The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-29

lie would take the down train, get
off at Rock1and when she changed
cars for Gladbrook. No one could
prevent 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 fifteen minutes he was inside
his great coat and locked the hall
door, with nervous, glad excitement
stealing over him, like the coming of
a new day. A ten-minutes' walk
brought him to the station.
"Going away for the New Year -
queried the agent, pleasantly, hand
ing Reyburn the required pasteboard.
80, a little way" he replied, abb
sently, pulling on his gloves.
Scarcely had he settled himself in
the outward-bound train than Joe
Antrim thumped him on the shoulder
and sang out: Hello going away
on blowout, suppose? Well, so
am I. Some are going away, and
some are coming home"
In the awkward silence which fol-
lowed Joe's voluble introduction, he
seemed to read Reyburn's thoughts,
for, without looking further for re-
ply, he began again Miss Sum-
merfeld is coming home tonight, they
say and they say, too, that she is
bringing her best fellow with her.
Gladbrook looks for a wedding at the
Summerfeld home tomorrow. But,
Of course, l don't know it is only
gossip, maybe" !"
Having thus delivered himself, Joe
Antrim, without waiting for reply,
betook himself to the smoker, leav-
ing Reyburn in just the state of mind
he intended, halfway between insan-
ity and desperate intent.
But by and by Reyburn's mind
cleared to Joe's last sentence. Only
gossip. Of course that was all but
Joe was mean to hash it over, to him
of all persons, and in such an insinu-
ating manner, too. Well, he would
go on to Rockland now if he met her
complete bridal party he would see
for himself, and if it was all true,
why, he would not go home that
night, and perhaps Gladbrook would
never see him again.
At Rockland he had only few
minutes to wait between trains, and
the home-bound one was
waiting on a side-track. Purchasing
his ticket, he ensconced himself where
he could plainly see the passengers
leave the cross-train.
"Now for the bridal party, at leaat
the bride and groom, he said, trying
to be jocular with himself, although
his face was very white and his mouth
twitched nervously.
At the cry ''train, train," every
body began to hustle about. Friends,
baggage and good-byes were mixed
up indiscriminatly, but Leigh was
very still. He could hear his anx-
ious heart beat out its suspense in
great suffocating leaps, as the fateful
train thundered in.
Sure enough, there was Miss Sum-
and the Hooking man
who helped her alight also took
charge of her baggage.
Heaven have mercy Were gos-
sip and Joe Antrim right, after all
But pshaw any chivalrous fellow
traveller would have done as much.
Notwithstanding this plausible
thought, Leigh slipped into the home
bound coach like thief, taking the
corner seat in the rear end of the car.
When Miss Summerheld came in,
the terrible groomto-be, to whom
the bridal party had dwindled, even
he, was not in attendance. Marie
carried her own grip"
The man felt a rremor of hope quiv-
er all over him, something like an
electric current. She took the third
seat from the door and leaned her
head on her hand wearily. A strange
air for bride, thought the man i'll
the corner. He could not see her
face, but some way he felt that this
New Years Eve was what she wish
ed. o, was she in trouble, too? He
had half mind to go to her; the
seat directly behind her was provi-
dentially empty; he could whisper
Marie over the back of her seat
when his courage warranted it.
At the next stop he took advantage
of the stir of the passengers and slip
ped into the coveted grove. Blessed
privilege He had not been near, SO
near her for years, and his heart was
on fire. When he could wait no
longer, he whispered over the barri-
er: "Marie p
She looked up, surprised and star
tied. After the confusion had left
her lovely face, she gave him her
hand gingerly and asked in strained
tones: "How came you here, Mr..
81 could not help it, he confess
ed, flushing, but looking straight at
her. ''I wanted to be near you once
more. You don't know how misera-
BILE am without you"
There was world of emotion in the
but he kept bravely on:
81 came down to Rockland for
else than that 1 may get a
glimpse of you. I felt it would COM
fort me to ride home in the same
of all nights
He stopped and looked at her in
such pitiful, hungry-hearted way.
1t was all out now, this confession of
his. He meant to make it at the
risk of everything before his heart
failed him-and he had done go