The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1901-03-02

An nOur later dinner Wda an
nounced, and stately lady, past the
bloom of youth, but with energy and
vigor in firm, elastic step, and the
glow of fire and feeling in her fine
brown eyes, passed into the dining
room with her two nieces, who looked
flushed and rather anxious.
"Why, Thomas, why was this mail
not sent?" queried Miss Tabitha with
stately displeasure to the butler, who
stammered something about Ann, the
maid.
Hurry, John, with the carriage"
Miss Thornleigh ordered, rising and
leaving the fruit and coffee, for it was
growing late. 81 will take this mail
myself. Don't let it happen again"
Thomas looked abashed, but rather
radiant, nevertheless, and it was sur
prising with what promptitude the
carriage rolled up to the front door.
Noel said nothing as they went
rapidly down the road toward the
village, ten miles away.
"John is driving very recklessly,"
Miss Tabitha remarked as they
dashed along.
Ivan Thornleigh's drag and bays
were before the post Office, which ad-
joined the station, and the train came
in as Miss Thornleigh's carriage
stopped before it.
Someone looking through window
of the sleeper beckoned and called out
vigorously. A moment later Ivan
came hurriedly through the noise and
hustle about the depot to where they
sat waiting for the evening mail.
"Judge and Mrs. Cameron and Miss
Adele are there, and they want to
see you while the train waits" Ivan
said, opening the door. ''The judge
asked me when that lawsuit about
your canal will be put in court, aunt.
He says"
"I'll see him." said Miss Tabitha,
stepping briskly out.
so, girls, why don't you come on
with us to New Orleans? 1t would
be glorious!" said Adele Cameron.
Then they fell to chatting and gos-
siping gayly, while the judge entered
into a lengthy disquisition as to the
technicalities of the law and the
reprehensible facility with which a
case may be sidetracked for an indefi-
mite period in the parish courts, while
Miss Thornleigh listened with sur
| prise, too much interested to note
| that the half hour allowed for the
stop had expired until the conductor
| shouted out "All aboard!" and the
train glided off with quickly acceler-
ating speed, while Ivan and the girls
rushed down the length of the car.
Miss Thornleigh had started up,
but seeing the uselessness of an at
| tempt to call back the conductor or
have the train stopped, had resumed
her seat, with quiet composure
which BODIED well for the further de-
velopment of the elopement scheme.
80, how dreadful! What in the
world will we do?" exclaimed Janet
clasping her hands, when they had
rushed bacl-. and dropping into seat
| 81 see no reason whatever for ex
element, child" said Miss Tabitha
raising her eyeglasses with compos
ure, which gave Janet her cue.
"But darling auntie, we will be
taken to New Orleans! This dread
full train will not stop for hours, ant
this is carnival week."
"Where will we go?" chimed il
both, with helpless air.
"Too bad. Awfully sorry. City's
so confoundedly crowded with stran
gers, too" supplemented Ivan, with
perplexed annoyance.
so, girls" said Adele, sympathet
ically, ''if you could only come with
us. But"
"Pooh, pooh! Don't distress your
selves. New Orleans is big enough
to accommodate three handsome
women" said the judge, reassuringly
while Mrs. Cameron turned to make
a suggestion.
Noel was right when she had de-
clared some five hours before that
her aunt Tabitha could rise to the
height of any emergency, be it what
il may. So was Ivan, when he let the
burden and responsibility of solving
the difficulty rest upon that fine and
authoritative lady.
| You really neeu not distress your
Selves" she said, with calm and
unruffled dignity, taking out pencil
and writing few words on leaf o.
her note book, which she tore out
and handed to her nephew.
"Oblige me, Ivan, by wiring back t.
Thomas when we reach the next sta
ton. And also these directions t.
Ann, my maid. She must pack oul
trunks and take the three O'Clock
train. She can reach us by six. o.
course, there will be no difficulty
about getting suitable apartments
You may also telegraph to these sew
eral addresses"
Miss Thornleigh wrote of various
messages with serene composure
which Ivan took, promising to sent
them off, while throwing tri
umphant glance in the direction o.
her two girls.
"Don't be uneasy, my dears. AS W.
are in for the carnival, by the de
cree of Providence, we will make the
best of IL. / am not quite so old anC