The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-01

by George, If I hadn't nearly
forgotten quoth Stafford pere.
He rummaged in an inner pocket.
Cant find the letter. Must nave
left 1t at the office. Anyhow, it's from
NY cousin. Godfrey Chester"
Now, Henry!' interrupted the mild
voice of Mrs. Stafford in amused ex-
postulation. why will you keep up
that fiction about that cousinship? 1t
is mythical and you know it,
ITS certainly remote" conceded the
beaming paterfamilias at the opposite
end Of the table, "but there once was
relationships long time ago. ] admit.
But Chester and I have traced back
until we found 1t. He's good fellow,
Chester. I'VE always been urging him
to manage that our young people may
become acquainted. He writes that
his daughter will pass through Chica-
20 tomorrow on the way to New York,
and will spend few days with us. He
says he wishes one of my family would
meet her. Bless my soul, here's the
letter after all. He put on his spec
tacles-read aloud: You can't mis-
take her. She's curlyheaded little
sirl, in gray gown and hat with
gray feathers. She's a nice child, and
I'll be glad to have her meet your
youngsters" "There"
"A childw groaned Ralph, who was
22 and studious.
He swallowed his cafe noir at gulp
and rose disgustedly.
youngsters, indeed!" cried Dick dis
dainfully. Does he take us for kin
dergartners?"
Ross, who was the eldest, smiled in
quite a superior and disinterested
fashion. He boasted a iourshing
mustache. He was studying law.
Plainly, the subject had no interest for
him.
"Eh, but one Of you must meet the
childi" cried the head Of the house.
you'll go, Ralph?"
Cant, sir. I'm doing an article on
the architecture of the 10th century.
1t takes a lot of research. I'll be all
morning in the Newberry Library"
Henry Stafford. huge Of girth, rose
ate Of visage, and twinkling of eye,
turned his harvest moon face implor-
ingly toward his youngest son.
You, Dick?"
"Got golf match on. Can't make
It, SIR"
Dear. dear! If your sister We're
only at nome
She'll be back tomorrow after
noon," put in Mrs. Stafford
But the little girl gets here in the
morning. She must be met. She is
from a comparatively small town. She
would be quite bewildered were she to
find herself alone in Chicago. Besides,
I'm under several obligations to Ches-
ter in business way" He sent the
good looking young fellow with the
mustache an appealing glance.
II wonder, now, Ross. if you-'
Ross laughed leniently. You poor
rerplcxed old chap! Yes, I'll see that
the child gets here all right
"Good!" said Henry Stafford with
sigh of relief. "Good!"
But when the Western train dis
gorged it's jostling multitude in the
union depot the following morning
Ross Stafford, standing closely by the
iron gates, found that he had UNDER
taken task of greater magnitude
than he had at the time imagined.
Ehere was such crush of people,
Stout and thin, tall and short, big and
little. There were children, process
sions Of them. But they all seemed
to belong to the folks who hurried
them along. Never a glimpse could he
catch of curly-headed little girl in
gray gown, wearing hat with gray
feathers. Or--was the dress brown?
by Jove! He wasn't even sure of
that.
The last laggard group trickled
away. Ross knew the conductor of
the Denver train-spoke to him as he
came hurrying along.
"All off your train, Brigham?"
"sure!"
There was a little girl coming to
Chicago-had curly hair-a blue dress
"a green hat-blest If I remember,
Wasn't she on?"
"Alone. was she?"
YES"
mo. sir. Didn't come. Sure? Course
! am."
Ross wheeled around. "Wen! I'll
telephone the folks that she wasn't on.
Dad can wire her people and find out
beg your pardon!"
And he suddenly found himself bow
Ing profoundly, hat in hand, before a
young woman with whom he had al
most collided in his haste, slender
young woman, a graceful young wo-
man, a lovely young woman, as his
susceptible heart Instantly acknowl-
edged.
She accepted his apology with a
slight bend of the head-a vivid blush.
Half way up the stairs he glanced
back. saw her standing where he had
left her. He hesitated-went back.
You are waiting for some one? Can
! be Of service?"
THANK you!" Ye gods what a sweet
voice. II am afraid there has been a
mistake. No one has come to meet me
May ask you to call a cab?"
And when he had done so when she
mad thanked him, when he stood bare
headed on the curbstone as the vehicle
rolled away, he recollected that he had
not listened to the address she had
given the driver and he walked off in
towering rage at his own imbecility.
Never was there so dreary day, al
though the late August sunshine found
its,way into his Office Never had the
reading of the law seemed such a duh
and tiresome drudgery. Never before
had the pages blurred into a mass of
meaningless black marks. But, then
never before had bewitching young
race come between him and his books.
race with reddlsh-gold ringlets clus-
teripg around white forehead, and
ehyaeyes the color of woodland violet! |
He leaped from his seat as a bright |
thought struck him. He would hunt
up the cabman. That was the thing |
to dol But. although he swung around !
the Union depot for two whole hours,
anu questioned every jehu within
reach, he could not find the man he |
III nx.iA