People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-01-19
[CHAPTER VI.-CoyTIYUED.


pleasure trip. Sam would get her let
ter and go to New York-and miss her
She would write thatvery night and
tell him of the change in their plans.
One step taken, the next is easy.
That night at II o'clock young Mr..
Royal yardstickie called at his
mother S room at their hotel in Boston.
'Tm glad you're up mother. I've
planned little trip out to Cambridge
for Miss Johnson tomorrow. They
tell me it is the correct thing to do:
and, as the Judge wishes to visit some
of the courts, you and l and Miss
Johnson might take little drive"
Every good idea, my son. I'm glad
you are so thoughtful for the dear
child She's a fresh and charming
girl, and she entertains me. We will
all go to ride right after breakfast.
Oh, by the way, give these letters to
the hall-boy. Eve written to Made
moiselle Rochet to be ready to come to
our house as soon as we return. The
Judge wishes her to make complete
set of robes for Miss johnson. It's
very thoughtful in the Judge, because
the girls things are just little, a
very little, out of date"
The young man took the letters and
said he would go himself to the office
with them. On his way down in the
elevator he turned them over. There
were two in Miss Johnson's hand
writing-one to her father, one to her
lover He would not leave them at
the Office; he would put them in a
Street-boX. He walked along the
brightiy-lighted streets, looking for a
mai[box. He passed two without
seeing them. lie was hesitating again,
but with weaker will this time.
Never before had the yacht made
such splendid run through the
Sound. The wind held good, and they
passed Execution Light and came
through East River to the bay with a
fair wind and a swift tide. The
moment the yacht had come
to anchor off the steamboat landing
at Bay Ridge, Skipper Johnson had out
u boat, and he and the yachts passen-
gers were rowed ashore just in time to
catch the boat for Yew York. Arrived
there, the skipper took car for the
postofice.
"You are sure there is no lette for
me? he asked of the sleepy clerk.
Sure. None here"
There are no other places in town,
mo branch ofices?"
Lots of EN-; but you wouldn't find
1T at any of them unless it was so di.
rected. All letters directed city
would be here"
1t was too late to do anything now.
Mai had not written here. Why, OF
course not HIS letters were at the
light He must telegraph. He found
a telegraph-office, and with trembling
fingers wrote vague, uncertain mes
sage to his father With rural ignor-
ance and pride of heart, he would not
let these heartless operators see how
deeply he was hurt.
By S o'clock the next morning
he was back in town from the boat.
where he had spent a sleepless night,
asking at the telegraph-oflice for re-
pl;, and there was none. For three
hours he wandered about the streets,
waiting for word that came not. To
think Mai was in this very city and he
could not find her ! At noon he re-
turned to the yacht, and found this
message from his father:
Don't know what You mean. Mai
is in New York"
L W strangely stupid he had been!
He should have telegraphed for her
New York address. Back again TO the
city, for he did not think it advisable
to telegraph from Bay Ridge, lest fur
Their confusion should arise. He tele-
graphed this time careless of who
might read, and found the message
would cost nearly two dollars. He
paid it, for he begrudged a single
word. He would wait in town for the
answer, and it came in about five
hours,-a bitter commentary; he
thought, on the speed of the tele-
graph:
Mai is with Judge Gearing. Nc
letters here from her."
b His pride was gone, and he boldly
said to the young girl at the telegraph
Office that he wished to find Judge
Gearing's, for friend othis was stay
ing there.
Directory on table, sir"
How stupid in him! He searched the
big book with nervous haste, and then
started up town by the elevated rail-
road. Never before had any railra. d
train seemed so slow. He seemed tc
be hours in reaching Forty second
street, and then precious minutes were
lost in finding the right number on
Thirty-ninth street. 1t was so strange,
almost heartless, that people did not
put the numbers On their doors where
they could be seen. At last, by dint
of counting the doors, ne found the
right number, and rang the bell. The
house seemed dark and deserted, and
The maid who opened the door did not
unfasten the chain.
''No, sir; no such person staying
here. The family? No, they are moi
et home. Where are they? White
Mountains. Won't be homo COR two