The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-09-02
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! Abducted by !
John the Baptist
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: By Ward RIeS (
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COPYRIGHTED BY THE c. p. A.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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COPYRIGHTED BY THE C. PA :
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
[ooNrINuED.
VII.
HER TREACHEROUS FRIEND.
The parties to that tripartite inter-
view were very differently affected by
its immediate results.
To the adjutant 1t was both hui
initiating surprise and wounding
puzzle. Despite the assurance of Mrs.
Zenith he felt that the objections to
the engagement were due at least in
some measure to distrust of himself.
After serious thought he determined to
wed at once lest the family influence
should overweight the present wish Of
Miss Stella. He had no doubt that
she would now consent to elope.
Miss stella was quite satisfied that
the scene had occurred. 1t dispelled
any little doubt she might heretofore
have entertained as to the firmness of
her hold upon the adjutant or her
ability to control him. 1t was, too, a
very substantial victory for her in the
family warfare so strongly waged
against her. Better than all else, she
saw that the result would be her
speedy marriage.
Mrs. Zenith was greatly unsettled by
It and entirely dissatisfied with its re-
suits. To her it was evident that she
had utterly failed to separate the two.
In fact 1t was clear that she had
only made matters worse. She
did not doubt that Miss Stella would
elope rather than submit to coercion,
and the bare idea Of such a possibility
distressed and Mortified her. That
was precisely what some of the Gossips
and Chiefs Of the Scandal Bureau had
predicted; what they unanimously
and devoutly hoped for. Such catas-
trophe would be insupportable. The
more she thought about it the more
sincerely she repented her precipitan-
cy. How to prevent the elopement
that she felt was impending was the
disturbing question upon which she
now called Miss Zenith to consult.
The consultation resulted in nothing
satisfactory until it was interrupted
by the entrance of Miss Letson, a
friend residing at Barton. To her they
confided their dilemma, desiring her
advice. She suggested that time was
important; that if Miss Stella could be
prevented from meeting or commune
eating with the adjutant for day or
two. satisfactory means might be de-
vised for effecting their object.
After much consideration it was
agreed that Miss Stella should be in
duced to accompany Miss Letson to
Barton with the understanding that
she should return by the noon train
the following day, her return at that
time to be by some means frustrated
by Miss Letson, so that the appointed
meeting fixed for the afternoon must
fail
Miss Stella came in and when Miss
Letson proposed the visit Miss Zenith
that she might not be suspected of
collision, opposed the suggestion and
urged her mother not to approve it.
However, the invitation was accepted,
and in three hours from the time she
saw her lover walk down to her faith
twenty miles from him.
The visit was pleasant one, and
Miss Stella thought it fortunate cir
cumstance, as it would obviate any
trouble she might otherwise have en-
countered in keeping her appointment
to meet the adjutant at the Morton's s,
since she could go thither directly
from the train on her arrival at Mi
nerSvale.
In the morning when Miss Stella
awoke Miss Letson was up and reading
She looked at her watch and found
that it was stopped. She was much
surprised, being unable to account for
its failure as she knew it to be in good
order and she never forgot to wind
it. She glanced at the clock on the
mantel and regulating her watch by
that, started it. The watch had been
stopped by Miss Letson, who had also
turned the clock back.
The Letson residence was but q
block from the station and it was easy
to reach the train If one started as the
train pulled in.
The morning was pleasant and the
young ladies spent the greater part oil
it in the yard Looking at her watch
Miss Stella climbed out of hammock
in which she was lazily swinging and
said:
1T is nearly time for the train.
must get ready to CO."
Stella, do wait till tomorrow"
mot for the world, this time"
you are too bad; you don't care 6
bit for me; it's so pokey here alone
Do stop?"
Il think great deal of you, dear
but would not stay till tomorrow fol
all of Barton"
But why not? It's just nasty lit
tie notion of yours; you are Away!
so headstrong when you set out to d.
anything. Please stop over?"
Il would stay if l might but it !!
impossible; it is not a whim; | would
not miss that train for all Of the grea
fortunes of all the millionaires of tht
world, past and present"
Before she reached the door the trail
appeared at the station and she real
lied that her watch was inaccurate
. She did not hesitate, but started to
ward the station, saying to Miss Let
son:
ooh, dear! l must not miss tina
train! will send for my wraps again
You can say goodbye to your folks fo
me. Come along, hurry"
She hurried along at such rapid gal
that Miss Letson could not keep VI
with her. Reaching the TICKET windoy
she called for a ticket to Minersval
and thrust her hand into her pocket
Her purse was missing! The engin
bell rang; the engine gave two short
shrill shrieks and the conductor cried
IAN aboard"
The agent looked out through hi
Ws.s eaaare window, held up the bit
" b'1e and white rasteboard and said:
Eighty cents, please? You'd better
hurry, MISS, the train is moving; it is
twenty minutes late"
ooh, deari l have left my purse at
Mr.. Lessons! Let me have the ticket
and as soon as l get home l will tele-
graph to them to let you have the
price of it? l am Stella Zenith of Mi
nersvale; my father is Captain Evan
Zenith"
"Gainst the rules! Very sorry to
deny you so small a favor; but | can't