Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-01-16
WHERE
JOURNEYS
END
By
CRITTENDEN MARRIOTT
CRITTENDEN MARRIOTT
Copyright, 1903, by T. C. Mcclure


the Pullman. Twenty hours
MORE" he murmurcd well, it can't
be helped By George, that's a pretty
girl! Nice old lady with her too Hope
they'll come in here"
Next moment his hopes were real
lied, as the two women entered the
car, guided by an obsequious porter,
who deposited a dress suit case and an
umbrella in the section opposite. "Be
here about ten minutes, ma'am," he
said in answer to question from the
elder; "got to cut in some sleepers and
a diner"
THANK you Better sit down, Aunt
Bessie"
But the elder woman shook her head
81 do wish you had some one to go
with you. Dorothy she exclaimed in
tones Howard could not help overhear-
Ing. II can't bear to have you go
alone Your uncle never would have
let YOU if lie hadn't been sick in bed.
You're sure YOU don't mind:'
81 don't mind the least hit in the
world. auntic We bachelor girls have
to learn to do for ourselves.
Bachelor girls, indeed" The elder
lady shifted. while Howard felt an I'M
accountable thrill of pleasure pass
through him. "OId maids we used to
call them. a girls Il girl. no matter
what she says, and l don't like to see
one travelling alone. 1t wasn't consid-
cred proper in my young days"
81 know" returned the girl softly.
"But travelling has changed SO since
then, even down in this dear little out
of the way corner of the south. Why,
what could harm me?"
"Oh nothing, l suppose, but l don't
like it. You wouldn't even take a
lunch with you,'' she added irrelevant
ly, her hospitable southern heart ag-
grieved. ut seems so inhospitable to
send any one away without something
to eat"
you're awfully good, Aunt Bessie;
but, indeed, it wasn't worth while. I'll
get dinner and breakfast in the dining
car and be in New York for lunch
A sudden changing made the elder
woman start "Graciousw she ex-
claimed. "I'll be carried off! Goodby,
Dorothy. Write as soon as you get to
New York. I'll be anxious till hear"
The two hurried to the platform,
where the girl stood smiling and wav-
ing until the train was we'll under way.
So we'll under way was it, indeed, that
as she turned to enter the car SUD
den lurch threw her violently to one
side and made her grasp the rail to
steady herself. AS she did so her
purse, hung to her belt by chain,
few open and sent most of its contents
at large through the yet Enclosed doors
of the vestibule.
Unaware of this, however, Miss Yer
non walked to her seat, glancing around
her just in time to see Howard watch
ing her. Both were thinking of the
good lady's anxious hospitality, and
before they could recover themselves
others eyes.
With quickly stiffened lips Dorothy
sank into her seat. AS she did SO her
purse swung forward into her lap, ex-
posing it's emptiness to her startled
gaze. With gasp of dismay she seiz-
ed and examined it. Her ticket was
safe in an inner compartment, but ev-
cry cent of her money was gone.
1t did not take her long to decide on
the moment of her loss TOR the hope
lessness of repair ing it. Miss Vernon
was Il very Independent young woman
who on more than one occasion in the
four years that had elapsed since she
had begun to earn Aer own bread had
seen her. funds depleted nearly to the
vanishing point, yet never before had
she found herself entirely penniless.
There was nothing to be done, how
ever To telegraph to Aunt Bessie for
money would be to brighten that lady
almost to DEATH and there was no one
else on whom she felt at liberty to call.
She must simply resolve to make the
best of her journey, all twenty four
hours of it, without money.
Meanwhile Howard had been watch
ing the girl out of the corner of his
y
He had noted the look Of veXatiOn that
froze the smile with which she had I'M
Intentionally favored him and had
promptly averted his eyes, as if in
hopes that the girl wrath might glance
off his broad shoulders Thus, turned
away, he had missed seeing her diScov-
cry Of her open purse and her conse-
quent CONSERVATION. When he had ven
tured to look again, she was staring
straight ahead Of her with what SEEM
ed to him a most inscrutable express
sion. In reality she was thinking of the
luncheon she had refused and ponder
Ing the great truth that even a modern
dining car is of little avail unless one
had the price of q meal
As the afternoon Wore away Howard
began 10 curse the conventionalities.
Here he vas within few feet of this
peerless yirl, as he had already begun
to term Ii r, and yet to all practical pur-