The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-01-21
CHAPTER Nv.

Reuben Culwick had an early dinner
at Muddleton's. After dinner he spent
some time poring over time table, and
finally rang the bell.
81 shall want my luggage taken to the
station this afternoon" he said to the
waiter who had doubted his sanity. Il
wish to catch the 5:15 train for London. "
After he had betrayed the expenses of
his board and lodging at Muddleton's be
sat with his hands in his pockets, con-
sidering many things Of grave perplex-
ity. The waiter left him--when busi-
ness took him into the coffee room again,
number forty-eight was laughing to him
self, just as lunaties of a cheerful frame
OF mind, or of no mind at all, are in the
habit of doing.
"Why shouldn't ~ Reuben Culwick
said to himself; Il shall not have another
chance-she's one of the family-I may
never see Worcester again"
He beckoned the waiter to him.
''The St Oswald Almshouses are at
the top of Foregate street, are they not r
"Yes, sir-in the Tithing."
"Ah the Tithing. have been so long
away that forget names and places
everything but INJURIES" he mutte-ed.
He did not go direct to the Tithing, but
wandered round the cathedral and stroll
ed to the bridge, over which he looked
at the Severn, and where he hesitated
strangely.
What is the use? L shall only hear
the recital of her grievances, real and
imaginary-disturb her and myself-feel
myself in the way, and leave her none the
happier. What's the use of my going,
after all?-I am as helpless, poor and
blind as she is."
He did not see the use of it in the
sluggish waters that flowed on beneath
the arch of the bridge, and at which he
Eazed so steadfastly-he had even turn
ed away as from an unthankful task. of
which the river warned him, when a sec
ond impulse set him with his face from
the railway, and took him with rand
strides in the direction upon which he
had first resolved. The church clocks
were striking three when he paused nj
the gateway which opened upon the in
ner quadrangle of st. Oswald. The doors
of some Of the almshouses were omen. and
at one Of them was faint sign of life
In the form of young woman, poorly
but neatly clad in a black and white
striped cotton dress, who was sittiny
with her elbows planted on her knees
her hands supporting her temples, and
her face bent close over a book that
lay upon her lap. AS Reuben advanced
he saw that the watcher on the threshold
had tired of her volume and closed her
eyes.
''Can you tell me where"
Reuben Culwick paused In his In.
quiry, for the white, pinched face, and
the big black eyes were the face npd
eyes of the strange girl who had yolln-
teered to carry his luggage last night.
and collapsed by the way He could
not be mistaken; he had looked too anx-
lously at her as she lay in her swoon TO
be deceived, despite her feminine guise
at this crisis, and the taller woman that
she looked in it.
The big black eyes blinkcd like a cats
In the sun, and the lashes quivered in
unison, but then he had awakened her
from slumber, and there was no sign of
recognition on her countenance. There
was a certain amount of contraction of
the eyebrows, that might have Indicated
q half scowl at the traveller for waking
her thus unceremoniously.
"Do you know meT Reuben said.
changing his tone and question.
"No," was the slow reply; I've never
seen you before"
'Not at Worcester station, at ten
o'clock last night, when you helped me
with a heavy portmanteau that | was
selfish enough to let you carry for meT'
be continued.
Il help you with pOrtmanteaur said
the girl. scofiingly, "at Worcester sta
tion! Yes, that's very likely"
at was you," said Reuben, sternly,
as he continued to stare at her, aud as the
girls cool denial of the fact began to az
gravate him; why do you tell me that II
was not?'
The young woman did not answer read
ily. She rose to her feet-a tall, angular
girl, smitten sorely by poverty-and lean
ed against the door post, peering at her
Questioner, with her brow still contract
ed.
why should help your she said at
last; cant you help yourselfT
You tainted away: you we're weak,
and gave up. Why deny thisT