The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-11-21
A LOVERS RACE.

race leaned on the broom which she had
brought up to help her to answer the
door and looked at me with disfavor.
s'Do you think the landlord knows?"
No answer.
/ took out half a crown.
Look here?:' I said, ''this coin shall
be your if you'll tell me how long
you've been here, who the landlord is,
and anything you may have heard from
the tradespeople about the family"
81 never gossip with tradesfolk nor
nobody" was her inspiriting reply, but
she gave me the address of a firm in
Gray's Inn and shut the door with all
possible sped, leaving me on the dusty
doorstep.
Imagine the situation. A young man
goes away to Switzerland to the bedside
of q dying uncle and comes back on the
wings of the wind to lay his newly &C
CURED fortune at the feet of the dearest
girl in the world and finds her gone
hopelessly, utterly gone-her house desc
late, no flowers in the windows, no fur
niture in the place, ITO Let" staring
from every window.
u / had only known Clara three months.
i knew not o single one of her friends.
] knew she had some few r~elations-her
mothers family-and / did not ven
know their name. The Vanes knew no
one in Kensington, and they only knew
me through our cat having fortunately
been killed by their dog.
But / was poor then, and poverty is
proud. The Vanes' house, dress and
mode Of life betokened wealth. | could
not tell her l loved her. and Now
The charwoman opened the door again
and put out her curl papered head to
say:
"There was a funeral afore the sale;
perhaps they'd tell you at the under
takers"
A funeral. 1 hailed a passing hanson
and drove straight to Gray's Inn.
Eyes. Mr.. Vane unfortunately died
at one of our houses-19 Westphalia ter
race. Left no estate; had Systematically
overshot his income. Sorry I can't give
you any further information"
Not a clew. The tradesmen knew moth
ing, the vicar knew nothing, the police
of course knew nothing and did nothing
but pocket my money and take down
things in notebooks with blunt pencils.
Advertisements failed absolutely.
And so Clara Vane was lost to me
passed out of my life completely-leav-
ing me with a really respectable fortune,
which it was entirely out of the ques-
ton for me to enjoy.
did see her again. did, but not for
four years-four long years.
won't go s. far as to say that an hour
never passed in which did not think OF
her, but I'll swear that two never did.
And / loved her more than ever.
Well, after four years of this life-l
had my own work to do and my other
life to live, but that has nothing to dc
with this story-after four years bust.
ness took me to Tunbridge.
/ went by an express train. | bought
the papers and got a comfortable corner
in q first class carriage, where | let tht
papers lie on my knee and dreamed my
usual dreams-Clara, Clara, Clara.
AS we swept into Halstead station
looked out, with a torpid curiosity as tt
the gardens, and saw Clara!
Whizz-zz-whirr! The train hat
shot past the station, the carriage win
dows ratified, the train vibrated ant
pulsated with the increasing speed, an,
every pulse and every vibration was car
rying me away from my hearts heart.
In a fash | saw that if / went ON Il
Sevenoaks and got a train back she, VIII
was obviously waiting for the next u
4~u,.1 xryn,,1l larya Iaft 4ha a&a&,1,~ lo~.
before | reached it. Probably she wa
only spending the day at Halstead, an
any search for her there would be i
vain.
broke the glass and pulled the har
die. The train slackened, and as
stopped the guard put his head in at m
carriage window.
why, you're all right" he sale
'tblest il / didn't think you was dea
when I heard that bell. It's a wonder
is connected. Just my luck, too, and ,
10 minutes behind already. What d
yer do it for, ehY"
II stopped the train because | am q
ing to get ont" | said firmly.
Nothing wrong"
mo; but | am going to get out"
He planted himself firmly in the doc
way.
"No, you DON'T he said.
wasdesperate. took put o f5 not
laid it On q seat and advanc, iowa
him.
"And what about my trouble, sirY''
asked politely, gazing at the note; '.sto
ping the train and liable, sir, to get in
troubles"
jumped out of the carriage. Hema
way for me ~deferentially. Our han
touched. Great is the currency, and
viii prevail. The next minute | "
speeding back along the down line
ward Halstead station. My breath ca
fast and with difficulty. My knees acf
furiously, but / ran on. | could h.
distinctly the rumble of the train in
tunnel behind me.
III the main line up won, it would b,
har away on its bosom. If / won, sho,
u ! pressed my failing legs forwa
f0ught for freer breath; got it in b r