Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-03-28
ZONE OPERA !
!, CLOAK, $25O"S
BY FRANCES CROFT
Copyright, 1904. by tho
8. Q. Mcclure Company \
100000 90 O-o-o-o-o-(


little fitting rooms. SIchoIas the Meek.
Nicholas the Downtrodden. had turned.
The words OF his letter stood out vivid
~ before her eyes:
Jacob served seven years for Rachel
and then got her sister. I have s~.ved
i've years. see no hope OF getting you In
seven. and you have no sister. Unless
you say yes In n week 20 the question
have asked you 10 often I sail on the
Mesaba for Europe. Remember. at a
signal from you / shall turn back 81 the
last moment. but my terms are uncondi-
tional surrender.
Nicholas had been the subject OF
gibes. both TO his face and behind his
back. One that she had coined she
gave current issue among her friends
because she fancied II was clever;
Church on Sunday. theater Monday.
flowers Tuesday, candy Wednesday,
new book Thursday. dinner Friday.
dead sick on Saturday OF Nicholas
Purdy."
II did not seem so clever 20 her now,
after n week during which there had
been no one 20 carry her prayer book
10 church, no one 10 take her 10 first
night performances. no flowers. no
candy. no books, no dinners, no NichO-
las Purdy. but there had been wea-
ried feeling. Much TO Der own surprise.
she found that she missed the man
moro than his attentions.
This was the day OF sailing for the
Mcsaba. From some feellng-curios-
fly, Of course-she knew the pier from
which II started. the car lines leading
90 Il and the time II took 10 get there.
She certainly would not give IN to him.
especially after the insolent tone Of
the letter Yet II was from n fear that
she might so far forget herself rs 10 90
down 20 the dock and lose her suprem-
acy over Nlcholas forever that had
brought her here. Her suit very op-
portunely needed alteration. Miss
Macy. the head filter, had hurried on
with o. promising % send something
a. throw around her Tor the few min.
utos 900 &c was ready
Then @ glrl bad appeared with q
gorgeous pink opera cape. such raj
meut was f1r beyond the slender means
OK toe struggling artist hut Tor once
she FORGOT i1 revi iD i,s richness She
was loos.le ln-.ols'v nt hcr watch.
Thueqrarrr7 of al hour and then the
Meahl would clear iar docks.
How Iast ihe minute lcw by, Half
an hour loE.
She pounded 0n ODE door Miss Macy
hustled in "I'm so-sorry. Miss Fair
weather. I've been delayed with some
customers. You shall have your dress
shortly"
"Eut I must have q no onccr
Impossible" And Miss Macy bus
tied on.
Lillian was now frantic.
She caught the next girl that passed
"Give me a dress. any kind OF a
dress.7
a moment later she was tearing a
price mark OF a sloppy dress Of a dirty
chocolate color. she rushed into Il
quite uumindful 81 the fact that Il was
two sizes too large. long WASTED and
bullying nc the hips. Throwing the
opera cape around her. she stuck on her
blue Lat and rushed madly from the
store
She hailed a passing cab. Five dol
lars II you get me 10 pier II before the
Mesaba sails"
IL seemed an eternity until she was
rushing down the long wooden shed
Pushing aside the man who demanded
her ticket. she ran up the gangplank.
and her feet had scarcely left Il when
Il was withdrawn. No Nicholas was
I'm sight. She approached the steward
ana asked him where Mr.. Purdy's
stateroom was He replied that no
such party was booked.
Then Lillian gave a gasp. She ran 70
the end Of the steamer nearest the
dock only 90 find that the vessel had
begun 90 move. She uttered cry
WHICH attracted the attention Of
youngish man sitting on the piles at
the corner Of the pier hanging his
heels over the water
. He jumped up and whistled. FOR he
realized the full enormity OF the sItua-
ton. She was going. and he was 10 be
left behind. The ocean would separate
them, besides a sea OF mlsunderstand-
ings. His blun had worked beyond
his expectations.
He ran 20 the steamers starting place
and found a stout commercial looking
man In n state OF great excitement bar
gaining with the owner Of a small tug
10 take him to the outgoing steamer.
Nicholas joined forces with him. A
ohject-to catch the steamer
bound them together.
The thing was all arranged I'm n few
minutes. They quickly got alongside
and hailed the steamer.
There was already great excitement
aboard the Mesaba. A woman In n
dirty brown gown. a pink opera cloak
aud a blue hat was begging hysterical-
" 90 be taken back TO land.
The captain saw peace FOR him when
be perceived the tug. The steamer
stopped. and Lillian was transferred %
meet her shameless lover and the just
y indignant costumcr. She began 20
upbraid the former when the CONNER
~