The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1899-07-07


ence at the Lea, and the exercise OF
the tact and friendly kindness you have
already shown bowed-"will be in
valuable to us at this juncture. After
the funeral, Miss Elmslie and Miss
Branscombe will leave the place, and
year or two of foreign travel, with
fresh scenes and associations, will, I
have no doubt, make a great differ
ence in Miss Branscombe's views and
feelings. She has been brought up in
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 lilo express.
The lilo express was a favorlte
train evidently. l 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 seats-that opposite
to me, on which 1 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
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 luttered 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
1t had all happened so suddenly
my head had been turned away at the
moment of the lady's appearance-that
l 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-" 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 impedimehta reposed.
She thanked me with a bow and a
few murmured indistinct words; and,
as l took the two articles from her
hands. | caught glimpse Of her face.
1t 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 1 gone mad, or was the image OF
Mona Branscombe so imprinted on the
retina of my eye that to me every
woman must bear her likeness?
l darted another swift keen glance
at my nelghbor as l resettled myself
in my place.
They will be quite safe there" l
said, pointing to her possessions, and
then | stopped, breathless. 1t was no
fond illusion of my love-sick fancy. IT
was Mona herself! 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 mead
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-she who mad hith-
erto led such a carefully protected life
travelling alone; and whittier? was
certain that neither the rector nor Miss
Elmslie 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?
Go be continued.)