Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-12

bank notes into her little traveling-bag. He
would get Jack Drummond-Orr to appoint her
governess to his children at salary Of GOO a
year. paid by himself. He wouid--hang il!
What was the use of, man coming into q
| fortune II he couldn't do some good with it2
| tfor wealth was as new an experience to the
poor soldier, Hubert Pomeroy, as abject pow
ertx to MS unhappy Enthusiastically
rosity he hit upon and rejected dozen differ
ent plans, the threatened snow began to fall
| faster and ever faster. The prospect without
DID not tend to raise the spirits, and Col. Ponce
roy was renewed to find that his detected CON-
panion had for the moment forgotten her
troubles In sleep. So much he could see in the
evening dusk, made darker by the heavy snow
ciouds They were crossing the border now,
hard by the iron-bound shores Of the grim.
North sea. The last .glimmer Of daylight had
disappeared. IL was intensely cold.
By the time Edinburgh was reached Pomeroy
was glad to warm the inner man with good.
square meal, for he was not due at his friends,
the Drummond-Orrs', until IL p. m. His fell
witches amid the cheerful lights of the refresh
ment-room, ind came back with trife more
color in her wan cheeks. When Col, Pomeroy
rejoined her he found, rather to his annoyance.
that they were to be no longer tete-a-tete. A
worthy north-county couple, Of commonplace
| aspect had secured the two remaining corners,
and were in the act of making themselves COM
Portable for the night journey. Both had dis
| carded boots for easy slippers. ginger-col-
ored travelling cap protected the good mans
OF Oriental design had replaced the conven-
tlonal bonnet with his partner. Their inten-
ton OF prOpitating the deities Of slumber was
evident, and ere long successful, as the heavy
breathing OF both testified. Their doze was
only temporarily interrupted by the halt at
| Stirling, where the old gentleman reused
| enough to growl out hope that the snow had
not blocked the lines farther north and speed
| lily fell asleep again.
Colonel POmeroy's fellow-traveler looked up
| in dismay. 'Oh, you don't think it likely do
you2" Her purse was but scantily furnished,
| and delay might mean expense.
Il don't know much about it," he answered
kindly. 1T is fifteen years and more since 1
last crossed the border, and the greater part of
that time has been spent in India. Do you go
| much further2'
"Another two or three hours journey. Burn
| side is the name of the station"
And OF mine also. That is convenient"
Il am going to spend Christmas and the New
Year at place called Ladykirk."
What! the Drummond-O rrs?"
Yes; the Drummond-Orrs."
How strange! So am II" His face dis
tinctly frightened. "Drummond-orr is my
''Yes2"-demurely-"Mrs. Drummond-Orr is
He drew long breath. SIS it possible! She
had but one relation in the world! Then you
are-yOu must be-"
alison Kerr once" very family; "Alison
There was long silence.
She who had loved and suffered as Alison
Kerr felt her heart-beats pulsating wildly with
| the after throb of an old pain No common
place occurred to her wherewith to fill the
pause.
He leant back in his corner with intent ewes
nxed upon her face. ''Strange!-and 1 did not
know you"
| Il knew you at once. You are less changed
| than 1; only graver-sterner-'
o oider.. he finished bitterly. II was never
been persistently unkind to me from those old
blthedaie days till now, when she has brought
about this strange meeting" with a courteous
little bow, which reminded her Of the gallant
Hubert Pomeroy of other days. "But tell me
OF yourself-your husband"
| boy" O' NY
There, at least, you are happy! He is fine
"Ah! if you only knew what Hubert has been
"Hubert! My namesake, them"
YES; IL always liked the name" Her
Hush OF color went unperceived in the dim
Ibid your Yet it was a foolish mistake of
mine to fancy, as did once-.that you liked its
us now, that we can afford to laugh over them
| together. Did you think my message 90 very
presumptuous? Tell me the truth; it cannot
matter now"
"0h! no! But am not quite sure" div
ing INTO the treasure-house Of memory, where
every trivial word and look of Hubert Ponce
roy's in other days lay garnered up--"which
message You mean?"
He smiled, yet with q touch Of regret. "Ah!
you have forgotten! Well! It is only natural!
Among so many adcrers, the homage of one
more or less Of course made little impression.
was thinking of happy summer which we
spent together fifteen years ago, and of the
last day of my stay at Blithedale, when found
your aunt alone. and ventured to tell her of nv
hopes. You had headache and were resting
in your room, but she undertook TO plead INV
cause with you. 1t was dsinterested of her at
least, for up to that time she had shown me
small favor. ! sent to you by her a crimson
rose from my buttonhole.- have hated
the smell of roses ever since.-It was agreed
between us that If you wore it that evening I
should take it as sign that there was hope for
me: IL not promised not to pain you by
pressing for any other answer"
"Well!' She was listening intently now her
hands Glasped upon her knee, her eyes darken-
ing with cruel suspicion.
The evening came. You appeared late.
looking tired and i'll, though you laughed even
more gay than usual with the circle round YOU.
l drew near, hardly daring to look. Some
flower, as usual. nestled at your throat. butt
was spray Of jessamine!"
II never knew!" she cried in unspeakable
agitation. ''She told me nothing -nothingi
What wicked treachery! While waited. and
wondered, and despised myself for having fam
cied-Kh! What has happened"
Engrossed in their "reminiscences, neither
had noticed that the train had slackened speed
unaccountably for some minutes past Now
the engine gave a stifed shriek-there was
kissing OF steam. sputtering-a grinding of
wheels-calling-sh and they came to a
standstill altogether.
Colonel Pomeroy. suddenly recalled to the
present like one aroused from q perplexino
dream, lowered the window and put his head
out to inquire what was amiss. The rush of
cold wind woke the sleepers in time to receive
the news that in the binding snow storm thew
had run into q snOw-drift The engine and
many OF the foremost carriages were fast en-
bedded; their own was buried q third of its
height. The driver, it seemed had tried To
| reverse his engine, but before he could do 40
the snow had put out the fires.
1t was still falling fast; the white flakes now
dered the colonels head and moustachios. aNot
| hope Of getting on tonight, I'm afraid" he
said ruefully.
The old gentleman from his corner began
railing against his ill-fortune, then rated his
sleepy partner, declaring it was her fault for
leaving home at all; which accusation she re-
torted upon him till the couple fell to arguing
and mutual recrimination. From the neigh
boring compartments came also the buzz of
voices and despairing calculations as the truth
became known. and heads on either side of
them were thrust out-of-window clad in every