The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-11-04

L
were old friends. Her married sister
boarded at the Palace, = and it was un-
der that matronly little woman : chap,
eronage the three girls were to be dxr-
ing their short visit. Two days for the
convention, and one for fun, was their
programme. 81
Early the next morning, on their,way
to one of the.meetings Of the conven-
ton, they dropped into the big, busting
depot again.
''Of course don't expect to find it,
Joyce was saying. II should say not!
Whoeverhea of finding an umbrella Pr
Elvah laughed. Miriam gave, quick
little start. ~. ~@ Vt
"Oh," she said, ''l've found the bride
and bridegroom! Look, over there in
the corner!" .*t@#% <.'t ~ +
| Over there in the corner, surely
enough, were Eli and Judith. They sat
up primly, but their weary old faces
had patient, disappointed look that
broke into pale sunshine when they saw
the. girls, coming. to them. .....,.
Judith caught Miriam's hand. Land,
deary, if it amt you'll" she cried, softly.
Eli, don't you see who it's? Who'd
have thought, now?" g..
She drew Miriam down beside her on
the seat. "We're waitin' to go home, -
she explained, quietly. .:. - -.
Going homo, to-day? Why, you've
only just got here!" cried Miriam, aston
ished. ~
Eyes, L know, deary, but we're goin'
home. We've ben waitin' all night to-.
The train don't go till ten o'clock"
Then, at the sight of the girls won
dering face, she added the rest of the
story.
1--WE didn't know Quimby'd grown up
so. Eli thought it was goin' to be like it
was when he was here before. There
was little, nice hotel then, where you
didn't have to pay but so cents day.
We'd ought to waited till we got more
money"
It was all there-the story-Miriam
read it at once, and there was no need
of the sequel to it, Eli was telling, the
other girls, but she listened uncon-
sciously.
Yes, we're goin'," the old mans voice
quavered dejectedly. I'm sort of sorry
on mothers account-shes set good deal
of store on comm.
'She amt said WORTHLESS you, that
amt mothers way! But she's feelin'
bad inside. An bein' so tuckered out
makes it worse. You see, you can't get
much good sleep on these little narrow
seats.''
"Slesp: You haven't been here all
night?" the girlish voices chorused.
eyes," Eli said, gently, fright here's
where we've set all night. There's q
hotel over across the track. I went
there to see about stoppin'. That's why
we're goin' home. They said they was
the cheapest costin' hotel there was in
Quimby, so I knew 'twarn't any use try
in any others.
judith said she guessed the best
thing we could do was to go right home
again an wait. We amt given up our
weddin' journey; but we'll have to wait
a spell longer"
He cleared his throat carefully and
essayed a CHEEKY little joke, winking
rather unsuccessfully across Joyce at
mother.
II guess when we've ben marritd 40
years longer we can try it again, hey,
n,other?' he said, but his wistful old
voice shook, and the answering smile on
mothers face wavered unsteadily and
died out half way" ~''s '.'>~, =. " s.2'.
The girls staid littfe~longer and
then went away. It was half-past nine
o'clock. They looked at the clock in
voluntarily, all Of them, on their way
out. When they got out into the open
air Joyce drew long breath and stood
still.
The three sweet faces, unwontedly
moved, had the same thought in them.
The same letters on three tiny silver
crosses spelt it out.
Around them, jostling them, uncere-
moniously interfering with them, ed
died. the crowd. An incoming train sped
past an outgoing one while the three
girls stood there thinking the one
thought silently.
Then Miriam, with a little jolt into a
brisk, businesslike tone, said:
"We've got to hurry. There's the day
for fun, you know"
eyes, was thinking of that"
$50 was t.
eve could give that one up," Miriam
went on. "Three days for fun almost
make two days for-them.'
"And we could make up the rest,'' put
i'll Joyce, quickly. II was going to get
a new-oh, never mind what" she fin
ished. Il don't need it, after all.''
'And I don't need mine, either!"
laughed Elvah, softly.
''Nor H." cried Miriam.
They fingered the little crosses, inter-
preting each others thoughts instinct
lively. But it was Miriam who put it
into low, shy words.
I'm His name," she murmured.
Two days of overfowing, unexpected
bliss Eli and Judith had, after all.
There had never been so much pleas
ure and pure enjoyment in the 40 years
Of their patient waiting as was crowded
into those two days. Their old faces
shone from morning to night and from
morning to night again.
The girls took them back to the beau
tiful Palace hotel and made them their
guests. In all the spare minutes they
could find they took the happy old
couple around the city and showed them
its wonders. And when they could not
go themselves they planned the little
trips and started Eli and Judith out on