The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1893-12-30


advertisement failed absolutely.
And so Clara vane was lost TO me
passed out of life completely-leaving
me with a really respectable fortune.
which it was entirely out of the ques-
tton for me TO enjoy. never wavered
in the least in my intention 10 marry
her If she would have me, and l simply
waited until should see her again.
It will be inferred that did not see
her again. | did. but not for four
years. Four long years. l won't go
SO far as to say that an hour never
passed in which I did not think of her,
but I'll swear that two never did. And
loved her more than ever. l used TO
think sometimes 10 the evenings of her
pretty gray eyes and her short, dark,
curly hair, and that dear voice of hers,
till | could stand it 20 longer, then |
used to rush out of my lodgings In Re-
gents Park and tear over TO Kensing.
ton and walk up and down outside
nineteen Westphalia Terrace, till
might have fairly been described as
known to the police.
Well, after four years of this life
had my own work to do and my other
life to live, but that has nothing to do
with this story-after four years bust
ness took me to Tunbridge.
went by express train. I bought
the papers and got a comfortable corner
in first class carriage, where l let the
papers lie on my knee and dreamed my
usual dream-Clara, Clara, Clara.
The stations rushed by-Chislehurst
Orpington. looked out at the station
gardens, all roses and pinks aud honey
suckle, the Ravens wherein porters
took refuge from the game of railway
life.
As we swept into Halstead station l
looked out, with torpid curiosity as to
the gardens there, and saw Clara!
She was standing on the up-platform, a
bunch of red and pink roses in her hand.
She had on gray dress, with black
ribbons, and large gray hat with
black feathers, and she had Just the
same sweet, dear little face and curly
hair.
Whizz z!-whirr The train had shot
by the station, the carriage windows
ratified, the train vibrated and pulsated
with increasing speed, and every pulse
and every vibration was carrying me
away from my hearts heart.
leaned out of the window, dazed and
stupid with the delight at the mere
sight of her. l could just see her gray
gown and bright flowers, then some one
on the platform stepped between her
and me, and my senses returned to me.
In fash / saw that if l went on to
Sevenoaks and got a train back, she,
who was obviously waiting for the next
up train, would have left the station
long before l reached 1t. Probably
she was only spending day at Hal
stead, and any search for her would
be in vain.
If failed to grasp the chance, an
other four years-priceless years of
youth-might go before saw her again.
All this flashed through my mind in the
space it took to get from the window to
the electric communication with the
guard.
l broke the glass, pulled out the han
die. The train slackened, and as it
stopped, the guard put his head in at my
carriage window.
His eye glanced around the carriage.
won't say ne was disappointed not to
see a corpse or some sign of a struggle,
but the man was human.
why, you're all right" he said
"Blest if | didn't think you were dead
when heard that bell! It's a wonder
it's connected. Just my luck, too, and
US ten minutes behind already! What
did yer do it for, chr"
He opened the door and put his head
in with sudden ferocity.
81 stopped the train because / am
going to get out" said firmly.
Nothing wrang?"
mo, but I'm going to get out"
He placed himself firmly in the door
way.
was desperate. We were three hun
dred yards or more from the station.
The up-train was signaled. Another
minute of this folly would lose me Clara.
I took ont a fve-nnund note laid Il on