The record-union., 1891-06-13


about it until she heard remark of the
porter's to the conductor, and then she
felt that she had neglected her duty,
The porter had said: ''Dat couple dat's
stuck mos forgot to come in las night.
De man give me TO- bits; what fo', de
Lawd only knowsp'
There had been heavy rain falls in Cali
fornia; and the roads in the Cajon Pass
were dangerous and we'll nigh impassa-
BILE, so that when the train pulled into
BarStow the passengers looked at each
other in dismay when they learned that
| they must be held there indefinitely.
Not very promising outlook, to say the
| least, and people generally fumed and
fretted about it. The conductors finally
disappeared, driven to obscurity by
| the numberless questions, all of which
| meant, Can you tell US when we will
Start?"
Mr.. Wing and Miss Ege enjoyed them
selves. They strolled down the track to
| the river bed and cut long willow
switches, they explored the bridge,
bought couple Of sandwiches and some
| apples of Aunt Hannah" and finally
pitched quoits.
At 8 O'clock that night the summons
came to start.
Where is Mr.. Wing going2" Mrs.
Hermann ventured to ask Miss Ege.
ITO Los Angeles" said Miss Eye,
without looking around, and Mrs. Her
mann felt intuitively that she was ST.
lenced, and consequently little injured.
Mr.. Wing appeared at the stateroom
door just then, and suggested to the
| ladies that they come to the platform and
get the benefit of the rare bit of canyon
| scenery through which they were then
passing.
Miss Ege quickly donned her Jacket
and hat and followed Mr.. Wing, who
| had helped himself to the camp stools,
but Mrs. Hermann dropped into the seat
by Miss Hamill. The elder woman was
| thoughtful and rather serious, mood in
which Miss Hamill had never seen her
before.
''Do you know" Mrs. Hermann be-
gan, ''it's the strangest thing about Helen
Ege! This freak of hers following that
man day after day is beyond my compre-
hension. Why, l never saw her tolerate
a man before, and she seems to be posi-
lively fond of this Wing. 1 suppose she
believes that whatever regard he shows
her comes from his true appreciation of
herself-because he's had no opportunity
to know anything of her family, her
social standing or anything of that Sort
She's been courted for her money she
| fancies, and so has become thoroughly
| lmpervlouS to all mems attentions.
have been thoroughly out of patience
with her many times, simply because
| felt she was judging some men harshly.
| But this affair is something I don't un-
derstand. l feel nervous about it, you
know. You see''-Mrs. Hermann was
overwrought and became confidential
''she is an orphan, and a very wealthy
woman. She was educated in Germany
and has been travelling for years. Lately
we have been much together, for ! am
| fond Of her. She is always the same
easy, genial, unselfish woman you see
her to-day, and pretty, too. Don't you
| think so?
I'VE just came from Japan in October.
and really hoped to stay at home this
winter, but Ford was so wretched that
mere we are on our way to California
again. We go to Santa Monica for a
month and then to San Diego.
"Oh, no, l don't care anything about the
sea at Santa Monica. I am going for the
horseback rides-they are perfectly grand.
| am longing for another gallop over
those hills and up and down the long,
quiet canyons" Mrs. Hermann forgot
herself for a moment and sat thinking.
Finally, as though going On with her own
thoughts, she said: "But must confess
this affair between Helen and Mr.. Wing
surprises me. l was not prepared for it,
and it really makes me little heartsick.
I depend so much on Helen now,"
The little party on the Ingomar dis
banded the next day at Los Angeles.
Each felt pang of regret that the end
had come, but there was only time for
hasty good-bys and expressions of hope
that they would meet again some place,
some day. Mr.. Ford, his sister and Miss
Ege, went on to Santa Monica, Mr. Wing
to Pasadena, the aristocrat to San Ga
briel and Miss Hamill turned her face
with a lonesome feeling towards San
Diego.
One day in March Miss HamiII. with a
f.ia of
she taught, was out walking on the mesa
that stretches out between San Diego and
the valley.
They were leisurely strolling watching
the sun as it dropped into the sea behind
Point Iona. 1t made one broad band of
flame that threw out in high relief the
straight, dark promOntory.
The mountains in the east We're COW
cred with snow, and with the changing
tints Of the dying day the crests faded
from scarlet to pink and gold.
It was twilight to be remembered,
and the ladies somewhat reluctantly
turned their faces toward the city.
- AS they neared Florence flights Miss
Hamill was startled by some one calling
her name. The speaker was lady who
leaned from carriage. and whom Miss
Hamill instantly recognized as Mrs. Her
mann, and Miss Eye with her. Happy
greetings followed, and the ladies ar
IduS6u lOI IL Ilb6tluS uI L10 dOL0l Del
Coronado, on the beach.
Miss Hamill found Mrs. Hermann a
few days later, one beautiful morning.
on the south veranda, thoughtfully watch
ing the sea break on the sands at her feet.
or looking away at the islands that rose.
the Spanish said, like crowns from the
placid, blue ocean.
Miss Hamill asked for Miss Ege. The
elder woman gave q nervous little laugh.
80, dearl'' she said, ''such time! Hell
ems off riding with Mr.. Wing. O. yes,
he's here, of course. We had only been
here a week when Helen came into the
room saying that some one next to us
must be very sick, for two physicians
had been there all night. A lady had
told her that the sick one was q man who
had just arrived from Los Angeles, and
who was alone. Helen's sympathies
We're aroused, and she and Ford inquire
at the Office more about him. It proved
to be Mr.. Wing. I'll never forget the
look on Helen's face when she told me
who it was. what shall we do for him,
Margaret We must do something,' she
said over and over, and finally threw her
self into chair by the window and cried.
1 didn't say word. but l saw through
the whole thing. Ford understood, too,
and he and did all we could for Mr..
Wing, Ford staying with him for the
greater part of the time. He convalesced
rapidly. He had come from Chicago ut
terly worn out, did not improve in Los
Angeles, and the climax of his weakness
was reached that night at the hotel. Helen
says nothing now. Mr.. Wing has been
up some little time, but they've hardly
been together at all. L suppose they are
just at that stage all lovers reach when
they act like simpletons, and suffer until
they look worse than such. To-day they
have gone to Point Iona; they only
started about an hour and half ago.
And now, dear Miss Hamill, tell me about
yourself. am so glad to see you. 1 had