St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-09

He leaped on the train just as 1t moved
out of the station, and hurried through
one coach after another until he came
to the parlOr car. There he paused ana
cautiously peered in at the passengers;
Those he sought were not in sight and
he started forward, thinking that there
might be another parlOr car ahead. AS
he passed curtained cOmpartment at
further end of the car the voice he had
heard at the telephone again reached ms
ears. He turned with start to race the
compartment. The words he had heard
were not distinguishable above the rum
bling of the train, but the tones were
unmistakable. Peering cautiously
through narrow opening between the
curtains he saw Miss Johnstone sitting
alone on one side OF the compartment.
Ball stood hesitating. Should he throw
wide the curtains and make a scene?
To what end? They could not be mar
ried Oh the train. Then he rec lied the
young couple that were married in a
balloon 4,0O0 feet in the air, and the
dozen country fairs that advertised
among their attractions the marriage
of true lovers in the presence OF all
who chose to come. Yes, and
more to the point, he re-
called a marriage on moving
train somewhere in the Far West. He
gazed round the car, saw no one that
looked like a clergyman, and felt re-
lieved. Then he laughed at the absurd
ity of his own immediate apprehensionS.
OF course they would not be married Cd
the train. and of course he was OH a
wild-goose chase. He could not pre-
vent the marriage. Besides, he bad not
seen Elizabeth, and she had told him
only month before that the telephone
was to her an unfathomed mystery. AS
to Johnstone and the eaily love affair, 1T
was the merest tritie OF bread-and-but-
ter days. He was fast arguing himself
into a philosophical state OF mind when
the same sweet voice came in muff1ed
tones from the curtained compartment,
and all his suspicious We're confirmed.
"Seat, SIR" said a voice at his elbow.
ayes: may have one here at the end
of the carp" :.
Nothing left but stool in the smok-
ing compartment back, and seat on
the rear sofa"
''Sofa," said Ball, fearing to meet
Johnstone in the smoking compartment.
No sound reached him from the further
end of the car, but his journey was one
long vigil. JOhnstone passed twice on
his way to and from the smoking room,
but Ball turned his face away and was
not recognized. At Philadelphia he
concealed himself behind bag
gage truck and awaited the conf
ing of his sweetheart. Jobnstone
and his sister came together,
but Elizabeth was not visible. Ball
rushed back into the car. The cur
tanned compartment was empty and
Elizabeth was not among the half
dozen passengers in the revolving seats
outside. Ball was half mad with disap-
pointment and perpleXity. His con-
clusiOn was that she must have caught
a glimpse of him and eluded obServa-
ton herself by passing from the parlor
thence to the platfarm. But why the
ticket to Baltimore? He walked through
every car without discovering her, and
then hastened out into the street with a
party there. Of course this
hope was vain. AS he stood
il, front of the station a soothing breeze
blew across his brow and he felt his
troubled brain clearing. With this his
hopeful doubts returned, and he per-
suaded himself that perhaps the
strangely familiar voice was delusion.
He would 90 to Mrs. Austin'S and ask
whether Elizabeth had arrived. If she
had, he would see her and purchase
forgiveness at any price. He snatched
himself from the grasp of dozen cab
men, leaped into hanson, and was
to Mrs. Austin's.
sDd Miss Elizabeth Rowland come
over from New York to-day?" he asked
of the maid who answered his ring.
mo. sir" was the prompt answer.
''She was not expected, SIR
''Is Miss Austin well enough to re-
ing still as he foresaw the answer.
HShe's entirely well, SIR" answered
the maid with wide eyes, 'but she's not
at iome."
Ball needed no other proof. Eliza
beth had, indeed. deceived her parents
and eloped. He dismissed the hanson
and wandered about until he found
himself in front of a fashionable rLstau
rant. He entered and gave orders for
light meal. AS he ate the name of Harry
Johnsone fell upon his ear. Looking
cautiously around he saw two young
men III evening dress at the table i'm
mediately behind him. One was say
ing:
Eyes; he's back and going to be mar
ried in Baltimore tomorrow"
'Didn't know he visited Baltimore.
Some girl from there whom he met
abroad, l suppose?''
'No, New York gll, believe. Her
people didn't approve the marriage. SO
she's going to relatives in Baltimore"
''Elopement. eh?'
"Not quite that. / think Johnstone
and his sister came over with the fiancee
this afternoon. The latter went on to
Baltimore and JOhnStOne and his sister
stopped here.'
''Fancy he must be marrying the girl
he made love to four or five years ago at
Newport. What's the name of the
fiancee?'
'Blessed if l know. l never heard of
the Newport affair"
sOh, you've forgotten the story. You
must have heard it. The Weekly Scan
dial gave it half column. 1t was about
this way: Girl less than seventeen; boy
about nineteen, regarded as children by
old folks, but making love like mad for
two months. JohnStone was a little
wild, and the girls governor said that
they'd got to part. Girl said she'd die
first. JOhnStone ditto, but they both
thought better of it, and, after a few
years waiting, they're going to have
their own way"
Ball listened eagerly. making mental
corrections where the story was wrong
and wondering how he ever could have
accepted the idea that Elizabeth could
have forgotten Jehnstone. Doubtless
they cOrreSDOnded in secret and Eliza
beth had ridiculed his staid ways while
cherishing a young and dashing lover.
In his bitter mood this thought gave
him sort of pleasing torture. and he
continually required to it. making glee-
full comparisons of himself with john
stone to his own disadvantage. He felt
himself dotard at thirty-two.
The talk in the. restaurant settled
one thing for Ball; not that he should
return to New York, as was his disposi-
ton after visiting Mrs. Austin's, but
z 4lnt % chhnld nn to Raltimorn la