Mower County transcript., 1904-11-30
CHAPTER XXVII.


cipal hotels.
CHAPTER XVII.
E~ AUCKLEY hardly knew where he
XXI went, but soon found himself
AEA again near the executive man
~ sion. The merriment was at
it's height. Afraid of meeting some one
who would recognize him, he walked
on rapidly. He wanted to be in
motion. 1t was the only thing that
seemed to deaden the agony in his
breast One moment he would clinch
his hands and stifle groan of pain as
he thought Of Lydia's social triumph
and her nearness to the man he de-
spased and yet dreaded, and he would
pause and look up at the sky as If
trying to read there reason for his
misery. He was again passing the
Dunleigh house and was about to re-
trace his steps to bis hotel when he
heard the sound Of an approaching car
rage. He believed 1t to be the Dun
:leighs' and darted into the grounds
and back to his former hiding place.
He was right.
The approaching vehicle turned in at
the gate and was rapidly curving to-
ward the veranda when George noticed
that one Of the rear wheels was COM
ing off. His heart was in his mouth.
He wanted to give the driver warning,
but it was too late. The wheel was
off. The carriage lurched to one side.
There was a chorus of muff1ed screams
from within, and, to make matters
worse, the horses took fright and be-
gan to rear and plunge. With no
thought as to the incongruity Of his
presence there at such moment
Buckley darted from his place of con-
cealment and ran to the aid of the la
dies, who were loudly calling for help
and trying to break the heavy plate
glass windows. Buckley followed the
| joltng carriage along the drive and
finally succeeded in jerking the door
open just as the coachman drew his
horses to stand in the light at the
steps. George helped the ladies out
"Why, it's Mr.. Buckleyv' exclaimed
Mrs. Cranston, in grateful astonish-
ment. 1t was most awkward mo-
ment. Buckley could only bow, his hat
in hand and pale to the lips. Miss
Cosby gave him knowing look as she
extended her gloved hand.
1T was good Of you," she said.
Mrs. Dunleigh seemed so much eX-
cited over what had happened that she
took no notice Of Buckley nor seemed
to remark on the oddity of his sudden
| appearance at such an opportune mo-
| ment. The coachman unhitched the
horses from the carriage and led them
| away, leaving George in the center Of
| the cluster of ladies. Kitty Cosby in
troduced him to Mrs. Dunleigh, but
| that lady simply bowed and continued
the catastrophe. Il thought we were
| being hurled into eternity
I'm our reception gowns, laughed Kit
ty, who was calmness itself. "Pshaw!
Mrs. Dunleigh, knew the old thing
would simply drag and bump along till
Harrison stopped the horses, but I do
believe you and Mrs. Cranston would
have crushed the life out of Lydia and
myself"
"Well, I'm glad it was no worse" de-
clared Mrs. Dunleigh. Come on in.
You'll all catch your deaths out here
in those thin dresses"
Lydia and George assembled the steps
last, and she paused With him a mo-
ment alone on the veranda. She had
not spoken.
II have simply no explanation to
make" he said, eying her cont1itely.
"Explanation? she said. "Why should
there be one?''
"As soon as their excitement is over"
! he rcrain 10. lri. ::;!ny WI wonder
how l iuplmncd to be Cn here III the
grounds at this time of night"
ooh" She raised her eyes to his in
a startled expression.
"But you may know" he went on
"vou may know that it was simply be-
cause I =~t75 ~5:iis 70 .carcn glimpse
of you. was half crazed with desper-
alton over it all-all this affair in your
honor given by that man-the rumor
over the whole state that you are to be-
come his wife. did not come to At
lanta for this. I came on business. I
finished my work at sundown and ought
to have gone back home, but my mis-
cry chained me here. I won't keep
back anything. I passed here earlier
In the evening and noticed the car.
riage waiting for you. I saw that I
could hide behind that hedge and see
you come out. did it and drank in
your beauty and my deeper despair.