The Red Cloud chief., 1899-07-21
THE f CLOUD CHIEF.

encs at the Lea. and the exercise or
the tact and friendly kindness you havo
already shown bowed--"wM be In
valuable to US at this juDcture. After
the funeral. Miss Elmslle and Mise
Branscombe will leave the place, and
a year or two OF foreign travel. with
fresh scenes and associations, will. l
have no doubt, make a great diner
ence In Miss Branscombe's views and
feelings. She has been brought up In
a secluded way, and has seen few peo-
pie hitherto. All we want Is to gain
time. But here Is my fellow: we must
hurry up to catch the II. 10 express.
The ii:l0 express vas a favorite
train evidently. I congratulated my
self on having secured a corner seat
next the door. as my carriage filled
rapidly. At Wivenhoe. the first stop
ping station, two s~eats--that opposite
10 me, on which I had deposited my
black bag and the light dustcoat which
I carried. and a second set next to
mine-were the only ones unoccupied.
The weather was warm, and I was just
congratulating myself on having es-
capped any addition to our number,
when, even as the guards whistle
sounded, the handle OF the carriage
door was hastily turned and a lady,
evidently a good deal futtered at the
narrow escape she had made Of miss
ing the train. sprsng lightly In and
deposited herself In the vacant place
by my side.
1t had all happened so suddenly
my head had been turned away at the
I had only time to draw my somewhat
long limbs out OF her path. and none
to catch a glimpse OF my new neighbor
before she was seated next to me-.
ALLOW me-" I said then, offering to
relieve her Of the small bag and large
loose cloak which she held on her
knees. There is room for these
here"-indicating the opposite seat, on
which my own impedimenta reposed.
She thanked me with a bow and
few murmured indistinct words; and
as took the two articles from hel
hands. | caught a glimpse Of her face
II was covered with a thick gray COS
samer veil, such as ladies use at tht
seaside or for driving in the country
but the lovely hair that had escaped
from beneath the large shady hat, anc
something in the whole bearing star
tied me with a wild impossible Idea
Had I gone mad, or was the Image o
Mona Branscombe so imprinted on tn
retlra OF my eye that to me every
woman must bear her likeness?
I darted another swift keen glance
at my neighbor as l resettled m.sel
in my place.
They will be quite safe there"
said. pointing to her possessions. ant
then | stopped. breathless. 1t was n
fond illusion Of my love-sick fancy. !
was Mona herself! The large llmpi'
eyes, which even the thick gossame
veil could not hire, looked into min
for an instant with a warning depre
catory expression, the graceful hea'
moved with tine scantest, most distan
acknowledgment OF any courtesy, ant
then turned resolutely away. EYi
IDENTIFY Miss Branscombe did not choose
to recognize me further.
sat for the next ten minutes
stunned and bewildered. watching thu
meadows and trees as they flew by II
endless succession, and trying t
steady my mind sufficiently to grasI
the situation. Miss Branscombe here
alone. unattended-she who had hith
erto led such a carefully protected lif'
travelling alone; and whittier? wa'
certain that neither the rector nor Mis-!
Elmslie had known Of her projected
journey-the mornings conversatio
quite precluded the idea. How had sh'
reached the station without being seeI
by us-the rector or myself?
ITO be continued,)