Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1901-01-25


he he'd not set put Il on.
GOOD thing ] didn't put my faith In
that alarm. ne said. "lts missed FIRE
or else it wasn't loud enough to wake
me-
As he started for the bedroom the
clock went OIL with a crash and a bang
aud jingle that made him jump He
recovered from the shock and ran in
to look at tie erratic thing. The hands
indicated six O'Clock. Still uncon-
vinced, be took his watch from under
the pillow and looked at it. Six o'clock
That meant an hour and half until
breakfast. and Wilmot was already con.
scious OF a feeling Of emptiness, lie
remembered that he had some crackers
and cheese in his cupboard, and he
brought these ont and devoured them
but they did not seem to have the right
kind Of taste. and 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 hi
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 iucipient headache,
nor the feeling that he had been up
all night and had slept in his clothes,
1t took him half an hour 10 ride down
town. and he had now two hours, but
he decided that he would get out and
see what the fresh air would do for
him. lie could walk up and down the
street until she came. and it would
be 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 ap-
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 stiff, 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 a cigar store and bought
a cigar. He fingered there little
while. for it was comfortably warm
insidey 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
10:30 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 eolairs,
Wilmot returned, bought a cigar and
sat down to watch the dlsembarklng
street car passengers with straining
eyes,
Once more Wilmot made a 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 herP" asked the
man al 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 a rage. It then lacked IS minutes
/ of II 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
amiable.
Il suppose you have a good eN-
cuse" she said, with deadly calmness.
81 hope so, I'm sure"
81 was hoping that there might be
a good reason for your lack of pune
I tuality," he returned, in frigid tones.
1T isn't that / object to waiting, but
1t is natural to think that only a cal
lous indifference could have kept me
waiting here in the cold for two hours
and a quarter and indifference from
the woman one has loved"
Il like that" she interrupted. 81
was here at 1855 and have been here
ever since.
Wilmot looked at her steadily, but
she met his look without hinching. It
was impossible TO doubt her.
"Here," said Wilmot, suddenly.
"We'ye Just ten minutes to make that