St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-06-08

who walks in a dream. He entered
the first carriage waiting at the curb
and gave the driyer.the address Of his
club. Arrived there, he spent the
evening moodily putting strong cigars
| In the farfhest corner Of the smoking
room. Seven o'clock came and passed,
but he did not 60 to dine with Eleanor.
| At ten o'clock he went to the writing
room and penned the following note,
which he sent at once by messenger:
Dear Miss Pennrhyn.-I owe you an apol-
/ ogy fer my failure to accept your invita-
ton to dine this evening l was in the
| railroad station when Won arrived. and a
certain occurrence which took place there
| ian occurrence which you will readily re-
calD made it impossible for me to meet
you on the same terms as hitherto. Cen
sequently, / did not feel that I could come
as the guest of your family. / shall call,
however, some time in the course of a
week, to arrange the formalities of a brok-
en- engagement. Yours truly,
], z. BROMLEY.
1t was no surprise to Jack to re
celve a reply to his curt note III the
flrst mail the next morning:
My Dear Mr.. Bromley-Fee selling that no
explanation is required by one SO astute
IN Judging from appearances as you have
proved yourself to be. / have simply to ac-
knowledge and accept Your apology for
neglecting my invitation to dine. and to
inform you that shall not be at home the
coming week, as l sail for Liverpool this
morning, at ten. by S. s. oiympic-quite
unexpectedly, by invitation Of friends.
Yours sincerely.
ELEANOR PENNRHYN.
2. Son consideration, 1 feel that / owe
1t to myself, as well as to you, TO add that
the gentleman who met me, with my fam
lily, at the station, yesterday, is my moth
er's youngest brother, very dear uncle.
Whom I have not seen since he was boy,
and l little tot whom he used 10 draw in
his go-cart E. P.
Good heaYens.r exclaimed Jack
Bromley, starting from his leather
covered chair with an abruptness that
sent it heavily crashing to the floor.
Curse me for a chump and an idiot!
Dear girl-and she sails at ten, and it
IS almost half-past nine now! There's
no way to reach the dock before the
Olympic sails-unless--by Jove! I'll
make the try.F'
He seized his hat and dashed across
the square to the great post office
building. His friend and fellow club
member, the postmaster, was just set
tling down to his days work when
Jack burst into his private room.
Grant me one favor, old man.
be cried, "and I'll be your debtor from
now until doomsdayr
ssThis is my busy day laughed the
postmaster. 'sOut with your request z
Shoot me down to the wharf
through the pneumatic mail tube, be-
fore the Olympic sails. Explanations
to follow Quickyes or no n
Are you sane, Bromley demand
ed the postmaster
Sane as any reformed fool. But,
look here, I've Just got to get there!
Ny afianced-''
: sAhw said the postmaster. Hegot
up quickly and led the way to the vast
mailing-room. ''Has the ocean mail
case come back through the tube?o
he asked.
Just back, sir, "
a<.-~ 4
"Well, here's a human document
that arrived just too late for mailing.
Telephone Dovner Then put my
friend, Mr.. Bromley, in the case and
shoot him down. He wants to catch
the Olympic before she sails.
The subordinate grinned and |
nodded his head. f'God bless Won, |
Diek!' cried Jack Bromley, as the
postmaster sped back to his noun
'ainous task. In a moment more Jack
ay outstretched in the wire network
# the mail case. The great pneu-
natic tube yawned before him All
'ightf7 came back Downers voice
through the telephone.
Whiffi Observation-Disclosures
soul-terrifying speed. Two min
ties Of suffoeating horror. Then the
loorat the otherend of the pneumatic
ube opened, the cage was unlocked
nd Jack Bromley was helped to his
eet in the blessed light Of day. He
asped a few times, shook himself,
ooked at the clock and hastily
rushed his sclethes.
Fifteen minutes to SET everything
ight@ he exclaimed, g1ancing ont at
he looming bulk Of the Olympic.
= Heaven grant it may be enough!!''
And it was.
A Quick Response.