The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-19

| lifetime of love and desperate grief
to her. When he said goodbye to her
| in the mill lane, and she realized that
he had failed her, she gave one bitter
cry, and, in answer to it, some one
had run across the adjoining field, had
leaped the intervening. hedge, and had
struck him down with one swift, saw
age blow.
He had picked himself up and gone
away with a curse in his heart, not
daring to risk a fight. for the discard
ed lover was mad with Jealousy.
And now, for the first time they
were face to face again.
For an instant both were SILENT;
then the engine driver said, hoarsely,
What are you doing here?'' And the
other, with a contemptuous smile,
said: "How's Eppie,''
The drivers furious gaze f1ickered,
and the traveller intuitivefy looked past
the engine, across the station yard to
patch of green, where, at a cottage
door, a woman, young and comedy,
stood with a child in her arms.
The blazing sunlight shone full on
their faces, glinting in the gold of their
hair, enhancing the clear white and
red of their cheeks; they looked the
embodiment of spring and summer, of
childhood'S and womanhood'S health
mental and physical, in its perfection.
And, looking back into the drivers
eyes, the traveller read the intolerabIe
suspicion and jealous fear that flashed
into them, and understood what had
ment of revenge had come; he had
neither waited for it nor counted on
1t, but he would take advantage of it
to the full.
"I was coming along to the juno
tion," he said, "but I'll wait for the
next train. Then I can have a talk
with Eppie about old times" And he
deliberately turned his gaze toward
the ye,, cottage door on the green
hammer on the brake, and he seemed
as if he would leap from the engine;
but the guard had given the signal of
departure, and the train glided slowly
out of Clatworth, while the words
Curse your smote the air like the
lash of a red-hot whip.
The traveller smiled, carried his bag
for a word or two of converse with the
porter, reminding him of their acquaint-
ance five years back.
Il remember the old place we'll" he
said. ut looks just the same as it
used to-little changed. any more than
the people,"
And ne went toward the level cross
ing, where the gates still barred the
footway from road passengers, though
no train was due.
What's the matter with your boss?''
to the stoker of the Clatworth train
HE seems to have gone queer-says he
must get home for a bit, and he'll be
back to take the fN e-ffteen out even
if he has to run the whole way 1t is
-" with Il significant pause
Its to do with his Wife" said the
stoker, slowly. He sets great store by
her and he thinks thel e's trouble ur.
But he'll keep his word sure enough
and be back in time for her." And
he nodded toward the engine.
Meanwhile the driver had made his
way to the goods" just starting for
Clatworth< 1t seemed an eternity to
him until his cottage came in sight
and he stumbled out of the van like
a man who has had too much strong
drink; but the porter laid OBTAINING
hand on him and pointed toward the
waiting room, round the door of which
a group of people clustered, peering
and whispering.
Whats up?" said the driver. huslxf-
~.
You remember that commercial
chap as was hanging round here five
years since or Whereabouts? He came
back this afternoon and missed his
train somehow, so he went across TO
the parcels Office and put his bag in
and stopped there along of me- it might
have been couple of minutes or more
/ never thought to warn him of the
loose engine as follows you up to the
Junctfon-'twasn't as if he was stran-
ger; he must "a known well enough
He could see the gates was back He
was looking over his shoulder as he
set his foot on the line, and I shouted
out to him then, for 1 could see the
engine round the bend and he nodded
back, with something I couldn't catch;
and then, before I could get to HINT
was all overt" The man lowered his
voice. He was cut right in two" he
said, land he's in there. Best not look
at him. 1 think''-he hesita ted-'I
think Eppie's wanting you. She saw it
happen and ran across here to know
who twas. And I wouldn't tell her
You'd best tell her yourself. She said
1t made her feel rare and nervous about
you, and she'd be glad when the sis