The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-22

hers who was also going east was jolly
company splendid fellow and just
the n for a travelling companion.
could travel to Chicago alone, and he
would meet me there, and We could
complete the journey together.
So aunt had her sister-in-law write tC
him, and it was all arranged. As had
never seen him, there was a spice OF
romance about the matter which suited
me exactly.
But as we were total strangers to each
other, how could he recognize me OF
l him among the thousands of peopleiin
Chicagop My aunt, good woman, in.
stantly suggested the way. l must
wear a gray jacket and he a red necktie.
"Take care Of yourself, my child
were auntle's last words; after sundry
injunctions as to doing this or leaving
that undone, all of which hints she
deemed necessary for my safety and
comfort. "And to be sure to look out
for Mr.. -" Here the shrek of a
passing engine and the starting of the
train cut short the sentence.
Then as l sank back on the seat, af.
ter waving my handkerchief in fare
well, it suddenly flashed upon me that !
had not heard the name, and for the life
of me l could not remember it. Had
| ever heard it? l asked myself. Yes,
it had most certainly been mentioned in
the first letter; that l was sure of;
whether again l did not recollect.
Aunt and l mad always spoken of the
red necktie, and what with hurried pre-
partitions and farewell visits, the last
days had been very busy ones.
l could not help feeling somewhat
blank after this discovery, until the
laughable part of it struck me.
"After ALL" 1 said to myself, sit is
only carrying out the romance of the ad-
venture. Besides, the gray jacket and
red tie are certain signs of recognition,
and no doubt he knows my name"
So l munched my sandwiches and at
tempted to read by the misty light that
cleaned through the windows, for it
was a dismal, rainy afternoon.
AT last it grew dark. Perhaps | had
exhausted my store of wonderings as to
what my unknown escort would be like,
OrI was tired of specializing about him;
c~ertaiHlEM DID not occupy my thoughts
then. 1t was the past that stood so
clearly then before me, the old short
lived romance of nearly eight years ago.
Why should it crop up thenP 1t had
been so long past and buried. What
has conjured it into life again?
"Chicagol Chicago" shouted the
brakeman, waking me up from the rev.
erie that had ended in an hours sound
sleep.
1t was 8 O'Clock. l had to wait an
hour for the train from the south. |
ordered tea from the depot restaurant.
There were few occupants in the room,
and either the waiter had little to do or
l looked helpless and forlorn. he was
certainly polite and attentive; and when
lie ventured upon saying, leave by
the next train, miss?" l confded to
him the static of the case, and begged
him timidlS, when the next train came
in, to look but for a gentleman wearing
tie.
My heart did begin to best a little
faster, as the time drew near. Would
he come, or had he missed the train?
Should have 10 make that long jour-
ney alone, after all, for o that | was
so far, | should go on, of course. What
was he like?
1 am afraid that, however quiet and
staid my outward self may have been,
inwardly l felt like any 16-year-old
school girl. Indeed, l am ashamed to
say that l did walk across once or twice
to the miroE, giving a pull here to my
hair and a witch there to my veil, and
| caught myself wishing | had put on a
more becou ing hat. suppose at even
Internationally one likes to look ones
best at meeting a stranger.
The bell announced the trains ap-
proach, the, l heard the engines Shrill
whistle, and the hustle and confusion as
the passengers alighted. The train
seemed very full.
l HAD drawn near the door leading
into the general waitiug-room, so that l
could watcJ the passengers.
My pohtt waiter had disappeared.
seeking my red necktie on the platform.
In a few minutes l espied him at the
farthest door, and-yes, actually there
an individual with a flaming red
tie at his side. The waiter was gestic-
ulatiug and.talking most volubly, but
his companion was silent. | had only
time to SEE a tall, foreign-looking man
before they came to where | was stand
ng.
"Thege lie is, miss" exclaimed the
waiter, Eagerly; then turned on his
heel and lett us. Exactly what l felt
that moment ! cannot describe. Ii was
a mixture of satisfaction that the
stranger haJi come. and a very distinct
sort of tim dity and observation-disclosures
together, II the presence of That silent,
long, bearded man.
/ glanced at him furtiyely and re-
marked dad il was very chilly.
YES" n aSSented, drawing up his
fur CLOAK clkser about his throat, and
as waiting for ME to proceed.
"Surely he ought 70 SAY something, 4"
l, 'fif he were only to introduce
himself"
l began 10 wish myself anywhere but
here. looked around I'VE were stu
standing in the doorway; the little
,oom was empty, the large one much
eSs full.
Oar evident eonstraint was, for the
moment, ended by the polite waiter.