Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-12-17

PiIlowed Her Head ON Her Bosom
created males. she retraced her steps
TO the George.
In due time Zana arrived at Water
loo. and, half terrified by the noise and
hustle around her, gazed eagerly on all
sides for her lover. But no Ernest
Norton was there.
Where to, MISS asked the porter
who had shouldered her portmanteau.
"HanSomg'
.I-don't faltered the poor
child, trembi.- like a leaf. Il expect
I'll someone. Take me to the station
master. please"
This latter official was all courtesy
and attention. He assured Zana that
ne had detailed three porters to watch
The only three first-class smoking COM
partments in the express, to each of
whom lie had given a copy of her tele-
gram. and that one CT the three had
successfully delivered the message. In
proof whereof he caused that particu-
lar porter to be summoned.
You reported having delivered an
envelope to Mr.. Ernest Norton, passcp-
ger by the seven Southampton ex-
pressy' he demanded, sharply.
Yes, sir" replied the porter. fumb-
ling with his cap, as is the habit of his
kind when in the presence of authori-
".
"He read it?"
Yes, sir; he read it right enough"
assented the porter, land said it was
all right
THAT will do" said the station mas
ter. and the fellow slouched off. You
see" he added. to Zana, 1--WE have done
our best ut this end"
but he is not herei' urged the dis
mayed girl.
The station master shrugged his
shoulders % little impatiently. His
time was valuable. andeit formed no
portion of his duties to hunt UP miss
ing young gentlemen. Perhaps he
has been detained he suggested, land
will turn up presently; in which ease
he will be IN to inquire for you here.
in my Office. Ii you like to walt, you
car do so, in the ladies' room. Near
while, you will pardon my telling you
l am extremely busy"
Scarce able to utter a few words of
thanks for the trouble he had taken.
Zann quilted the Office and wandered
aimlessly restlessly. up and down the
iIIlNd1 DIstLlOIfl. It HEST IlHu EttcItctI
her message, and. Of course, he would
come. But how unkind of him to
leave her thus by herself, even for a
quarter of an hour. Doubtless III had
mistaken the arrival time of her train.
or was unayoidabiy detained. How
foolish of him to have left the station
at all!
Now, the real fact was that the port
er, to save himself from severe repri-
mand. or worse. had lied. He had been
absent from the assigned post, upon
some beer business of his own, when
the train by which Norton crrived had
come in (rather before time.) His alb
sence had been ren arked by the other
two porters, and so, to save himself,
he had concocted the story Of having
delivered the telegram. which he had
quietly torn up. And thus the laziness
and duplicity Of the r~ascally porter in
London had married the clever plan of
h honest porter in Southampton.
The station master psssed Zana
many times. spoke to her encouraging
~. and persuaded her to take some re-
freshment. But, as the time wore on
and no Mr.. Ernest Norton made his
appearance. it daw1 cd upon the good
injured official that the girls position
was assuming an awkward appear
ance. and the idea somehow occurred
TO him that he was, in some vague
way. himself responsible for her we'll
being. SO, at last, he asked her. blunt
IL, what she proposed doing, Offering.
TT the same time, to assist her by cy-
cry can In his power.
Poor Zana had n. more idea what
she should do than a lost child. She
wanted Ernest. she said. Without
iim. she could do nothing.
eyes, but my dear young lady" re-
nionstrated her new friend, "you must
decide upon sone course OF action, in
~dependently Of this Mr.. Norton. who
tif you win pardon my saying it, APP
pears TO have behaved with most cuI-
rable carelessness, TO say the least OF
T. Have you no other friends in Lon
DOM"
None" answered cara, YEARLY.
I'm Southampton, then? Come" he
added, observing that she hesitatcd,
tell N how you stand; Otherwise
how can / help you? Is this a run
away-match between you and Mr..