The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-05-17

That meant an hour and a hair until
I breakfast and Wilmot Was already con.
scious Of a feeling Of emptiness. liz
remembered that he had some crackers
and cheese in his cupboard, and he
brought these out and devoured them
but they did not seem to have the right
kind of taste. aud the cold water that
he drank chilled his system so as to
destroy his desires TO smoke. Never.
theless he smoked and listened for
sounds Of breakfast preparation and
repacked his suit case and bathed his
face again to freshen himself up, and
in course of time Ella, the second girl,
knocked at his door and told him that
breakfast was ready.
But the cheese and crackers and the
pipe had destroyed his appetite and the
breakfast, for some reason, did not
taste good, anyway, SO he could not
rid himself of his ineipient headache,
nor the feeling that he had been up
all night and had slept in his clothes.
1t took him half an hour to ride down
town, and he had now two hours, but
he decided that be would get out and
see what the fresh air would do fer
him. He could walk up and down the
street until she came, and il would
be a good thing to tell her that he had
been waiting an hour and a half for
the glory of her coming.
The air was more than fresh. It was
raw and the wind was cutting. BY the
time Wilmot got TO town he was al
ready pretty thoroughly chilled, and
he began to tramp up and down his APP
pointed beat at once with vigorous
strides, hoping that the exercise would
warm him up. But his feet continued
cold and his hands numb and stir, walk
as he would, and even the glow of devo-
tion left him after half an hour.
He went over to a shoeblack stand,
and, seating himself told the boy to
apply plenty of friction. This instruc-
tion was carried out and Wilmot got
up and resumed his tramp in better
spirits, but Is minutes more of the
cold wind sent them down again, and
he went into cigar store and bought
cigar. He fingered there a little
while, for it was comfortably warm
inside, but he grew uneasy and went
out again and walked.
AS for the girl, she slept very
soundly and comfortably, was awak-
ened by her mother at $3.50 o'clock
and had time to eat her breakfast
comfortably and arrive at the tryst
five minutes ahead of time. She was
| properly indignant to find that her be-
trothed was not on hand and walked
up and down the block twice; then,
feeling chilly and observing that a
confectioner's shop window command
ed the street corner, she went in and
ordered chocolate and sat down to
watch and wait
| Wilmot got up and went out for the
first time at ten o'clock exactly, but
at that time the chocolate was just
being served and the girl did not see
him as he passed. The second time
she may have been looking at the
clock Wilmot was anxious, but not
entirely discouraged, for he had made
up his mind to allow ten minutes for
accidents. When that time expired he
began to think that perhaps the time
of meeting had not been definitely un-
derstood and that it might have been
TO-; 80, after all. At 10:30 he went out
and telegraphed to the house, and
while he was doing this the girl came
out, walked twice more up and down
the block, stamped her little foot
and went back and ordered eclairs.
Wilmot returned, bought cigar and
sat down to watch the disembarking
street car passengers with straining
eyes.
Once more Wilmot made sally;
this time TO the telephone office to
call up the railroad people and be-
seech them to search the waiting
room and the Lemont platform for
young lady.
"Can you describe her?" asked the
man at the other end. Wilmot thought
that he could, but on attempting it
was incoherent and stammering, The
railroad man grew pleasantly sarcas-
tic and Wilmot hung up the receiver
In rage. II then lacked is minutes
of IL o'clock,
Half frantic, he ran out of the drug
store and back to the car. There, as
he stood wondering what he could do
next, he felt a slight touch on his
arm, and, turning, found the girl. She
was looking pretty, but not amiable,
and Wilmot looked neither pretty nor
amia bic,
II suppose you have a good ex-
cuse," she said, with deadly calmness.
81 hope so, I'm sure"
II was hoping that there might be
a good reason for your lack OF pune
tuality.' he returned, in frigid tones.
cit isn't that object to waiting. but
1t is natural to think that only cal
lous indifference could have kept me
waiting here in the cold for two hours
and quarter and indifference from
the woman one has loved"
II like that she interrupted. II
was here at 9.55 and have been here
ever since"
Wilmot looked at her steadily, but
she met his look without fiinching. 1t
was impossible to doubt her.
Here. said Wilmot, suddenly.
"We'ye just ten minutes TO make that
train. Jump into this cab. ] think
can explain to your satisfaction"
II only hope | can" he added. to
himself, MS ne followed her into the
vehicle, but I've got to do some
quick thinking. Chicago Daily Rec
ord.
soiona who Get No Pay.
Only in Britain, Italy and Spain do
M. P.'s serve their country free of
charge. In Portugal the case Is curl