Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-04-28
To- MORROW AT NOON

TOMORROW AT NOON
For hours before the Chicago express
entered the Grand Central Station u
passenger in the sleeplng-car Arcadia
was in state bordering on frenzy.
He had smoked so many cigars that
the porter regarded him with appre-
hension. He had stamped up and down
the aisle 30 fiercely that baby had
shrieked In fright whenever he appear.
ed. He had cursed 80 horribly that the
ancient spinster In the section next his
eral times.
He was a big. athletic fellow, with a
rudy complexion, determined lips. and
eyes like gray velvet, with black lashes
and brows. His face would have been
noticeable at any time. but now. crown.
ed with an enormous sllver-embroid'
cred sombrero and distorted with i'm.
patience. It was doubly conspicuous.
THAT cowboy must be getting ready
to kill somebody" said the commercial
man from Omaha to the railroad man
from Buffalo.
EITHER that or he's going to sec his
girl" replied the other
The railroad man was keen Judge
of human nature. Tom Weir, ranch
man from the Valley OF the River OF
Lost Souls, Col, was on his way to
New York to find his sweetheart.
4 IL 4. -
cigar and counting the mile-posts he
recalled. as In a dream, his meeting
with the exquisite creature he was
seeking He remembered that clear
bright morning when he rode juggling
and Gathering into Durango, Just az the
train from Alamosa was pulling up &c
the station; how he threw himself OF
his mustang and Joined the crowd OF
miners, cowboys, loafers and "greas.
ers" on the station platform to see the
passengers alight
He heard again the murmur OF ad-
miration as she stepped from the train
and walked through the throng with
the air OF a princess.
His heart pounded madly as he re.
called the masses Of red gold hair. the
luscious lips, the eyes of most unholy
blue-the blue OF the mountain sap,
phires-and the graceful svelte form.
His thoughts shifted to the afternoon
when he was introduced to her at the
ranch adjoining his own. She haC
come to visit her school friend, the wife
sNR h nj In hAE and hat
wonderful pink gown with clouds and
pillows OF lace. the tiny fan she WELDED
so coquettishly, the rings on her white
fingers. She looked like an angel tt
the big. clumsy, blushlng, stammerlne
ranchman-a pink and white ange
with halo OF dazzling blonde hair.
Poor Tom Weir then and there lay
his great, unsullied, honest heart at heI
tiny feet. From the first moment she
spoke to him he was her slave.
Now he thought OF those heavenly
days that followed the long walks anc
rides in that glorious air that mounted
to their heads like champagne; the
nights when the great red moon swunt
over the snOw-covered mountain
peaks; the first mad kiss. the tender
confession. the sweet surrender and the
solemn betrothal.
And now he was going to see her!
Two years had gone by since the cir
OF his heart had said goodby to him
since he had held her to his brawny
breast and with swimming eyes ant
husky voice had begged her not to for
get him.
She had written him often sweet
kind, tender letters, letters he hac
kissed and cried over and put under hit
pillow at night. She had kept hei
word. She had not forgotten him
that radiant creature. o. where was
man 30 madly happy as he? And o
when. when, would this train get into
New York?
There was only one little bit OF ALLOY
In this happiness; a mere trife. to b.
sure, but still there. A few words II
her last letter had troubled him. II,
had read and re-read them. trying Il
discover Just what caused his uneasl
ness, but in vain. Stlll a vague, intan
glble something seemed threatening
him. Some instinct sounded a note 0
alarm as he pored over the perfumet
paper in his hand.
Il am tired OF teaching" the letter
ran. THE life OF governess is SC
narrow, so combining. SO ! have gon'
In for art"
That was all
Art--art? Art Ia perfectly harmless
10 be sure, but II was strange he hat
never seen her draw or paint anything
Indeed, he remembered that when with
the enthusiasm OF the typical Western
rancbman, he had pointed out thu
beauties of his beloved mountains sh,
had seemed rather bored than other
wise.
lie made sudden resolution. II,
would 20 to New York. lie would BE,
her and beg her 10 give up art ant
come near to natures heart with him
There was no reason why their mar
rage should be longer delayed. He
could give her a pleasant home even II
a trlfe lonely. hut she would never
be lonely. Would he not be with heri
And she could paint all tho pictures
she wanted In Colorado as we'll as In
New York.
Yes. he would 90 TO her. lie would
sweep her on her feet by his passionate
pleading; he would carry her away
with him; he would bring her back to
the mountains and to his home.
The train Numbered into the station.
Tom Weir had never been east OF
Denver before. The babel and confu.