New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-10

IN IN, I'VE 9.A VII, be quite an old lady. I'VE been
thinking over things I'm not going 10 give up
yet. shall sing tonight Inc chances mS,ence
the next time you were heard. the auuiehce
wouldn't raise hand In applause buS you , NC
try IT, IL you choose. We give II Irova'o ore,
next week. I'll let you take Leonora IL ~"
wish az, p,.,,,r
AS she ceased speaking Miss Runciman
reached forward and took up paper, iuhIiii,s
her eyes over the columns. as II my decision % %
regarded Leonora was OF no special Hoihehs ~
her. , C.o mag t;red
Of me: she was sorry that she had ever fneddieu
with me- She had told the truth when she n,Iu
announced herself as woman OF wnims. wy
Is IL that you always believe that, thoush o.neIs
NAV be the object OF a tickle notice, you may nor
be? There is something In you that VIII mar arr
interest permanent? J did not know had lei'
thus. but know II now. a. n,,
AT last / gave up the attempt TO ma any
words | turned away and walked TO the door
There I paused / remembered that Mlss t'uh-
Gilman had spent what seemed to my mind "a
great deal CT money upon me: "en n oa aoohaJ
my former position in front Of her She iooheu
"Well?" she said
81 think nv father will pay you back" began
abruptly. / was burning with anger now, and
could hardly speak steadily. She made no reply;
Her eyes returned TO her paper. In the race Oh
this silence could not say anything more But
did stammer out something to the effect that
perhaps I could earn the money myself In ume'
Then ! left the room.
In half an hour more I was stepping into the
elevator with my satchei In my hand. my hat ana
' Bashy was just stepping out, having come in
from the street. She glanced at me. then turned
and resumed her place.
Have you killed anybody" she asked in
whisper as We began TO slide downward
l shook my head
What, them?
I'm going home"
she gazed at me in silence for an instant then
she grpped my hand and exclaimed:
Il knew Aunt Nora could not stand IT,
rea1 he hot
We walked to the entrance.
Couldn't stand WHAT | managed to ask.
THE promise Of your being a better singer
that she ever was. Oh dear. I'm so sorry. But
1t was sure to come The fact is, the person who
depends upon Aunt Nora is-well. Is lost. And
she begins sincerely and Is just lovely. Are
you going 10 take strcet-carF Ill 90 10 the s'a-
ton with you"
In the car Bashy sat by me. and forgot that
! had not at fret received good impression OF
her, and had thought her sharp teeth looked
ready to bite.
I'm awfully sorry" she said two three
times. "Do you know. speaking into my ear as
the car changed on Il couldn't do 1t myself but
I've been glad to have some one along VINO
wouldn't drink nor smoke cigarette and who
insisted upon telling the truth and who'-here
jolt and lost h,r words; the next heard was: i
guess I've forgotten that ever lived in the coun-
try and breathed pure air
At the station found should have 10 walt an
hour and half. At first Bashy proposed to walt
with me. but this soon proved too much for her
She insisted upon knowing how much money !
had. We found that. after buying my ticket.
there would be IS cents left. She turned the con-
tents OF her own purse into her lap and discov-
cred that there enough 10 purchase the
ticket. and she walked of 10 procure 1t without
needing my remonsirance.
"You'n wan; a bit LEFT in your pocket" she
said
Then she kissed me, repeated that she was
awfully sorry and left me- In a moment more
she had returned and had asked:
How about Vance"
tried 70 meet her eyes and failed ! could not
answer
Very we'll" she said as II had answered.
This time she did not return.
When she was really gone bethought me tina;
| ought 10 have made her promise that she would
and half In the Grand Central Station. Hav-
ing thought that, fell TO watching the people
who continually coming In. wondering II one
OF them would be Vane Hildreth. l did this in
spite Of a strenuous resolution not To- do so.
hoped that he would not cOmc-h)ped - mos;
earnestly. and yet. when the moments had gone
on to the limits OF an hour. was very unhappy.
1t useless 10 reason that he could not have
more than time enough - reach the station II
he should start the very moment his sister could
inform him. 1t seemed 10 me a curious thing that.
though would surely have prevented him from
meeting me here. l was yet longing for him -
come.
The never-ceasing stream OF men and women
finally seemed like blurred line before my
eyes | could look at them no longer And now
| might take my place In the train.
Shall confess that waited until the very last
down upon seat In the end of n car? | sat there
rgdy upright my satchel upon my knees.
| fancicd that felt like an old woman whose
dream OF life Is over. ! WAS going home TO i've
as had always thought never could I've. Per-
haps ] should become like Rachel Cobb. perhaps
should learn t. visit half my time. and to carry
about much-rubbed leather bag and wear eye
glasses.
And there was mother; was going home u
her. My heart sore that could not think
OF mother without tears | resolutely wiped the
drops from my face and tried TO sit even NOR"
rigidly straight.
heard man outside shout:
Two or three late-comers dar,ed up the steps
the train gave slight hitch. man who had
been sitting with woman In front Of me kissed
her hurriedy passed through the door. and saw
him let himself down 10 the platform lurching
forward he dropped
We had started / holding the handle Of
my bag with grip that made my hand stin.
Yes. everything was all over. Miss Runcman
was tired Of me; could never learn to be a singer
now; and Vane had not come. That very
well. indeed; was 80 thankful that he had not
come. Perhaps his sister had told him: per
haps there had not been time; perhaps he had
not cared 10 come.
Yes. 1t was very well. and just the way would
have arranged the matter. drew a long breath
and tried TO look out Of the window
The car door slammed close my seat the
brakeman had come In and was walking down
the aisle
Then some one bent over me, and vane said
close 10 my cheek:
Thank heaven"
A sudden wave Of delicious happiness went over
me. submerged me. had resolutely hoped in
teectually. as they say that he would not come
! had done nothing TO make him come; but here
he was.
! looked up at him for instant. not think
ing at all what my face might tell him.
suppose II did tell him something, for his eyes
suddenly bazed, his lips quivered as he whis-
pered:
MY darling, you are glad came aren't your
] could not make any sort Of reply. had never
been so happy in my life: but | couldn't tell him
that. My eyelids fell and said nothing
Vane was leaning one hand on the arm of my
seat. the other resting his cane He had
given up his clutches.
IF had been one moment later should have
been too late" he said IL barely scrambled on 70
the last car. Bashy told me she came right 70 me