Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-09-29
A ROMANCE
OF THE RAIL.
By FREDERICK REDDALL.
copxrisht. 1900, by Frederick Reddall.
TENTH DAY.

Copyright, 1900, by Frederick Reddall
TENTH DAY.
HoMEwARD BOUND.
A small army of car cleaners having
been put to work on the Miranda and
the Pullman. they looked as fresh as at
leaving New York when our friends
went aboard that Wednesday, night.
With sigh Of relief Mrs. Hurst sank
into her favorfte chair.
at seems almost like home," she
said.
Draper and Ives busted themselves
looking to the comfort Of the two girls,
and for the moment the mother and
chaperon was left alone.
"Well," said Ives when Nadge had
been fused over enough. I'VE are mi
nus one Of our party. but we ought to
be thankful that It is no worse"
"Small lossr shifted Madge contemp-
tuously. 1--WE shall have a perfectly
lovely time going back; no foes with
out. no fears Within as the old hymn
says"
"Rather q tame ending, don't you
think sog' ventured Uncle John, look
ing up from his labor Of arranging q
cushion for Flerence's feet.
''Oh, one can never tell what will
happen" said Madge ,mischievously.
and then. catching the gaze Of Chester
Ives. she blushed scarlet and made a
precipitate retreat into the ladies' bou.
doir. whittier Florence followed her
after a few moments
Chester wandered Into his place Of
solitary confinement. as he laughingiy
dubbed the Pullman. where he would
now be alone save for the presence Of
Alec and Henry. and thus left Mrs.
Hurst and her brother alone. John
Draper drew up a chair beside her and
said:
"Aess. I don't intend to stand this
suspense any longer"
'Why. what do you mean. JohnT
She knew perfectly well what was So
hind that declaration, but. womaniike,
could not forbear a little catlike play
Ing with the masculine mouse, and her
big, worldly brother was just as tmer-
ous and nervous over the business In
view as the tiniest rodent that ever
nibbled cheese in q trap. The plunge
into matrimony, fike cold bath on
winters morning, seemed more repel-
lent the longer 1t was put OF, and
where younger and less worthy man
like Reuben Filley would have dared
al long ago John Draper, with the
modesty Of real and genuine merit, had
forborne to test his fate with Florence
Granniss, not because he did not love
her dearly and devotedly, but fer fear
that she regarded him more In the light
of parent than as possible husband.
II mean with regard to Florence" he
replied to Mrs. .Hurst's innocuons que
~. II am determined to know the
worst and that right soOn."
my dear John." she said. my heart
has been set on this match for years-
ever since Florence was of marriage
able age. She has never made q conf
dant Of me, but am certain that she
'is heart 'free-that Is, there Is no other
attachment. Further than that It
would not be right for me to say ex-
cept this, that believe you have only
to ask her to be your wife in order to
gain her consent" .. g.. ..-.
A joyous light shone In Drapers eyes
a he made reply:
II hope and pray your confidence
may not be misplaced" Then in a
more tocular tone he inquired:
'.Are you prepared to carry two en-
gagged couples back with you to New
York2 I think there is mischief afoot
between Madge and young Ives"
"Do you think I am blindf' replied
Mrs. Hurst. II confess that had
hoped Madge would do better, but un-
less all signs fail Mr.. Ives will not wait
very long to find out what fate has In
store for him. I shall not interfere"
'I'm glad to hear you say that,
Bess," was the rejoinder. Next to my
own happiness l have that Of Madge
and Chester at heart. know he loves
her, and 1 think she cares for him."
"Indeedv she laughed. II must CON-
pliment you on your remarkable in
sight into the love affairs Of others
while you are 80 blind to your own"
And with this parting shot Mrs. Hurst
rose to 60 and make some slight toilet
preparations for. dinner. which was
just then announced.
It was a rather quiet little group that
assembled once more around the cozy
dining table in the Miranda that night.
The interior of the car was positively
brilliant. By all analogies the gather
ing should have been merry one, yet
both Madge and Florence were unusu-
ally quiet. Perhaps it was the natural
relaxation after the unnatural excite
ment of the past few days. Mrs. Hurst
saw and noted the signs Of the times
and openly expressed her intention of
retiring early. saying, with meaning
glance at her brother:
1--WE shall feel better and brighter to-
morrow after we have become used to
the old routine again" So Draper and
Ives were left to their cigars and some
desultory talk over Filley's villainy.
There Is nothing to equal sound
ko,uty claaD For comnoSfnp ones