Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-11-10
A HAPPY MISTAKE.

sealed In their frames. DenslOw threw
aside his afternoon paper and wheeled about
in his chair, seeking an avenue of escape
from the sense of suffocation that was on
pressing him.
He rose and began walking through the
carriages. IL had occurred to him that
possibly the swift movement Of the train
would suck some of the air back on the
last platform, enough ut any rate, to cool
him off for n minute or two.
1t was early in July Denslow had lust
returned from two years stay in Paris
starting there "A branch business for his
father.
Your aunt is at the seaside" the latter
had told him when he met him at the sta
ton. "She is not well and has gone down
there with her maid. She is very anxious
to see you, and | promised that l would
suggest to you to run down and stay few
days before you settle down here"
Mrs. Roslyn had taken the mothers
place to Hugh Denslow when he was six
The young man felt that he owed her both
affection and respect, and so he had set off
by the 80 train thenext afternoon.
THE Blytheways can hold over for few
days" he told himself
The winter before he had gone abroad he
had met Agnes Blytheway at a dance She
had invited him to call, and he had enjoyed
the visits at her home exceedingly. The
interruption Of his friendship, caused by
his departure for Paris, was source of
deeper regret to him than he cared to adj
NIT even to himself. If he had known Ag-
mes longer he might have asked permission
TO correspond; as it was he felt that their
intimacy was only just beginning when
his absence came to break it off
"She may be out of town next week." he
was telling himself now, and at that very
instant he caught sight of her in the rear
coach, which she had just entered.
She was facing him. but did not see him.
Her eyes were fixed on the face of man
who sat In the adjoining chair, and who
was talking with her. Denslow was com
PEELED to step aside at this point for an in
slant. A small child was walking down
the carriage toward him, its purse close
behind it. As Denslow waited Tor the two
10 pass he overheard "A womans voice Just
In front Of him remark 10 companion
"Of course they're bride and groom, Sa-
die"
The speaker was looking straight at
Agnes. He had not realized till that mo
ment how much he cared for Agnes Blythe
way. And here she was, married, and he
was in the same train in which she was
taking her bridal tripl
But when the nurse and child had passed
him he kept straight ON. lie had started
to reach the end of the train. He was not
going TO turn back simply because he found
a girl whom he had known two years be
fore was on her honeymoon. II she looked
up he would stop and speak TO her. She
could not imagine that she had occupied
a very deep place in his heart. She did
not look up, however. Her companion had
Just called her attention TO something out
Of the window. Denslow passed on and
reached the little gate at the extreme end
Of the train. He stood there, leaning
against the doorway, watching the peb-
bles among the track ballast fly up and
scurry along after the speeding train for a
few feet, then fall down into fresh resting
place.
There was a slight breeze here. Denslow
took off his travelling cap and let il lift the
hair from his damp forehead, while he
tried 10 dissociate the mad rush Of the
train from the swiftness with which HIS
own thoughts seemed inclined to launch
themselves into the future-a future, too,
In which now there seemed TO be no des-
tination.
"Of course they're bride and groom. 4"
He found himself almost unconsciously
echoing the words he had overheard that
woman say. What business was it Of hers
whether those two were newly wed or not
DeDslow felt that he was growing unrea-
sonably angry with her who had opened
his eyes to fact he should have been glad
TO learn.
II might have been awkward IL he had
gone TO call at the Blytheways', just as OF
old. Very likely Agnes had forgotten him.
Time had moved swiftly for her, with all
the distractions Of society, while for him
in a new atmosphere and with new friends
10 make he had had vast opportunities "a
think over the past and to look forward
into the future.
TIL this minute Denslow had not real
lied what very important factor in his
future Agnes Blytheway had been. What
II this were his own wedding journey
What II he had Just stepped TO the rear end
Of the carriage to see If IL was not cooler
and were now going to return 10 get the
porter to bring camp chairs so that be and
she might sit there togetheri
But he found he dared not think on in
this strain. It would be better even, he de
cided, that he should not remain in tbs
same carriage. To be sure none Of the
passengers could see him; there was only
the pantry connected with the buffet be
hind him. Nevertheless he felt like ar
interloper, and replacing his cap he turned
into the side passage and began to retrac'
his steps. He could see plainly the face o.
Agnes companion now. He appeared Il
be a man Of about thirty Five, and Denslov
did not remember ever 20 have met him
He hurried on into his own seat and tried
to pass the rest Of the trip in sleep-an al
tempt at which he made a conspicuous
failure.
He was among the very first 70 leave tbs
train when IL ran into the station. He fell
now that he wanted, above all things, Il
avoid meeting face to face her who had
been Miss Blytheway.
His aunt was rapturously glad TO SCI
him when he reached the hotel.
II am afraid you will find il very stupid
here, though, Hugh" she added, after hei
greeting. There's nobody about but in
valid old ladies and mutually absorbed
brides and urOOms"