Courier Democrat., 1904-10-20
CHAPTER NJ.

u "A C>I ~ i.
r. 0R. ROSS SCHOFIELD was So
/ M gagged in decorating the bat
tered chairs in the Herald eii-
~ ,orial room with blue satin
ribt-,n. the purchase of which at the
Dry Goods Emporium had been direct
cd by q sudden inspiration OF his sup
rior. NJ. Parker of the composing
force 1t was Ross intention 10 gay
nish each chair with an clatorate!y
tied bow. but as he was ID sailor and
understood only the intricac!es OF
hard kno. be confined himself 10 that
species of ornamentation. leaving. how
ever. very long ends Of ribbon hans!n:
down after the manner OF the pendants
Of rosettes. Mr.. Schotield was alone at
his labor. his two confreNs having BE-
taken themselves to the station 50 meet
the train from Rouen.
Ii was wet. gray day. The wide
country lay dripping under for..l!sss
wraps Of thin mist. and the warm. ,lr:z-
zlins rain blackened the weather haat-
en- shingles Of the station. made clear
rejecting puddles on the unevealy
worn planks OF the platform and damp
ened the packing cases TOO thoroughly
for occupation by the station louase-.
The bus driver. Mr.. Bennett. and the
proprietors of two attendant "cut IN
ders" and three or four other worth:eS
whom business or the lack Of IL called
10 that locality availed themselves os
the shelter of the waiting room but the
gentlemen OF the Herald Were roo a.i-
tated 10 ha confined save by tta limits
of the horizon.
They had reached the station hal. an
hour before train time and consumed
the interval in pacing the platform IN
der a big cotton umbrella. addressing
each other only in ,.,onosyliai,ieS. Thos.
IN the waiting room sossip:-l aager!.-
and for the thousandth time at.our ttle
late events and particularly about -tie
tremendous news Of Fisbe-a Jrl,l& Bea-
nett looked out through the rainy door
way at the latter with reverence and {
fine pride Of townsmanship H.. de-
cla-ed it to he his belief that F:Si,..e
and Parker were waiting for her now
For all Carlow knew Why Fisbe. had
gone TO meet the strange lady - r..-s
station when she had cor1a 20 v.S:-
the Briscoes. why he had come with
her to the lecture, why - Lad tain
supper at the Briscoes' rii-e.- 5..::-..> and
dinner twice when size vas there IS
bee had told the story 10 Parker III 2
melancholy afternoon Is E-.ey "a. ~
gether in the Herald Office. and Parker
had told the town. 1t vas Simple
enough indeed. and Fishes past was
q mystery no longer Il l.:s,.: .-av=
been revealed years i1sEore Lad hare
been anything in particular - rs"a:!i
and If it had ever occ,:.--esi 10 ES.;a4
to talk OF himself and II. a6e.-s.
Things had habit CT aot oect.-....:..- =
F1sbee.
Mr.. Parker. very nervous himself.
felt his companions eibov- trembling
against his own as the grear els::la
reeking in the mist and scndin: .--.s
clouds Of white vapor ., 20 IL, So.
swooped down tie track. rEs..etI y:
them and came 70 q sla1dstti l,eyoad
the platform. Fisbee and tie foreman
made haste to the nea.ss>r vesr.oule
and were gazing blankly ii its barred
approaches when the. heard s!lfe-y
laugh behind them and an excla n.aI ion.
Upstairs and downstairs and il L.
lady's chamber. Just behind you
dear"
Turning quickly, the foreman behe,d
a blushing and smiling little vision. q
vision with light brown hair. q -ision
enveloped in light brown rain cioa::
and with brown gloves from which
the handles of big brown travelling
bag were let fall as the vision dis
appeared under the cotton umbrella.
while the smitren Judd Bennett reeled
gasping against the station
Dearest" the girl cried to che old
man, you should have been looking
for me between the devil and the deep
sea, the parlor car and the smoEa-:
I've given up cigars. and I've begun
to study economy. SO didn't come on
ether
The drizzle and mist blew in under
the top OF the "cut under as they
drove rapidly into town. and bright lit
tie drops sparkled On the fair hair
shove the new EDITORS forehead and on
the long lashes above the new editors
cheeks. She shook these transient
gems OF lightly as she paused in the
doorway Of the Office at the top Of the
Fickefy stairway.
Nh. Seho0ed had just added the last
tuueh 10 hi decorations and managed
% Glide into his coat IS the party came
up the stairs. and now, pesspitins,
Deuud. emhasraased. he assumed IN 1T