The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-08-31

they seemed to thunder in herear like
"a knen of destined evil to an unknown
human being. Suddenly the. talk
seemed to cease, and she could hear no
more, but that name had scared itself
into her brain. 1t was familiar one to
her. She had heard it often before, and
she remembered that the John Welton
whom she had heard about was a club
man, and that once she had been ae-
quainted with his sister. Nv. "a.
She inquired of her humble Ghetto
hostess who her neighbors were, but
the latter declined all information in
a half-frightened way, and she said
that they were strangers, whom it
was best not to know. Eleanor
watched the alley way that led to
their rooms, and in time her vigil
lance was rewarded by the appear
ance of a bunch of young toughs,
silent now and apprehensive, eying
the neighborhood as they emerged
with flashing, penetrating glances.
Their manner seemed significant of
evil.
When Eleanor went home that
night she retired to her room early,
and lay awake for, hours with tho
name of John Welta4kringing in her
ears. The snetehes talk rose up
again as warning to her. It was q
Queer incident, and it seemed to her
as if Welton were in danger, and that
she had been chosen as the instru.
ment to help him.
The next morning she awoke with
the thought still vivid and rampant
in her brain. She consulted the city
directory, and found only one John
Welton. ''Shall I write to him, and
tell him that I heard his name tossed
from lip to lip from the mouths of
thieves?" she pondered. But, no, he
will think that I am q crank or an
accomplish trying to extort money.
No, he won't even appreciate it. He
will read it, and laugh, and imagine
that 1 have an object in approaching
him other than purely disinterested
one. shall 60 and see him person
ally. Then I can explain all the cir.
cumstances> and he will understand
and-perhaps he will be thankful
for it,
1t took Eleanor precisely two weeks
to make up her mind to approach
the unknown John Welton. In that
time the duty of warning him took
definite form in her mind, and it made
her Drawer. She found the number
and street of his place of business,
and she walked resolutely into his
Office. A clerk asked her to be seated
and Mr.. Welton would see her in
| short time. She waited few terrible
moments, wondering what John Well,
ton was like, hoping that he would
not think her an adventures, and
whether he would laugh at her fears,
or be cordial and polite to her..
The door opened and Welton walked
In. Eleanor looked up, and as she
saw him standing there her heart
leaped to her mouth. A gray mist
rose before her eye, and. she saw the
vision OF man in an automobile and
disheveled girl lying on the pave
ment, and all the details of an &C.
cident that had occurred to her many
months before. A little laugh of ex-
ultation echoed in her soul. The hand
OF Providence had led her to the man
that she had watched for so long in
public places.
Are yeu Mr.. John Welton?" she
! stammered, irresolutely. Generally
self-possessed, she was seized by this
unexpected encounter with something
like fright for the first time in her
life. She rushed through her story,
getting it badly confused, and con.
scious OF the fact that this man whom
she was talking with was the one
above all whom she would much rath.
er have met in q more conventional
way.
He searched her face pointedly. She
was conscious of his scrutiny as she
talked. He listened and made no
comment. Then light seemed to
dawn In his brain, and he smiled sud.
denly, In frankly pleased way.
| remember now" he said, with
bold inspiration, in the midst of her
conversation, as if the information she
had brought to him were of no con.
sequence, and that he was thinking
! !! only of her. "You are the girl that
1 assisted on the drive one dav when
you had been thrown. Aren't you?"
Yes" she exclaimed, frankly, land
have been looking for you for
months, only to thank you for having
been so kind to me. and now fate has
helped me. and I am able to tell you
how much appreciate what you did. :"
And I think. Miss Deering, that
you have amply repaid me for that
tiny service. You are most gen.
erous, whole-souled girl to wish to
warn me of possible danger" He
walked with her to the elevator, and
he asked her if he might net know
her better. When she acquiesced it
seemed to him as if it were with re.
luctance. She had gone away coldly.
Her Formally was overdrawn,. he
thought.
A week later box Of flowers with
a note from Welton reached Eleanor.
Ihe message was more than friend.
ly one. 1t ran: 'This is to thank YOU
for the kindness you have performed
for me. 1t will be great honor, nv
dear Miss Deering, if you will permit
me to call upon you. Believe me, since
the day met you so inopportunely on
the drive your sweet image has chung
in my brain. had often wished that
I might see you again, and when you
came to me of your own accord, when
Providence took hand in my wish,
that was a glorious day, and your
coming made it all the grander. May
hope to see you to-mprrow even.