Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-04-26
THE WESTERN EXPRESS.
Why It's Delay Caused Happy
Marriage.

lie was not, In general way, much
OF a talker' Consequently, when he
spoke, his words had the weight of
sense and rarity. But Mrs. Estcrhall,
the fine old lady who sat erect before
the clear, sca-coal fire, was too much
excited to consider all this
"The wife of my son, Guion." said
she, should be lady, born and bred
not one of those girls who have had to
light the world until all gentlcness,
grace and unsclfshncss are ground out
of them. No. can never give my con-
scntl"
The young man smiled slightly,
Mother" said he, "the diamond it.
self hardly possesses its truo financial
value until the facets are ground with
much friction"
"llumph!' said Mrs. Esterhall. mo
one is talking of diamonds.
Il may bring her to see you, mother?"
Mrs. Estcrhall shook her head.
II have no desire to receive her" said
she. but, Guy, here are the tickets
for Henry Irving tonight. Carrie Chip
pendale has promised to accompany me
of course, you will be on hand at
half-past seven to be our escort?"
III. you wish it, mother"
The old lady smiled to herself when
Guion was gone.
"A little management" she thought,
"a little judicious firmness, and Guy
will get over this boyish fancy of his.
The idea of shop girl for my daugh-
tcr-in-law-for Mrs. Guiou Esterhalll
think the lad must h ave taken leave Of
his senses!'
And in her secret heart she rcjoiced
with an exceeding great rejoicing when
Miss Chippendale arrived that evening"
in pale-bluc moire gown, cut decol-
lete, with glittcring necklace around
her perfect white throat, and bunch
of hothouse roses in her corsage.
"If wo are to have private box"
said Miss Chippendalc, buttoning the
sc entecnth button of her glove, ''one
may as well go in full dress, don't you
know?'
MY dear, you are looking lovely"
said Mrs. Esterhall, approvingly.
Miss Chippendale was sort of hui
man camellia japonica-fair, graceful
and serene-with big, eXpressionless
blue eyes, cherry-red lips, flax-gold
hair, drawn in fluffy crimps over her
forehead, and an unchanging society
smile perpetually lowering around her
lips. She had been highly educated,
and she was destined by her parents to
make brilliant match. The Chippcn-
dalcs belonged to the aristocracy-that
is to say, they had never done any
work and had always spent great
deal of money. And Mrs Esterhall
had decided that Carrie Chippendale
was the very wife for her son.
She went shopping the next day, to
match shade of Berlin wool, to buy
somo lace flounces and to decide on new
portieres for her drawing-room down
ut Esterhall manor. At one or two
o'clock she experienced, not hunger,
but a lady-like sensation that tired
nature" needed some sort of sweet
restoration"
81 will go into Maricotta's," she
thought.
Maricotta's was full, as it generally
was at that time of day; but presently
the old lady succeeded in obtaining a seat
in curtained angle, where the waiter
took her order for Il chicken salad and
q cup of tea. just then she heard a
clear, low voice on the other side of
the drapery, as q party settled them
selves to table-Miss Chippendale's
soft, wcll-modulated tones
"Oh, yes, Irving was very fine" said
Carrie. "Oysters, please-a boX-stew
for one and fritters for two and three
cups of Vienna chocolate, nicely
frothed, waiter-but all the same,
nearly died of ennui The old lady is
the most dreadful bore you ever knew,
and Guy is regular prig Handsome,
you know, and very talented, of course;
but one don't want to be on full-dress
parade as to ones brains the whole
time. He isn't half as nice as Freddie
Fortune-only poor dear Fred hasn't a
cent to bless himself with, and papa
looks thundcrclouds at me whenever he
calls. But once Pm married, it"
Achorus of well-bred giggling inter.
rupted Carries words. Mrs. Esterhall
70 SC hurriedly from her seat grasped
her gloves and eyeglasses and made all
haste out of the restaurant. When the
waiter came with the chiclscn-salad
md the tea he found his customer
gone. The unconscious Miss Chippen-
dale and her friends enjoyed their vi
emma chocolate and oyster fritters very
much indeed.
Mrs. Esterhall decided to return tc
the manor at once. Carrie Chippen.
dale's graceful trcachery had affected
her more than she had deemed posi-
BILE; and, leaving hastily written note
to explain to Gu,on that she had al
tered her plans, she took the late cx'
press, which reached Clevedon juno
ton at nine, there connecting with
branch train for Este rhall station. She
was travelling alone, as her maid re-
mained to pack up the last things and
follow her the next day.
There had been q heavy snowfall
the night had settled down dark and
tempestuous, and the train was run
min O. behind time. at last it came to q
full stop. Mrs. Esterhall started from
a dozc and looked anxiously around
her
.Tcn o'clock!' some one said, con-
sulting a watch. why, conductor, VIC
nre due at Clevedon at Eve minutes be-
fore ninel'
"Yes, | know, sir" spoke the official,
..but the road is all blocked, and the
western express is overdue at this point.
We're waiting here for the signal to
move on"
"And whats'to keep us from waiting
nil night?" petulantly inquired the old
gentleman.
.Ncthing, sir-unless the western
express is heard from"
Mrs. Esterhall began to be little
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