The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-28
FROM THE RANKS
Contin ued from PAGE 10.

Continued from Page 10. g |.
hey happened to be right around the
nan. The Saturday evening train from
he city is always crowded with people
hom the river towns who have been up
b market or the matinees, and even the
moker was filed with standing men
until they got some 80 miles down. Lar
en wanted to light fresh cigar and
)ffered one to each of his friends Then
! was found they had no matches, and
me Of them, who had been drinking
little and felt jovial, turned to the dark
tranger and asked him for light, and
he man, without speaking, handed out
! little silver matchbox. 1t was just
hen that the conductor came along, and
Larsen saw his ticket. 1t was a ''round
rip to Lakeville He was evidently |
toing there for a visit, and therefore,
laid Larsen, he didn't get off at Sablon
Itation, which was six miles above,
But Armitago knew better. 1t was
Wident that he had quietly slipped out
,n the platform of the car after the reg
alar passengers had got out Of the way
md let himself off into the darkness on
Ihe side opposite the station. Thence
be had all open, unimpeded walk of q
low hundred yards until he reached the
,ommon, aud then, when overtaken by
the hotel omnibus, he could jump aboard
end ride. There was only one road,
pnly one way over to the hotel, and he
sould not miss 1t. There sas no doubt
now that, whoever lie was, the night
visitor had come down on the evening
train from the city, and his return ticket
would indicate that ho meant to go back
tho way he came. 1t was half past 10
when that train arrived. 1t was nearly
midnight when the man appeared at the
cottage window. It was after 2 when
Armitage gave up the search and went
to bed 1t was possible for the man to
have walked to Lakeville, six miles
south, and reached the station there
IL abundant time to take the up train
which passed Sablon, without stopping,
n little before daybreak If he took that
train, and if he was Jerrold, he would
have been in tho city before Z and could
have been at Fort Sibley before or by $
o'clock But Chester's dispatch showed
clearly that ct S:30-the hour for sigh
Ing tho company morning report-Mr.
JerroId was not at his post. Was he
Fill il the neighborhood and waiting
fer t!!o noon train? II so, could no be
confronted Oh tho cars and accused of
hi. crime? Ho looked Mt his watch. It
was nearly Ii, and he must push on to
the hotel before that hour, report to tho
colonel, then hasten back 70 the station.
He sprang to hls ceet and was just about
10 mount when vision Of white and
scarlet came suddenly into view. There,
within 90 Ses. Of him, making her
dainty way through the shrubbery from
the direction of the church. sunshine
and shadow alternately fitting across
her lovely face and form, Alice Renwicll
stepped forth into the pathway, and
shading her eyes with her hand gazed
along the leafy lane toward the road,
MS though expectant Of another's com
ing, Than, attracted by the beauty of
the goldenrcd, she bent and busted her
self with gathering in the yellow sprays.
Armitage, with one foot in the stirrup,
stood stock still, half in surprise, half
stunned by sudden and painful
thought. Could it be that she was there
in hopes Of meeting-any one? ~ .
Ho retook his foot from the stirrup,
md relaxing the rein still stood gazing
at her over his horses back. That placid
quadruped, whose years had been spent
il these pleasant byways and wero too
many to warrant an exhibition of coltish
surprise, promptly lowered his head
and resumed his occupation Of grass nib
bling, making little crrnching none
which Miss Renwick might have, heard,
but apparently did not. Shew singing
very softly to herself: .4s.
"Daisy, tell my fortune, pray.
He loves me not-he loves me-" 81,
And still Armitago stood and gazed,
while she, absorbed in her pleasant task,
still pulled and plucked at the golden
rod. In all his lifo no vision Of fair
women" had been to him SO fair and
sacred and exquisite rs this. Down tc
tho tip Of her arched nnd slender foot,
peeping from beneath the broidered hem
Of her snowy skirt, sho stood the lady
barn and bred. and his eyes looked on
and worshiped her - worshiped, yet
questioned, Why came she here? Ab-
sorbod, he released his hold OF the rein,
and Dobbin, nothing loutil, reached with
his long, lean neck for farther herbagc
aai stepped IN among the trees. Still
stood his negligent master, fascinated
in BIS study of the lovely. graceful girl.
Again she raised her head and looked
northward along the winding, shaded
wood path. A few yards away wero 9th
er great clusters Of the wild flowers she
loved, more sun kissed goldenrod, and
with little murmurof delight, gather
ing her dainty skirts ia one hand, sht
fitted up tho pathway like All uncon
scious hunming bird garnering thu
sweets from every blossom. A LITTLE
farther Oh the pathway bent among thu
trees, and she would be hidden from
his sight, but still he stood and studied
her every movement, drank in tho soft
cooing melody Of her voice as she sang
Gnd then there came sweet, solemn
strain from the brown, sunlit walls jus
visible through the trees, and reveren
voices and the resonant chords OF tht
organ thrilled through the listening
woods the glorious anthem Of the churcl
militant. w.
AT the first notes she lifted up he
quoeniy head and stood, listening ant
appreciatiye. Then he saw her rounded
throat swelling like a birds, and tn
rich, full tones Of her voice rang ou
through the welcoming sunshine, anc
the futtering wrens, and red breasted
robins, and rival song queens, the browl
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