Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1885-12-31
A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.
= BY EMMA A. oppEE


exceptionally gay a gathering
cially as only one of the party was to
take the train, the remaining sixteen
having assembled merely to ''see her
off.
But for better informed person the
fact that that one was Ida Terrill,
would have been a sufficient explana-
tion.
That young lady had come TO Brack-
enbridge on visit to her aunt, four
months previous; and Brackenbridge
society had given her the warmest
welcome imaginable There had been
q furious run of parties and picnics all
summer. Brackenbridge had never
been SO lively; for Miss Terrill had
taken" immensely and society had
exerted itself In her behalf.
The heroine of the occasion stood in
the midst of the chattering throng,
entirely bewitching in the snug brown
suit, tossing back laughing replies to
the chorus of sales aimed at her.
Charley Whitlock was pretending to
cry into his pocket handkerchief.
George Becker, lolling across a scat
.--~ith- his hair rubbed up wildly, was
Stimulating q fit of insanity brought
about by Miss Terrill's departure.
The train came putting up.
''You'l Il surely come back next sum-
merP" cried all the girls together.
There was confusion of kisses ahd
hand shaking, the masculine portion
affecting violent Indignation that they
were excluded from the former. :.
Miss TerrilPs uncle. who was to see
her safely to the junction at Crosby,
where she was to change cars, hurried
her into the train. And the tlutter of
a handkerchief from a window was all
that was lett to the group on the plat
form.
Cha rleF-S$aitlock and Lizzie Cavius
walked away togetb' /, of course.
They had been engaged all summer,
and were to be MARI ed soon.
Poor Arthur" said the girl, look
ing after a tall form which had do.
tached itself from tho group and was
taking solitary course up the street.
Yes, poor Giffordr' said her lover
compassionately. "What made her
throw him over, anyhow? I've never
had the rights of the case; but sup
pose you know"
= Yes; she told me all about it. She's
the most conscientious girl IN the
world-Ida Terrill. She refused him
simply because she wasn't quite sure
she liked him well enough to marry
him. She said she'd BE- doing him
a wrong if she married him with :
out being certain. So she rejected
him."
Charley gave a musng whistle.
"She's rejected a mighty nice fell
sow," he declared.
"Yes, i told her so. ] tried to make
her change her mind, but she wouldn't.
DO you know 1 oughtn't to say it
but I've imagined two or three times
that she had come to care for him Il
little? You see, the longer you know
Arthur Clifford the better YOU
Ike him, and 1t was two months
ago that she refused him. Well, |
don't know !" Lizzie concluded, dubi-
ously.
Ida Terrill, meanwhile, was spin
ming toward Crosby. Her uncle mad
taken from the train boy magazine
for her and newspaper for himself,
and was already absorbed in the pc.
litical aspect.
Ida turned the leaves of the pam
phlet listlessly, closing it at last and
allowing her eyes to wander among
her fellOw-passe an I'M
interesting set, she concluded. Then
she rested her elbow on the window
sill and her pretty chin on her hand,
and looked out somewhat absently.
Had she made a mistake? she
thought. Was she sorry she had re-
fused him?
No, surely not. How could she
have accepted him when she had
not cSred for him' There were
plenty Of proofs that she had not car
cd for him.
According to the best authorities
she should have turned red and pale
by turns at his approach, and her heart
should have substantially increased its
palpitations; she should have been
madly jealous at seeing hinc with any,
body else; she should have thought of
him by day and dreamed of him by
night-if she cared for him. But she
had none ofthese symptoms.
: OF course, she reflected, as she sped
by houses, and fences, and fields, she
had appreciated him. She had known
--as who did notp-that he was very
pleasant, very gentlemauly, very en-
Pertaining. And his behavior, after
his rejection, had been nothing less
than sublime. He had, as it were, ig-
nored it, continuing to devote himself
10 her with the same genial willingness,
and never again referring to the en-
barrassing topic.
She should miss hm-she owned
that She should think of him IL the
mazes of the gernJ-7 there was no.
body at home whS could dance quite
SOY Hge- shod.d think of him on
codi, bTigM mornings--he had driven
her out SO often on such days-and on
warm afternoons, like those they had
spent together in his row boat, or on
the leafy porch; she should certainly
think of him on moonlight evenings
Ida stopped herself angrily, and
gave a determined attention to her
book. Perhaps the words were OBJ
scured for a moment by slight mist
which had somehow risen in her soft
eyes; but it was only for moment.
1t was when they drew up in
Crosby's large, covered depot.
you'll take the next train back
won't you, Uucle HaryeyP" said Ida
as they crossed the several interyeD
ing tracks to the waitingroom. "Iv,
good while to wait for my train, yol
know. You won't need to wait will
me-
well, / don't know" said Uncl
Harvey. irresolutely. "No hurry"
He was a dreamy little man with
scholarly face and big, near sighte'
syes. He was vague and unpractiea
TO the last degree. To be sure, per
son OF his ample means could afford T.
be impractical
"I'll just see when your trail
leaves. ssid Uncle Harvey presently
pultlrg Ida into q seat and disappear
ing toward the ticket window.
He came back hastily.
lit leaves in ten minutes, he an
nounced. III put you on it now"
Ten minutesp" Ida repeated, fol
lowed him wonderingly.
According TO the time table, whic
she had studied before starting, sh
should have wa tel an hour and q ha
for her ira n.
She mentioned the fact to horNincl,
"Oh, It's all right" be assured he
easily. Its tho Train Tor Gu hoA
fnrs..trad "