Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-28


ening as an angels wing lay the snow
on the intervening fields Over there
was her house, but she had been away
now for a long time studying music
and he had heard, for she did not
write to him, that her voice was simply
divine, and as a musician she was won
derful.
Nevertheless, it was night like
this, nodding toward the flooding
moonlight outside, that they-he and
she-had their misunderstanding A
spasm of pain crossed his fine face and
he caught his breath little. He could
not tell just how it came about, never
clearly understanding, but that night
so much like this, and New Years Eve,
too, marked the beginning Of their d.
yerging paths which came together
again after awhile!
Tomorrow was the glad New Year
again. Would its happy greetings be
only mockery to him?
Suddenly a thought, which had
smouldered in his mind for days,
flashed up like a CLEAN of heavenly
light, radiating his whole being.
She was coming home tonight on the
late train; and he was so hungry to see
her: only God knew how famished OF
heart he was!
He would tahe the down train ge,
off at Rockland when she changed cars
for Gladbrook. No one could proven.
him from riding home in the same
coach with her: and even that would
be a blessed comfort. Then, maybe,
something would come of it. Who
knew?
In IS minutes he was inside his
great coat and locking the hall door,
with a nervous, glad excitement steal
ing over him, like the coming of new
day A ten-minutes' walk brought him
to the station.
Going away for the New Year?'
queried the agent, pleasantly, handing
Reyburn the required pasteboard.
20, little way" he replied, absent
ly. pulling on his gloves.
Scarcely had he settled himself in
the outward-bound train than Joe An
trim thumped him on the shoulder and
sang out: "Hulloi going away on {
! blowout, l suppose? Well, so am |
! Some are going away, and some are
coming home"
In the awkward silence which fol
! lowed Joe's voluDle introduction, h
seemed to read Reyburn's thoughts
! for, without looking further for reply
he began again: Miss Summerfield il
coming tonight, they say; and the!
say, too, that she is bringing her bes
fellow with her. GIadbrook looks fo
a wedding at the Symmetrical home to
morrow. But, of course, don't know
it is only gossip, maybe"
Having thus delivered himself, 10
Antrim, without waiting for reply, be
took himself to the smoker, leavin
Reyburn in just the state of mind h
intended, halfway between insanit
and desperate intent.
But by and by Reyburn's min
cleared to Joes last sentence. Onl
gossip. OF course that was all: bu
Joe was mean to hash it over, to hi1
of all persons, and in such an insinU
ating manner too. Well, he would 9
on to Rockland now if he met he
complete bridal party; he would sc
, for himself, and if it was all true, VIII.
, he would not go home that night, an
perhaps Gladbrook would never Sc
, him again.
At Rockland he had only a few mil
, utes to wait between trains, and a
| ready the home-bound one was wal
: ing on a side-track. Purchasing b
! ticket, he ensconced himself where
= could plainly see the passengers lea7
= the cross-train.
Now for the bridal party, at lea
t the bride and groom" he said, tryir
f to be jocular with himself, althoug
K his face was very white and his mou
: twitched nervously.
e At the cry train, train" everybot
n began to hustle about. Friends, ba
b gage and good-bys were mixed up i
It discriminatory, but Leigh was We
: still. He could hear his anxious hea
b beat out it's suspense in great suffoca
: ing leaps, as the fateful train thu
: dered in.