Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1902-03-13
a PRETTY -
~ ~ COMPANION
BY Lou;r
By Louise bedford.
Il II X X X X Xxx
CHAPTER II.-(Continued.)

I'm sure l don't know how l shall
get on there tonight. l don't know
where this frolicsome engine has
chosen to deposit us, but we must be
at least 10 miles away from North
cliff"
Janetta gave an involuntary start;
the mans destination was the same as
her own.
"You can take my dogcart, if you
like. It's at house hard by. I've
a case there that will detain me for
the night" rejoined the doctor CURLY.
Thanks, ever so much. l believe
I'll be off then. Your patient is open
ing her eyes; the rest of the passen-
gers seem sorting themselves. Let me
see, there's child that belongs to this
woman somewhere" And, glancing
round, he saw Janetta, faithful to her
trust, seated on the bank with the
child he sought in her arms
He smiled and lifted his hat.
Let me relieve you of your burden"
he said, certain tenderness in his
voice as he looked at the little child.
There, don't cry"-to the little one
'mammy's all right"
He carried it off as gently as a
woman would have done; then he re-
turned to Janetta, standing by her
with a certain hesitation.
II have turned up friend here who
kindly offers his dogcart to forward
me to my destination. Can l be of
any service to you? l expect there
will be a train presently to carry on
the passengers. Is it an impertinence
to ask where you are going?"
Janetta rose, with feeling of stiff
ness in her limbs and some unsteadi-
ness of motion. The shock had half
dazed her. I'm going to the Grange.
Northcliff,' she said.
"How very odd! I'm bound for the
same place. Under the circumstances,
we had better go on together. I'll
speak to Drake about it. Sit down
again a minute. You look as if the
accident had been too much for your
nerves." he said, smiling pleasantly.
Kindly tell me your name, and I'll
see that your luggage and my own are
forwarded to us later"
I'm Miss Howard"
Thank you. Then I'll see if there
is luggage for the names of Howard
and Merivale to be rescued from the
debris, and then We'll get on as fast
as we can. AS Miss Seymour is deli
cate, it might be serious if she heard
rumors of an accident to our train be-
fore we arrived.
Invalid" calculated Janetta, as her
companion hurried off to complete his
der if this Mr. Merivale were a nephew
of the old lady. Very likely has ex-
pectations!"
Once fairly started in the brisk
evening air, Janetta's courage and
spirits began to revive, and she could
hardly help smiling at the curious po-
sition in which she found herself, seat
ed side by side with complete stran-
ger in borrowed dogcart, going to a
lady of whom she knew absolutely
nothing but the name.
1T is certainly curious coincidence
that you and | should be bound for
the same house." began Mr.. Merivale;
but it is still more curious to me that,
often as / am down at the Grange, |
have not heard your name mentioned
before"
THAT is easily explained. I an
swered Miss SeymOur's advertisement
for companion, and she is kind
enough to give me trial. We have
not met" said Janetta simply.
Her companion turned quickly, and,
in the half light, gave a swift, scruti-
nizing glance, accompanied by a smile,
OF which Janetta found it hard to ex-
plain the meaning. 1t was half
amused and half incredulous. He made
no sort of comment upon her explana-
ton, but turned the conversation rap
idly to other channels.
He knows all about that eccentric
old lady's advertisement" she thought
Mr.. Merivale chatted away so agree
ably on many topics and the ten miles
drive passed so quickly that Janetta
gave little start of establishment
when Mr.. Merivale pointed with his
whip to the twinkling lights of the
little harbor, and told her that they
were within half mile of their des-
tination.
1t was quite dark as they drove
through the cobbled streets of the
little town; then, by a sharp ascent
they climbed the hill just outside it,
and, turning into drivegate set open
to receive them, drew up at the door
of long, low, irregularly built house.
Mr.. Merivale jumped to the ground
and threw the reins tn the groom