Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-02-23
Ten Minutes to TW6IVG.
By N. G. MOLELLAND.


was closely covered. the heavy veil
doubled across her eyes, for which
ROYAL knew there must be reason. but
forebore to inquire into it just yet. He
had gathered that the young lady's case
was far from hopeless. and the knowledge
that it was so brought more relief and
thankfulness than his position toward
her would seem to warrant. He could
realize the intense Importance which inn
mediate possession of the money must
have had for John Royal-importance so
great that he had been willing to risk
his life to secure it. 1t might mean
sight to the eyes as we'll as food and raj
ment for the body of the woman he
loved. 1t made the conditions of the
will more difficult of comprehension than
ever, but he forebore to trouble his mind
with that question. Other matters were
more pressing than could be the solution
of an apparently impracticable woman's
vagaries
They would make better time on the
down trip the conductor informed him.
the grade would help instead of hinder
ing them.
Royal, cognizant of the inevitable pain
to which each revolution of the wheels
brought them more near, set himself to
prepare the minds of the women, in a
measure as best he could. The girls
cheerfulness smote on INN with a sense
of discord, rs though one should en-
counter mirth at deathbed. And yet
to sadden her seemed to him just then
the hardest task he had ever been com
PEELED to put his hand to. His pity
pulled him both ways-he could not let
the calamity fall on her like Il thunder
bolt from clear sky, and still, even to
turn her mind in the direction Of the
coming disaster. to his OverwrOught
nerves appeared like drawing child
into the already wavering shadow of a
rock which would presently fall and
crush it. 1t took all the courage Of
which he was master TO follow the lines
Laid down for himself.
He was as adroit as it is III the nature
of straightforward man to be. and
thero had been nothing to arouse the
suspicion of his companions or make
them doubt his sincerity. To them he
was the master of the situation, the
grand male creature who had just proved
possession Of manhood and puissance to
all unprecedented degree. They heark-
ened to him graciOusly, and treated him
with the subtle suggestion of trust and
dependence which is spontaneous with
all wOmanly women. After little the
talk, insensibly guided by Royal, drifted
to serious things, and he told them, as
of strange and pitiful happening, Of
his meeting on the train the day before
with poor young fellow, i'll unto death
and in sore trouble. He told how he
(RoyaD had noticed him fainting in his
seat, and, being physician, had gone to
him to do what he could. and then had
discovered that the sick stranger had a
claim on his care, being brother Mason
He spoke of the interest which this dis
covery had aroused, and of how it had
deepened in view of the others courage
and patience, and of how he had been
obliged to leave him at last in the
strange hotel, without friend or kinsman
near, fighting his battle with the grim
DESTROYER alone. He made little story
of it, and gave it to them as simply as he
could, hoping to arouse their interest
and sympathy. And they asked ques-
tions III husned voices, and were sorry
in a sweet impersonal way, as women
will be over tales of sorrow.
Did you find out his name?" Mrs.
Hart inquired.
Royal replied in the affirmative. That
was the reason he had troubled them
with The story, he explained, thinking
they might help him, perhaps, since they
must spend the night in the very hotel
where the sick man lay. The name was
the same as theirs-Royal. He might be
a kinsman. Who should say?
Might" repeated Mrs. Hart her in
terest all afame. why. of course he is
kinsman; he must be. All the Royals
are related, and Virginia is full of them.
How very strange, your meeting him
that way! wonder to which branch of
the family he can possibly belong"
Phyllis also manifested interest and
concern about this stranger cousin" as
she dubbed him. But her mind appeared
to dwell most on Royals own share in the
business, and she whispered sweet words
of commentator in low voice which
thrilled through Royal, who had not
sought to produce this effect, and made
him more bitterly conscious than ever
what a tangle the matter had become
Meanwhile Mrs. Hart appeared to be
mastering all the Royals, dead and alive,
who had inhabited the commonwealth
in the past or were inhabiting it in the
present, in her efforts to satisfactorily
place this new Royal.
You don't know his Christian name,
| suppose?' she observed. and then saved