Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-11-16

OF the same. delicate hue. She looked
as fair and modest as Il violet. and
She seemed Very much Interested in
something that Cla, ering was saying
Dunbar bit his lip in vcxation. He
fell out of cenccit with himself-with
the whole world. Why must he be
fated to long visit With the Spinster
at his side. with her girlish atfectation:
her dress far too youthful for her years;
and that endless flow of small-very
small talk? He groancd. He felt an
insane desire to reach Chiclgo; the
sooner the better
The trip was only ten hours in durs,-
ton. The train steamed on. and ut his
side the lady'S tongue ratified on and
ON. like the traditional brook. for
ever"
Roy consulted timetable. If moth
ing delayed them they would reach
Chicago i'll three hours.
THANK heaven!' he muttcrcd.
But something did occur. \ freight
train had been wrecked. and their train
must wait until the wreck ahead was
cleared of the debris. Poor Roy. feel
ing that there was no escape. gave him
self up to the inevitable.
Il suppose YOU are wondering. Mr..
A'>AAcesAs 'AAN AstuN llllIl WAS SHY
ing. how l recognized you so quickly
when YOU entered the train: I was
not thinking of such a thing as meet
Ing ytu--of course nc t; but the moment
You entered the car 1 knew you! We
met several years ago at an entertain
Ment in New York; of course you
have forgotten?"
Roy mnrmured some polite euuivU-
cation. but sense of contempt for the
palpaEle miSstHtemtnt overclme him.
For why should she not have expected
him since her brother had placed him
in Roy'S charge? He remembered,
then. for the first time that Frank
Bonner was the pCSSesSor of Il half
sister many Years his senior and Frank
was nearly forty.
How slowly the time wore away I'm.
ill DE necessary delay was over. and
then cnce more the train went steam
ing swiftly on to the great White City.
Roy gathered courage. He would soon
be there. and his penancc ended
All this time. Clavering had been alb
sorbed in his bcwitching companion so
that he had never once approached
Roy. Willie Roy felt so chagrined over
his position that he wisely concluded to
keep out of Clavcring's way. And
there sat Clavcring-confcun d Claver-
iEg-looking as happy as a king. with
that fair face uplifted while she smiled
rs though amused at something that
Clavcring was saying.
Chicago at last! Sitting an exclanla-
ton Of relief. Dunbar arose.
Your friends are to meet YOU, I
understand. Miss Bcrner:" he observed.
ALLOW me-
And he seized upon her elaborate
travelling bag with suspicious haste She
looked surprised.
NO. there will be no one to meet
me-. she returned. Il am quite able
to take care of myself Mr.. Dunbar.
Besides. l have my niece to look after
Miss Marguerite Bonner. same name as
my own. l found her all ready to start
for Chicago when | arrived at my broth
crS house on visit. l live in New
York, YOU know. She was going alone,
too. depending upon the pOSSbl, escort
Of scmc young man from a neighbor-
ing toWn-a stranger to hcr-but a
friend of her brother declared ut
once that she should so with me: the
child needs a vacation, and shall have
it. SO we started. In the car we were
separated; but she has had a pleasant
travelling companion in Mr. Clavcring,
and-oh. let ME introduce yOu!'
Roy Dunbar never knew how he got
through that introduction and the
scenes which followed. An explana-
ton made all the party laugh heartily,
and after that there was no more for
mality.
The weeks of pleasant companionship
that followed had their own effect upon
Roy Dunbar The result is briefly
Gil, tn J,;,
which lie upon the desk before me:
"Marguerite Bonner and Roy Dunbar
September 2Gth, 1898"