The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-09-22
IF SKILL.

And so saying, she wrenched her
hand from his hold and, turning her
back upon him, she rapidly disap-
peared down the gravel path and en-
tered the house.
"Mother," she said, with a rueful
smile, when that lady accosted her at
the garden door, II have done as you
wished. | have been so kind to Mr..
Flight that he is coming down to Noel
combe to see me. He says | must see
more, much more of him, and that then
it will be all right. Oh, mother, why
were you so foolish as to make me
meet him again? Why didn't you let
we'll alone? Bother! [ have dropped
that lovely red rose, and of course he
picked it up. Before a week is over
he will have persuaded himself that
gave it to him-I know MIN SO we'll
Mrs. Milford did not return Helen's
smile. This latest piece OF intelligence
was perplexing Perhaps her own
Judgment had erred on the side of
kindness If Mr. Flight fancied him.
self encouraged by this short inter
view there would probably be a repeti-
ton of those trying scenes which had
| annoyed the rector, yeXed herself,
maddened her daughter and saddened
her lover.
Somewhat grave, and in silence, she
aided in putting the finishing touches
to Helen's packing, accompanied her
in the fly to the station and saw her
safely enscOnsed in the corner Of an
overcrowded and very hot third-class
carriage.
1t was too hot for Helen to read or
doze, or watch the dazzling landscape
reeling past; her companions were not
OF prepossessing appearance, but from
beneath the shadow of her broad
brimmed hat she investigated them.
Beside her sat lean man, whose garb
proclaimed him a dissenting minister,
| and whose fixed and benignant smile
declared him to be imperviOus alike to
the diScOmforts of the weather and to
the inferiority of his fellows. A smart
young woman in a green beige gown,
and wearing a large cotton-yelyet hat,
from which long feathers, dark and
curllesS from the heat, trailed spirit
leSSly, sat in the corner opposite TO
Helen. She held "MOdern Society
that paper dear to the servants hall,
in her Soled, glOVeleSS hands; but she
was not reading; she was half-aSleep;
now and again she opened her eyes
and glanced with a swift, keen glance
at Miss Milford. Beyond this girl a
spruce man, very neat and trim, leaned
languidly against the unyieldlng cuSn-
ions at his back in an attitude which
was probably an exact imitation Of his
| masters. He was a servant, Helen de
cided-a gentleman'S gentleman-a
valet. The remainder Of the company
belonged to that unattractive portion
of humanity. the third-claSs racing
man, whose personal appearance let us
charitably conclude, is the worst part
Of him, for the task of finding a step
balks the imagination.
The intense heat was so enervating,
the glare was so intOlerable, that
Helen soon lay back in her corner OF
| the carriage and, covering her aching
ewes with her hand, abandoned herself
| to a doze.
The express had entered among the
| wooded wales and gentle hills of South
Devonshire before Helen, with sud
den start, awoke. A piercing whistle
had reused her. She sat upright, set
her hat straight, passed her hands
carefully over her ruftled hair, adjust
ed her collar and cuffs and yaWned.
Her unobtrusive companion was still
reading his paper, and did not look up.
The fiery sun still streamed down on
the melting country, the burning air
was sitting, clouds of fine dust tioatcd
in the track of the train.
Wondering how long a space OF time
she had cheated from this purgatory
in sleep, Helen put her hot hand down
to her belt and felt for her watch. 1t
was not there! Dangling from but
ton of her bodice hung her short watch
chain. but though the swivel OF the
chain was unbroken, the watch was no
longer attached to it; While she mad
slept it had, it must have become I'M
fastened 1t was the first time such an
accident had happened
Startled at this discovery she began
to search with eager finger behind her
Waistbelt for the missing treasure, but
she searched in vain. No watch was
there. Then, as q last hope, she I'M
buckled her belt, took it off, shook it
violently, as though she fancied that
the watch might, by a superb con-
hiring trick. have been concealed in
pther, and cried in tragic voice
of despair:
ut has gone!
Meanwhile, unobseryed by the pro
occupied girl, tho train had stopped;
the whistle which had awakened her
ahd heralded the vicinity of Exeter.
Cries of Tickets ready!' We're now
to he heard approaching, but Helen
heard nothing.
'.Haye you lost anything, ma'am?"
the shrewd-faced man inquired, with
respectful interest.
MY watch!' she answered, breath
lessly. Il looked at it just noW--I had
it in the carriage here-it has gomez
Rising to her feet, she shook her