The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-02-20
il wasn't coffee. Indeed, now that 20

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the landlord to define il for me-"
II don't know what we've been
thinking of, to let you stay there at
all" interposcd Ludlow. "if you'll cx-
cusc us for a few minutes, my dear,
we'll just step down and get Ring
brands luggage Tonight suppose
yon travel in Il grip, don't you, Hugh ?"
"Yes, or at least in two of them;
they're not heavy, though"
Two days earlier, while his train was
stopping at ChilWanee Junction to
transfer passcngcbS'to the Harmony
Valley branch, High Ringbrand had
seen a girl descend from the through
train and cross the platform to tAe ac-
gommodaton. She was striklngly
beautiful, after type quite unfamiliar
to the student; and the passing glimpse
he had of her face made INN wish that
he might study it at leisure. II sud
denly occurred to him that there was
nothing in his purpQselcss plans pre-
vent it; and he hastily transferred him
self and his belongings to a scat in the
other train, whence he could continue
his observations. The Study once be-
4 gun, the beauty of her face grew upor
him, pushing him swiftly to the concur
sion that nothing short of arquant-
ance would enable him to complete his
character-sketch; and, not being
commercial traveller, the simpler
method of obtaining the desired de-
gree of intimacy did not suggest it,
self. On the contrary, lie could think
of no better expedient than to leave the
train at the young lady's destination,
trusting to the chapter of accidents for
further help. The absurlity of this
hastily-approved design appealed to
his sense of humor when the conductor
asked for his fare and he was unable
to tell the official where he wanted to
go.
II have no ticket" he said, but will
pay to the end of the line. How much
is it?'
ITO Kingville, sah?"
"Yes, that's the place Kingvile. It's
singular how these names escape one,
isn't it?"
"Oh, / dunno" replied the man; IT
forgit sometimes, m'self. Two dollars
and fo'ty cents. There's your change ="
The accommodation was mixed
train of empty coal and iron ears tow
ing single passenger coach; and on its
slow progress up the valley Rmghrand
had ample opportunity to analyze his
| subject SO far as simple obseration
: would serve him. Before they reached
Tregarthen he had fair mental pic
ture of the oval face, lighted by eyes of
dusky hue rarely seen in the Anglo
Saxon types; ard he had even gone so
: far as to try to transfer it from his
mental camera to a leaf of his note
book. The pencil-picture was fairly
good, from a technical point of view,
but when he saw how the black-and-
White suggestion failed to give even a
hint of the transparency of her conf
pleXion. or of the changeful expression
: that came and went on her face as she
: turned the leaves of her book, he tore
it up and dropped the fragments out
of the window. The book suggested
an idea, and he got up and walked down
, the aisle, catching the title in passing,
"'St. Elmo" he unused; that's healthy
but it's no indication of character;
suppose every young woman reads Miss
Evans. She's reading intelligently,
though; anyone can see that; she
doesn't look as if she'd be guilty OF
skimming. How the mischief am
ever to find out who she is? Hello!
she's putting the book away; this must
be her stopping-place."
The train was slowing into Tregar-
+, then, and Ringbrand got his luggage
ready for strategic pursuit. 1t was
!, quite dark by this time, and he did moi
: mean TO lose sight of her until he was
quite sure of her destination. When
the train stopped she tripped lightly uI
the aisle, and Mngbrand followed
reaching the car door in time to see The
conductor help her down the steps; but
when he attempted to get off, the mar
stopped him.
Hold on" he exclaimed; "this ain't
your town; we amt half way there
yet
That's all right. want to stor
: here. I've changed my mind" pro
: tested Ringband, trying to get pas
him.
We'll, jest hold on a minute; don't
be in SIGH turrible rush; | collected
your fare to Kingville, an I've got toe
much of your money"
"Hang your fare! don't want it
!. Let meget Off"
, "All right, cap'n; jest as you say
replied the over-zealous conductor
swinging Ringbrand's valise to the
|, platform. "There you are, right side
up with care"
AS he had feared, the slight delay lost
!. him his opportunity; when his glanc,
searched the small platform, his travel
ing companion had disappeared, and he
was not the man to make hap-hazarC
inquiries about her of the struggling
!. loungers at the station. When the trair
had departed, he saw the glare of al
!. iron furnace a short distance farther
up the track, and the twinkling light,
of a town on the hillside above the sta
|, ton. While he was wondering if there