The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-05-18
THE WESTERN EXPRESS.
Why Its Delay Caused a Happy
Marriage.

spoke, his words had the weight of
sense and rarity. But Mrs Esterhall
the fine old lady who sat erect before
the clear, sea-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
fight the world until all gentleness,
grace and unselfishness are ground out
of them No, l can never give my con-
senti''
The young man smiled slightly.
Mother" said he, the diamond it
self hardly possesses its true financial
value until the facets are ground with
much friction
''Ilumph"' said Mrs. EsterhalI NO
one Is talking of diamonds
Il may bring her To see you, mother?''
Mrs. Esterhall shook her head.
Il have no desire to receive her" said
She But, Guy, here are the tickets
for Henry Irving tonight Carrie Chip
pendaie has promised to accompany me
of course, you viii 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 judlcious firmness, and GUY
will get over this boyish fancy of his
The idea of shop girl for my daugh-
ter-in-law-for Mrs. Guiou Esterhall! |
think the lad must b ave taken leave of
his senses"
And in her secret heart she reioiced
with an exceeding great rejoicing ~ hen
Miss Chippendaie arrived that evening.
IN pale-blue moire gown, cut decol-
lcte, with glittering necklace around
her perfect white throat, and a bunch
of dollhouse roses in her cors ge
III we are to have a private box"
said Miss Chippendale, buttoning the
Sc entcenth button of her glove ..one
may as well go in full dress, don't you
know?'
My dear. you are looking lovely
said Mrs Lsterhall, approvingly.
Miss Chippendale was a sort of hu-
man camclIIa jIponica-fair. graceful
and serene-wIth big, eXpressionless
blue eyes, cherry-red lips, flax-gold
hai~, drawn in fluffy cTimps over her
forehead, and an uBchanging society
smile perpetually lowering around her
lips. She had been highly educated,
and she was destined by her parents to
make IA brilliant match. The Chippen-
dales belonged to the aristocracy-that
Is To say, they had never done anv
work aad hal always spent "a great
deal of money. And Mrs Esterhall
had decided that Carrie Chippendale
was the very vie for her son.
She went shopping the next day, to
match shade OF Berlin wool, to buy
some lace 1lounces and to decide on new
portieres tor her drawing-room down
at Esterhall manor. At one or two
o'clock she experienced. not hunger,
but d lady-hke sensation that tired
nature" needed some sort of sweet
restoration.
Il 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 a curtained angle. where the waiter
took her order for "a chicken salad and
d cup of tea just then she heard
clear, low voice the other side of
the drapery, as n party settled them
selves to table-Miss Chippendale's
soft, well-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, waiuer-but all the same. |
nearly died of eHHuL The old lady is
the most dreadful bore you ever knew
and Guy 10 a regular prig. Handsome,
you know, and very talented, of course;
but one don't want to be on fuii-drcSS
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 t. bless himself with, and pa pa
| looks thunderciouds at me whc never he
calls But once I'm married, it"
chorus of well-bred giggling inter
rupted Carries words Mrs. Estcrhall
ro Sc hurricdly from her seat, Grasped
| her gloves and eyeglasses and made all
| haste out of the restaurant When the
waiter came with the chicken-saltd
| and 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 to
| the manor at once. Carrie Chippen-
| dale's grace. nj treachcry had affected
| her more than she had deemed posi-
BILE; and, leaving a hastily written note
| to explain to Guion that she had al
tered her plans, she took the late eN-
| press, which reached Clevcdon june
! tion al nine, there connecting with a
| 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 a heavy snowfall,
the night had settled down dark and
! tempcstuous, and the train was run
min behind time. AT last IL came to a
full stop Mrs. Esterhall started from
a doze and looked anXiously around
her.
Ten o'cIocl1," some one said, con-
sulting a watch. why, conductor, we
are due at Clevedon at five minutes be-
fore nine!'
Yes, L 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 what's to keep us from waiting
all night?' petulantly inquired the old
! gentleman.
Nothing, sir-unless the western
express /, heard from"
Mrs Esterhall began to be little
frightened.
Conductor said she, lis there any
dancer of a collision?"
No. ma 'an-not as long as were on
this side Il the switch
Isn't there a dining car attached to
this traing
No, ma'am-this isn't the through
express, but l hope we shall not be de-
tanned here much longer" the conduc'
tor cheerfully added
Slowly the minutes dragged them
selves nv. gradually lengthening int