Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-09-13
THE
INTERRUPTED
FLIGHT B, $. L.
TINSLEY
CopWial,t. 1901, bU S. L. Tinsleu

/
Midnight train"
2ir. Factore took up the roll Of papers
,nd started toward Tie door.
IF you change your mind so that
yol can manage to leave tonight, why.
call re up. will you:"
Mr.. Franklin Thickcrton, who was
opening ANA closing tie drawers OF
his desk. turned around hastily.
Yes. yes. I'll see, my boy, I'll see"
Pierce Factore nodded his head, and
was about TO leave the room when
Mr.. Thickerton whirled around sud-
denly in his chair. with an expression
of dismay upon his thin. smooth face.
"Eloise! What will do with Eloise"
Pierce Factore uttered an exclama-
ton of impatience.
Marry her to some one! exclaimed
Factore in evaporation, hardly know
ing what he was saying. To his
amazement Mr. Thickerton seized upon
his idea with delight.
"By George, the very thing! Glad
you thought of it. I'll attend to it ut
once. Perhaps, after all, I'll be able
to leave OH the midnight express"
Then, whirlng his chair around, Mr..
Thickerton applied himself to work.
Having finished his letters, Mr..
Thickerton hurriedly rang the bell and
then impatiently awaited the arrival
of his daughter, Eloise. Eloise Thick
erton was a tall, slim girl, with pale
face large gray eyes and short, curly,
light brown hair When she entered
the room In answer to her fathers
summons, she looked about her with a
frightened expression. A summons
from papa meant something extra.
| Mr.. Thickerton was always too busy
to say more than good morning or
good night to his daughter. When
Eloise had closed the door, her father
began speaking.
"My dear. | must leave at once for
Russia on business. I may be gone
months. and l may be gone years"
Eloise grasped her fathers arm in
surprise.
Papa she exclaimed.
"Yes, l must 20 at once. This deal
means much money for me. There
fore l have sent for you to tell You
that you are to be married at once
this evening by o'clock at the lat
est That is all, my dear. You run
away. l am busy, very busy"
Poor Eloise! The room swan before
her eyes. She sank into chair, be-
cause she could not trust herself to
stand.
Papa, dear-dear papa, what do you
mean"
Her voice was so pitiful that even
her Busy father found time to turn
around and look at her.
"There, there, my dear, don't fret;
It will soon all be over"
Eloise shuddered. Papa, dear, you
don't mean it, do you? You're just
teasing me, aren't you"
She clasped her hands. He did not
look at her, but shook his head and
drummed nervOusly upon the desk.
There, there, my dear, run away
now and don't bother me. am very
busy. But remember, be ready by g.
Eloise walked sadly toward the door.
Then she hesitated and looked back
timidly ut her father.
"Whom am going to marry, papa"
Franklin Thickerton did not under
stand his daughters question, and he
was too busy to ask her to repeat it. SO
he answered absently, Never mind,
my dear, never mind"
Eloise silently left the room.
One hour later Franklin Thickerton
was sitting in Judge Wilton's office.
The Judge listened while Mr.. Thicker
ton talked. The conversation con-
cerned Judge WaltOn's son.
You have always favored mar
riare between Eloise and Harry. AS
start for Russia tonight and have no
one with whom | could leave my
daughter, why not let us have the mar
riage performed this evening: What
do you say"
The lawyer looked ut the judge.
"What does Eloise say?" replied the
fudge.
"She will do what I say"
every well, Harry shall be on hand
1t 8 o'clock tonight"
The two men shook hands. and Law
yer Thickerton hurried away to make
the final arrangements for his journey.
At Il quarter before s o'clock the
Thickerton household was In state OF
excitement. Eloise was missing. The
housekeeper was weeping in the sitting
room. The lawyer had locked himself
. in the library. The servants were mud
died together whispering in the Kitchen
/ Eloise had left the house an hour
] before, and her father had expected
her to return in few moments. She
3 had not returned, and the housekeepef
had found note in her room ad
e dressed to Mr.. Thickerton.
J This note informed the lawyer tina,
[ his daughter would not be married
!, that night. She had gone away and
> would never again trouble her fathers
business arrangements. She expressed
8 the hope that he would be successful
: with his Russian business transaction
|, then she babe him goodby.
{ When Eloise's father had read thii
D note he seated himself before his desi
|, and for fully ten minutes opened ant
( closed the drawers in rapid succession
I He seemed to be searching for some
e thing-perhaps Eloise. At this mo
e ment the door swung open, and Judg'
fl Wilton hurried into the room. his fac'
j pale, his hands working with excite
] ment
II "Thickerton," he cried when he hat
d Kained control of his voice, my sol
8 has gone!'
Franklin Thickerton looked at tn
Judge as though he had never befor
: seen him. $50 has my daughter!
Eloise Thickerton looked aroun'
the, waiting room of the depot,
frightened expression in her larg
gray eyes. She held her puff tight,
in both hands and watched the peopl
coming from and going to the ticke
ns~1rks4S -