Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-10-31
CHAPTER II.

NAL cRAwsHAw BLUNDERS TO BEGIN WITH
The last train from town had reached Bat
tleson Junction at go p. m, and the station
girls were extra busy in consequence, when
tall, stern, bronze-faced man, with closely
cropped gray heir and an iron gray mus
tache, strobe up to the counter and de-
manded a cup OF tea MAJ. Crawshaw had
chosen his time well, for young Todd was
(. not present on the o~ccasion-the Todds
dining late on that particular evening, by
soma kitchen mischance which had BEEN
T. carefully prepared beforehand by moro than
one conspirator.
Mai Crawshaw had marched at once ia
that portion Of the counter over which Miss
Racket presided. From a haSty glance over
the heads Of a struggling mob his Keen eyes
had Ia Ken stock Of Miss Racket-her tall. tuIt
figure her round, rosy cheeks and broad,
continual smile; and he had decided tnat
this was the particular vixen who had upses
the mental equilibrium Of his family, and
fascinated his fool Of a nephew. Just the
sort Of young woman to wind poor little
Todd round her finger, he thought-perE
snowy, saucy and far from unreServed In
her demsanor. This was she, without q
doubt
Mss Racket drew him his cup OF tea lei
surely and iudifferenuy, and after hve stem
torian applications for the beverage. one
was in no hurry. if he were, and there was
Young man to attend to who was gong
north, with a white hat all on one side, ana
who had complimentsd her on her appear
ance that evening. and regretted that ne dfa
not live at Battleton, and would nave
heaped other compliments hal time alo"eu
him, and Mai Crawshaw had not oaw!ed
persistently for tea over his left shoulder.
The major drank slowly, and ate a ham
sandwich meanwhile, which he forgot to pay
for, until another OF the young ladies re-
minded him Of his error. This was Miss
DAILY, always as sharp as a needle In her en-
ployers' interest; net Miss Racket, VINO,
when Hurried by admirers, would have al
lowed a quarter Of hundred OF warnings
pies to escape her notice with impunlty.
When the railway bel had rung and the
white hat bad drifted away with otner
travelling atoms, and there was peace, ana
only one man left at the counter, Maj Craw-
shaw began to attract the attention OF miss
Racket He was not going on oy the s:S0'
he was a resident at Battleton, or q VISITOR
or-for such odd things do occur at refresh
ment counters-he had been struck by her
p~ersonal appearance and disposed to proceed
by the next down train Miss Racket was
impusive and romantic and leaped quickly
to conclusions, but then the major stared at
her very much, did not even take his eyes
of her when drinking his tea, but CARED at
her with the rim Of bis cup pressed against
the bridge Of his aquilins nose, Miss Racket
glanced at him again By the side OF the
Elusive young man in the white hat ne had
appeared grim and old enough, but alone In
his glory he was a trim, good looking, stall
wart gentleman OF imposing appearance
Mss Bland called him -an old buck, and
oskad Mis- Racket behind the soda water
bottles who the old buck was that was max
ing eyes at her, but Mss Racket did not
answer her rude question and thought
within herself that he was only q middle
AGED buck, and middb aged bucks are de-
serving Of q little consideration when tney
are struck Aan Of a heap at first signe
There were many tales. true or false, IN
history Of lucky -catchesP In this tassion'
PERHAPS her time had eome and this stern