The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1899-12-27
plainly see the passengers leave the

p"iiy see the passengers leave tl
cross train.
Now for the bridal party, at lea
the bride and groom" he said, t:yir
10 oc Jocular with himself although h
lace was very white and his mout
tWitched nervously.
At the cry strain, train,n everybod
began to hustle about. Friends, ba.
gage and good.bycs were mixed up il
dl'crlmlnately, but Leigh was very still
lie could hear his anxious heart be.
Out It's suspense in great sufrocatin
leaps, as the fateful tain thundcred il
sure enough, there was Miss Su 4
merfield; and the fine-looklng youn
man who helped her alight also too
charge of her baggage.
Heaven have mercy! Were gossi
ana Joe Antrim right, after all? Blu
pshaw! any chivalrous fellow travclc
would have done as much.
twi,hstanding this plausible
thought, Leigh slipped into the home
bound coach like a thief, taking tn,
corner seat in the rear end of the car
When Miss Summericle came in
the terrible groom-to-be, to whom tho
bridal party had dwindlcd, even he
| was not in attendance. Marie carried
her own grip"
The man felt q tremor of hone
qulver all over him, something like an
electri; current. She took the third
seat IRON the door and leaned her head
on her hand wcarily. A strange air for
bride, thought the man III the corucr
lie could not see her face, but some
way he fclt that this Now Years Eve
was not what she wished. 0, was
she In trouble, too2 He had half
a. mind to go to her; the seat
directly behind her was providentially
empty; he could Whisper "Mari." over
the back of her seat when his courage
warranted it,
AT the next stop he took advantage
OF the stir OF the passengers and slip
ped into the coveted groove. Blessed
privilege! He had not been near, so
near her tor years, and his heart was on
hre. when he could wait no longer, he
whispered over the barrier: "Maricv'
She looked up, surprised and startled.
Alter the confusion had left her lovely
lace, she gave him her hand gingcrly
and asked in strained tones: How
came you here, Mr.. Rcyburn?"
81 could not help it," he confessed,
flushing but looking straight at her.
81 wanted to be near you once more.
You don't know how miserable | am
without you"
There was world of emotion in The
undcrtone, but he kept bravely on:
VI came down TO Rockland for
nothing else than that might get a
glimpes of you. | felt it would com
Tort me to ride home in the same coach
tonight Of all nights"
He stopped and looked at her IN such
pltlful, hungry. hearted way. 1t was
all out now, this confession of his He |
meant to make it at the risk of every
hing before his heart failed him-and
he had done so.
or course she could do what she
pleased with it, and him, too, he had |
staked and would win, or lose, all. Put. |
ling his elbow on the barrier and lean.
ing little toward her, he waited for
her to speak. And her face was
study. Presently she gasped out: |
'Ihen you aren't to be married to.
night?" The Interrogation snapped
,hc last thread holding Leigh Rcy-
burns great love in reserve.
"Maric, darling Could you-did |
you think-O, Heaven as if could |
owe anyone but you o, Marie ~ |
The whitcncss OF his face was terri |
bic TO see ; but it all dawncd upon her |
at once.
clio, Leigh p'-shc put out |
both her hands, und two great tears
stole down her checks to finish the sem
Ience moro cloquently than words.
when the train stopped at Glad
brook, very happy couple alighted.
And out across the moonlit snow, from
The bclfry bars of the gray stone church
came the merry chime of bells:
"Ring out the old, ring in the new I
The year is dying let it Co."
"Ring In the new," said Leigh, draw
ing her arm through his. "Thc years
of misunderstanding are dead let
them go, dearest"
"We will" she answered, softly and
happily.
And Joe Antrim laughed in his
sleeve, and said to the bright New
Year morning 81 am glad | set
those two simplctons right by bit of
strategy. A little prevarjcation, ahem |!
But all is fair in love and war"