still dropped in ccaselcss rain;
the yellow clay of the country road was
little less than quagmirc. hut there
was no help for IL. Leaving Miss Brax-
tons trunk tn be sent after her. the two
sat out.
And IL will be- a mercy il something
else doesn't happen to make us miss
that train Yet. declared Alexia, but
nothh g did happen. They arrived. n
bcdracglcd. rain-hcatcn pair enough. at
the JunctiOnvillc station. full forty min
utcs before the train pulled in.
'"Such y long time to wait, ~ sighed the
young lady, whose spirits had suffered
from the experience of the morning.
Not To ny thinking only forty min
uics Gill we part forever. You 90 one
way, and | go the other; YOU 10 the
colour ne rose of fashionable life. 90
the dingy lecture room and unappre.
ciativc audience not saving that il
Is altogether the fault Of the audience To
be unapprcciativc. understand Truly.
We only find our pleasures to see them
fade ="
hut fate had ordained that these two
were not to part in this way.
Tho shrill whistle Of the incoming
train cut the air. Miss Braxton fol-
lowed her cavalier for the occasion out
upon the sloppy platform. slipped. and
ranc down upon one ankle, with wild
clutch at his arm. and shrill screech
of mingled modification and pain. He
extended n helping hand. she was up
again on the instant, but pale to the
lips, and leaning on him heavily rs she
hobhlcd forward.
Hurt" he asked. ..Oh, see,
ankle spraincd Unfortunate. surely;
YOU cant undertake your journey
now
II will" with fearful obstinacy.
hut -but-thcy won't be expecting
me, and don't know what / will do
"All aboard called the conductor.
"Comc. sir. are YOU going?'
Yes, sir, | am" responded Mr.
Quest emphatically. "I'll see you
through. Miss BraxtOn. A broken en-
gagcmcnt more or less In my life don't
natter
In the ono instant while he hesitated
Mr.. Quest had reviewed the case pro
and con. On the one hand, disappofnt-
Ell audience. but the utmost height OF
his expectations ON that score was a
twcnty.dollar house; on the other. a
grateful millionaire whose influence
might aid materially In his worldly adj
vanccment.
So Mr.. Quest had chosen. and Alexia
Braxton remembered. In the time which
came after. that she had been the one 20
take him beneath her uncle's roof
Tie mitigated the evils Of the Journey
80 Tar a. he could. He found a hack nj
the terminus. and he found help to lift
Miss BraNton into it-for the sprained
ankle grew worse for the want OF treat
ment-and they were whirled over the
city streets TO a massive old mansion.
dingy and somber-looking. whore he
gained admittance 10 explain the situa-
ton. while Alexia awaited the result
with a dreadful apprehension lest she
should be rcpulsed.
She had good grounds 20 fear Il.
Personally. she knew nothing about the
relative upon whom she was about to
launch herself In the most unceremoni-
Gus fashion. She scarcely knew whether
he wcrc dead or alive. until week ago,
when she had read an announcement in
the American Queen, uolcr the head Of
Philadelphia news;
aMr. Power Ollphant has taken possession
NJ the maannucut farmclcc tnausion. ~
emily purchased by his aren't, and with his
vito and daughter will grace the Walnut
street ohcle IN the comluH season. but dur