The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-12-23

big trouble.
Now think Of it, Furgus is 12 year,
older than when kissed him and cried
my eyes out telling him goodby, and
he laughed and told me not to be q
silly. and said he would give me one
Of Floras puppies. He was only II
then.
Laura Garfield told me last winter
all about his engagement to that hor-
rid Mrs. Fanshaw. She said she was
sorry for him. Men are such idiots
where women are concerned. thought
Furgus would have had more sense
Can't he see that woman like that
would only marry him for his money
He's out in Colorado, Laura told me,
developing some mines.
That's Just like Furgus. That sort
Of life must suit him down to the
ground. suppose Cousin Tom is
furious. He would like Furgus to be
clerk in his bank.
The Idea seemed to amuse Cora, for
she smiled a pretty, wistful intrOspec-
tive smile at the pleasant memoirs OF
childhood days, a smile caught and ap-
propriated by one OF the unruly ball
players, who smiled back
He's brick" he commented, sitting
down on the arm Of Coras seat Il
bet you he knows how to golf and play
tennis. l could see 1t In his face. He
didn't mind being hit, not a bit. If
II had been that old duffer over there
Indicating the respectable banker)
he would have been mad and gone and
complained to the conductor. Bet you
he would"
Whereupon Cora and the red-haired
boy who had a manly. frank look, in
spite of his freckles and broad mouth,
fell into cheerful chat, irrespective OF
the heat and the unhappy baby which
had wisely and determinedly gone to
sleep. in spite Of the humping process
inflicted on 1t by its benlghted mother
in the belief that 1t was soothing and
conducive to slumber.
isn't she fool?" the boy said, con-
temptuously referring to the mother,
IF were that baby I'd yell Just to spite
her. Why don't she put 1t down and
fan It instead Of humping It that way p
To which Cora, agreeing heartily, a
congenlal conversation ensued between
them as to fox terriers as compared to
other dogs. He's bully" suddenly
remarked the boy, referring to the
tall man who had gone out to smoke In
the sleeper. Il Ike that sort of fellow.
His name is Grey-F. Grey, and he Is
from Colorado bet you he's seen a
grisly-Ive a mind to ask him when
he comes back"
"Grey? How do you know?" Cora
asked, catching her breath with an
acute sensation Of surprise and pleas
ure.
Il saw II on his dress suit case. |
knew he was a game fellow by the look
Of his eyes" remarked that keen OBJ
server. you are dead game, too, aren't
your"
Cora laughed gayly and a firm friend
ship based on mutual esteem and re-
spect was established between Dick
Camden and herself forthwith.
1t was to be lasting, the freckled boy
declared, or else 1t was no good. To
which Cora assented as they ate or
anges together.
Last call for dinner had been an
nounced by the dining car waiter. That
agreeable interruption was over, and
the train sped over trestle and bridge
and through rolling country which
made the changing noise Of the train
increase as they dashed over the back
cut through the hills and diminish
when It came to level land.
They were approaching the foothills
Of the mountain where Cora was going
to spend the summer, and the last
glimpses she had through the window
out into the darkening night was that
Of dottlng lights, like flrefies, on the
hillsides in the cottages Of the mill
hands grouped around some great mas
siye brick cotton factory, brightly III
up by electric lights shining through
innumerable rows Of windows. which
made a fairylike appearance on the
calm, starless background Of the blue
sky above.
Cora lay in her sleeper wide awake
thinking Of Furgus Grey.
'T wonder what his trouble Is? She
can't have thrown him over. Fmgus
is much too important and rich a man
for that What can It be-"
The grave, troubled face Of her one
time chum and boon companion trou-
bled and preoccupied Cora, and the fact
that he had failed to notice or rec
ognize her gave her a pang absurdly
keen and made her flush and grow In
dignant
Il suppose he's going on to Washing
ton where she is. | almost wish he
will find out how shallow and selfish
and venal she is. only that would be too
Iut6u. Ilt SUN a AhDI manly ASAASWs
It's too bad"
Finally Cora dropped into a restless
sleep, silence having settled over the
sleeper, when suddenly an awful crash
came, a frightful iarring and jolting,
while calls, screams and cries rang out
on all sides among a wild and mex
plicable confusion-then the train stood
still.
Cora bruised, and her arm bleeding.
sprang up and ran out to find the loco.
motive detached, the front coach turned
over and smashed, and men extracting
people from the debris and helping
the wounded and injured.
Cora found herself kneeling by the
side Of aggressive and freckled Dick,
with whom she had sworn a lifelong
friendship but few hours before hold
ing his hand In hers, while the blood
from an ugly cut on his head streamed
down over her dark blue wrapper,
staining and running its laces, while
she called to him and tried to bring
him back to consciousness.
Tho bright piarn from a lantern fell