The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-01-08

the 5:45 fast mai for Cleveland, and,
with his eyes fixed upon the floor,
meditatively paced up and down the
platform, waiting for the train to ar.
rive. f,
AS he did so he was Disconnected to
6nd himself the object of widespread
curiosity; even the newsboys with the
morning papers favored him with al
inquiring stare as they passed Won
derlng what was amiss, he suddenly
put his hand to his head, which fur
nished an instant explanation. He
was hatless.
Looking at the big clock, be saw that
1T lacked ten minutes of train time, ana,
hastily crossing over to the farther
track, he disappeared through the west
end of the station.
Among the passengers who boarded
the s: 40 fast mail for Cleveland when
it Numbered into the station, ten min.
utes later, was the bsrehesdrd gentle
man of few minutes ago, now wear
ing stylish derby. Once in the train,
he settled himself in his seat with
sigh of relief aud satisfaction. n II
until then did the really remarkable
character of the situation dawn upon
him. On the very day which he had
hailed as one of the happiest of his life
he was travelling at the rate of aboul
sixty miles an hour away from the girl
he loved devotedly and to whom he had
been marie d just seventeen hours. A
queer opening of his honeymoon! L.
his anxiety to get cup OF c,ffee for
his wife he had lost his hat, then lost
his change-and, lastly, lost the train.
Why did he not follow his bride at
once? What mysterious spell had
come upon this seventeeu-hour BRIDE
groom that he should fly from her as
swiftly as the fast express could rry
him? His hand held the solution OF
the problem-simple, yet unexplain-
able-a silver dollar! 1t held the secret
he must unravel before he could return
to her; it was not then that he loved
her less, but that this bit of precious
metal had suddenly developed an occult
power that had turned their paths, for
the present, in opposite directions
AT the first stopping place he sent
another message, which read as follows:
MRS. A. j. HOBART, Delavan House,
Albany, N. Y.:-Cannot possibly reach AL
bany before tomorrow morning. ANsEL."
With his brain filled with excited
thoughts, the young man entered the
sleeping.car office at Cleveland, four
hours later, and asked for Conductor
Parkins. He was told that this official
would not be on duty before night,
though possibly he might be at his
home on st. Clair street.
To the address given him the indie
fatigable young man repairt at once,
and found the genial gentleman for
whom he sought breakfasting with his
family. He kindly gave audience a,
once TO his visitor.
"This coin, which you gave the
cashier OF the restaurant in Buffalo,
said the latter, revealing it in the palm
OF his hand; lean you tel! me from
whom you received itp'
Parkins RENE mbered receiving cash
from but two passengers the night he
fore, one travelling man who got if in
Cleveland, aid the other woman
whose destination was Erie. The
stranger might ascertain their nam,s
by c. insulting the car diagram at the
ticket office. You seem Interested
in The CON-" he added, smiling
IL am, for good reason laugheo
the young man in reply. ST is Spa.
rating a man from his wife" And
with these enigmatical words he made
his adeu, with thanks, fastened 20 the