Hutchinson gazette., 1899-07-13

onoe at the Lea, and the exercise q
the tact and friendly Kindness YOU havo
already Hhown''-I bowed-"will bo In
valuable to us at this juncture. After
the funeral Miss Elmslie and Minp
Branscombe will leave the place, and
a year or two OF foreign travel, with
fresh scenes and associations, Will, I
have no doubt, make "A great dlifer-
ence. In Miss BFanscombes views and
feelings, She has been brought up In
a secluded way, and has seen few peo-
Pile hitherto, All we want is TO gain
time. But here Is my fellow; we must
hurry up to catch the lilo express.
The 11;1O express was a favorte
train evidently, ! congratulated my
self on having secured corner seat
next the door, as my carriage filled
rapidly. AT Wivenhoe, the first stop
ping station, two seats-that opposite
to me, on which had deposited my
black bag and the light dustcoat which
l carried, and a second set next TO
mine--were the only ones unoccupied,
The weather was warm, and was Just
congTatulating 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 lady,
evidently n good deal fiuttered at the
narrow escape she had made Of MISS
Ing the train, sprang lightly In and
deposited herself In the vacant place
by my side,
II had all happened so suddenly
my head had been turned away at the
moment Of the lady's appearance-that
I had only time TO draw my somewhat
long limbs out of her path, and none
to catch glimpse OF my new nelghbor
before she was seated next to me.
"Allow me-" 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"-lndlcatlng the opposite seat, on
which my own impedmenta reposed.
She thanked me with a bow and
few murmured indlstinct words; and,
as / took the two articles from her
hands, caught glimpse OF her face
II was covered with thick gray goS'
samer veil, such as ladies use at the
seaside or for driving in the country
but the lovely hair that had escaped
from beneath the large shady hat, and
something In the whole bearing star
tied me with a wild impossible idea
Had ! gone mad, or was the Image oi
Mona BransCombe 80 imprinted on tn0
retina OF my eye that to me every
woman must bear her likeness?
darted another swift keen glance
at my nelghbor as resettled myself
In my place.
"They will be quite safe there" ]
said, pointing to her possessions, and
then stopped, breathless. 1t was no
fond Illusion Of my love-sick fancy. II
was Mona herselfl The large limpid
eyes, which even the thick gossamer
veil could not hire, looked into mine
for an instant with a warning depre-
catory expression, the graceful head
moved with the scantest, most distant
acknowledgment Of any courtesy, and
then turned resolutely away. EVIL
IDENTIFY Miss Branscombe did not choose
to recognize me further.
I sat for the next ten minutes
stunned and bewildered, watching the
meadows and trees as they flew by In
endless succession, and trying to
steady my mind sufficiently to grasp
the situation. Miss Branscombe here
alone, unattended--sh who had hith'
erto led such a carefully protected life
travelling alone; and whittier? ! was
certain that neither the rector nor Miss
Elmslle had known Of her projected
journey-the mornings conversation
quite precluded the idea. How had she
reached the station without being seen
by us--the rector or myself?
l.