The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-26

| uoy.
And then came long whistle. Tho
man In the corner rose and snatched up his
satchel. The guard unlocked the door.
Newcastle, ma am. You're at your Jour-
ney's end" And he picked up her valise.
| VIII Zona Sheldon ever again know
such sense Of relief, or will any other
face ever be 80 welcome TO her as was thAt
Of the burly guard as he made this an
nounoement to herf She was safely ON the
platform and coachman. narrowly watch
Ing the passengers, stepped up to her say
ing, "Mr. Mowbray's carriage for Miss
Sheldon"
| II am she, ;" she said, In q voice which
her mother would not have recognized.
| He opened the door and Zona, stepping
into the carriage, sank back on the cush.
| ions and burst into hysterical tears,
The man, who had been in the corner,
standing with his satchel In his hand, rave
| Q low whistle as the sight met his raze
| through the window. Walking forward to
| the coachman, he said: "Give me q lift
Riley. guess I'll ride with YOU"
"An right, Mr.. john" said the coach
man, lifting up the satchel. "Come down
from Edinbro, sir?'
"Not directly, Riley. Let me down at
| the gate and don't tell them I've come.
want to have bit Of q joke with them"
Hall right, SIR"
$50 that Is the Travelled young lady who
n to be bridesmaid tomorrow and stand
up with mel II I'm ,pot much mistaken,
she will be in no condition to stand up"
In Louise's snug room the prospective
bridesmaid rec0unted her woes and was
pitied and comforted and assured that sho
should not be allowed to go back alone.
Cousin John Pierpont, who is going to
be best man, Ia going down, and he VIII
zee you safely back. You know he is IN
| American, q graduate in medicine and
has been studying In Edinburgh. He Is go
| Ing to spend this winter I'm tho London
hospitals, and know you will like him.
hear a hustle now. / believe he has come.
Will you excuse me till I go down and
seeP'
"Oh, Louise, dear, you must excuse me
from dinner. can't go down with this
horrible black eye"
"Zona," said Louise as she came I'm
after dinner" Cousin John thinks you
had better let him examine your eye He
says 1t Is dangerous to let the infiamma-
ton run on, and he thinks it will be quito
well tomorrow II you get good nights
rest" t
spoil your wedding, after all.
"Miss Sheldon, my cousin, DR.. Pier
pont, said Louise as she ushered in the
decor. Zona, whose vision was much i'm
paired by the sore eye, did not recognize
him as the man In the corner He merely
bowed.
"a clean pocket handkerchief, LOUISE"
he said cheerily.
At the sound of his voice Zona looked
up quickly. A twinkle shone in John
Pierpont's blue eyes.
"Now, Miss Sheldon, one moment and
1t is out" he said.
"what instant relief" exclaimed Zona.
"Thank you, Doctor
"You are quite welcome" he replied
"By tomorrow I hope you will have quite
forgotten it,"
There was little sleep that night for To-
M Sheldon.
"What little idiot have beeni How
could have imagined such things of hint
He Is tall and powerful-that was right.
But dark and murderous looking Why,
he is fairer than l. What blue eyes and
what a pleasant smile! Oh, how can
meet him In the morning! wish Louise
had not told him."
But sleep came at last, and Zona woke
radiant as ever. She dressed and went out
into the park to settle how she should
meet Dr. Pierpont. But it was settled for
her A sudden turn in the path brought
her face to face with him. She burst into
peal Of merry laughter, which he echoed.
'Dr. Pierpont," she said, " hope you
will be merciful and keep my secret. F."
81 am not likely to tell secret SO much
to my disadvantage. What was 1t? VII
lainOus"-
"Please, DOCTOR" she implored, "I did
with my senses"
Had not the whole household been alb
sorbed in the wedding, they must have
seen that there was secret understanding
between the compatriots which quickly
ripened into intimacy.
"And Zona is to go back to London un-
der your escort, John?" said Louise.
provided she is not afraid to travel
with me, he said, with a laughing bow to
Zona.
A smile was her only answer.
| They were seated-the sole occupants OF
q compartment.
"Now will you answer mo question:
Had you made up your mind what to do
| II worst came to worst?"
eyes" she said, laughing. 81 was go
ing 70 take off my watch and ring and
| offer them to you, as well as my purse. 1
| fancied you looked at my ring particular
ly."
81 did," he said after nause, because,
you know, the finger you l.ear 1t on. May
/ ask, Miss Sheldon, If there is any partic-
ular significance in itY'
ut was given me by my mother" she
| said simply.
II am very grateful indeed, Mr.. Pier
pont," said Mrs. Sheldon late in the even
| ing, as the three sat in her parlor, that
| my daughter has had your company. /
never feel safe to have a lady travel unat-
| tended in a compart'--
Here her auditors glanced at each other
and burst into uncomfortable laughter.
| Mrs. Sheldon looked amazed.
| Thereby hangs a tale, mother, saio
Zona when she had recovered her voice,
| and she related the story.
| Miss Zona has omitted the sequel,
aid DR. Pierpont gravely, which Is that
| / have won from her a consent, subject to
your approval, to be her protector, and
| ss.,,.u, t<,., for the rest of our lives. "-Ex-