Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-06-01

down and get berth for you. My car
ria!e is at the door now. Jump into it,
go home and get your traps, and drive
down to the pier as fast as possible.
will meet you there VITA written in
structions and some English money. You
have just one hour and five minutes"
While he was speaking Stella had
been resuming her hat aud jacket, and
she was out of the door by the time the
las. worl was spoken. A few minutes
more and she was in the room she had
so lately left, ezclaiming:
"My chance has come. Kittyl l start
for Eagland in an hour"
Kitty rose hastily.
"Nhat can do to help youf" she
asked, her face flushing with generous
pleasure.
"Nothing," replied Stella, "only to
write and let my mother know and don't
fore get back"
While talking Stella was putting into
her satclel few toilet articles, q change
of underclothlng, a night.dress, a pair
OF ribber shoes and waterproof cloak.
"Good-bye," she said. And with a
warm kiss the friends parted.
Arrived at the steamer, Stella was
met by Mr.. Cruikshaok with a rug on
his arm and in his hands guide-book
and a well-filled purse.
"I thought you'd need the rug" he
said, sand as this is Jour first trip you
migat not think of it,"
though not handsome, Stella was very
pleasing in appearance. The severe liues
of the dark blue business suit, relieved
by touches of narrow gold cord, which
she always wore when at her work, were
becoming to her tIll, symmetrical figure,
and clear, healthy complexion; and SO
WAS the little hat of dark blue velvet,
with bunch of gold acorns, which rest
cd firmly ON her abundant coils of chest
nut hair. She looked alert, but much
calmer and cooler than her employer.
eyes" he said, as if answering some
unseen obiector, ''l think you'll do it,
and if you do Ill Apparently he was
about to promise something, but thought
better of it.
al will do it, she sail firmly, with
out awaiting the conclusion of Mr..
Cruikshan&'s seatence, willie rich
glow mounted to her cheek, aal the
light OF courage and sclf.rcliance came
into her eyes.
"Yes, L think you will. I've watched
you good while, and | know that you
have social tact and sound business judg-
m.nt. You may depend upon it that,
5h 1 probably should rot have
thou 5ht of yol had you not offered,
should not have accepted your offer to
20 had n)t alrea ly klova yolr quill
ties and qualifications. In this envelope
you will find full Instructions; but, Of
course, your success will depend on the
use you make OF them. Goodbye"
Aat shaking her hand cordially, Mr..
Cruikshank ran off the gang plank at the
last moment.
Notwithstanding the season, the
weather was pleasant during most of
the voyage, and Stella passe much time
on deck, enjoying to the full the bracing
air and the sense of freedom from care
of every sort. She knew that she had
been intruste with an important matter.
She must secure, and that quickly, the
powers necessary to enable Mr.. Cruik.
Shank to act for the English directors in
a grave emergency. Some of these di-
rectors, as had gathered from their
corresponds were distrustful, and in
the words applied to Carlyle by his
mother, slightly modified, "Sey ill to
deal wi; put during the voyage Stella
would not allow herself to dwell upon
this, aud, on the whole, she telt herself
equal to the task she had undertaken.
The morning of December 5 found
Stella landed in Liverpool just in time
to allow her to call upon the two di-
rectors who resided in that city, and,
without waiting for dinner, to catch the
train which, rushing up the go miles to
London, would get her there on time to
meet the directors boforo business hours
were over. If curious looks were cast
at the luet, self.posses:ed young girl,
travelling alone, aud proving her ability
to do so, she was too earnest to heed
them. Every instant was of consequences
to one WAC mad YET to travel abou5 SOD
ul'esi " JolulS ID uto1aoU 40 HA'USi oiu
Elinpur5a, meet the direc;ors OF those
two places and get bac'S to Liverpool in
time to take the "Servia" on the after
noon OF December s.
In London Stella wa' subjected to
some delay, but, by dint of heavy
"tips," was able to catch an express
t ain to Exeter on the evening of De-
cember 6. There was no sleeping car.
BY telegraph she secured a room at the
hotel, whicA she reached not long after
midnight. A few hours of sound slum-
ber, a successful visit to the two Exeter
directors and hurried meal preceded
the long journey to E iinburgh. Her
heart leaped at the historic name, but
she hnd NO time to linger upon its %.