The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-10-02
.nATTER
OF SKILL.

meet him again? Why didn't you let
well alone? Bother! I have dropped
that lovely red rose, and Of course he
picked 1t up. Before week ID over
he will have persuaded himself that I
gave 1t to him-I know him go 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. II 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, vexed 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 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 green beige gown,
and wearing large cotton-velvet hat,
from which long feathers, dark and
curlless from the heat trailed spirit
lessly, sat in the corn(r opposite to
Helen. She held Modern Society,""
that paper dear to the servants hall,
in her soiled, gloveless hands; but she
was not reading; she was half-asleep;
now and again she opened her eyes
and glanced with swift, keen glance
at Miss Milford. Beyond this girl q
spruce man, very neat and trim, leaned
languidly against the unyielding cush-
ions at his back in an attitude which
was probably an exact imitation Of his
masters. He was q 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 step
balks the imaginat ton.
The intense heat was so enervating,
the glare was 30 intolerable, that
Helen soon lay back In her corner Of
the carriage and, covering her aching
eyes with her hand, abandoned herself
to q doze.
The express had entered among the
wooded wales and gentle hills Of South
Devonshire before Helen, with a sud
den start, awoke. a piercing whistle
had reused her. She sat upright, set
her hat straight, passed her hands
carefully over her rufled hair, adjust
ed her collar and cuffs and yawned.
Her un0btrusive 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 loated
in the track of the train.
Wondering how long 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. It
was not there! Dangling from a 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 had
slept it had, it must have become un-
fastened. It 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 last hope, she I'M
buckled her belt, took it of, shook it
violently, as though she fancied that
the watch might, by q superb con-
juring trick, have been concealed in
'ther, and cried in a tragic voice
Of despair:
ut has gone!'
Meanwhile, unobserved by the pre-
occupied girl. the train had stopped:
the whistle which had awakened her
aid heralded the vicinity of Exeter.
Cries of Tickets rcady!' were now
to he heard approaching, but Helen
heard nothing.
Have you lost anything, ma'am?'
the Shrcwd-faced man inquired, with
respectful interest.
My Watchw she answered, BREATH
lessly. II looked at it just now-I had
1t IL the carriage lere-it has yOne!''
Rising to her feet, she shook her
serge skirt: she stopped to look under
the seats; she miautely examined the
cracks Of the dust-strewn, dirty floor;
she peered into possible and impossi-
BILE places, but she did not find her
watch. Her companion assisted in
the search. As they were thus en-
gagged door was opened, and q port
or. hot and consequently, cross, gruff.
~ demanded Tickets"
Helen's little travelling bag lay on
the seat; she took It up; It was already
open, and looked into 1t. It was emp
ty; her purse had gone! In stunned
amusement she stared, speeches., at
the ticket-seller.
Look sharp, miss! he said, imperi-
ously to this dawdling, third. class pas
senger. who seemed to consider his
time Of no more value than her own.
Neither his tone nor her discovery
tended to soothe Miss Mitford's feel
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