Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-03-31

| Tie rear cuThs IN th'
had come the sudden Jolt and jar OF
grinding brakes. Some people came IN
a headIong rush from the front cars
and woman's scream rang out shrilly
above all. lie bad just stopped be
side GIadys' seat 10 speak Win her.
and she was laughing up at him when
the collision came. Il was over IN an
Instant All he knew was the vivid
sense OF her arms clinging around hts
neck as be caught her up out OF the
seat aud their lips had met for the
first time with death three ear lengths
away.
He had left Rosemead that night.
/ II was all he could do. He thought
she would understand. II not there
was no danger but Mrs Wilmington
would enlighten her.
The Manchuria business had been an
opening held out by the old Darby
Thornton for some time. IL was a
chance TO make good by going out there
and clearing up the old boys mercan-
tile interests before the war broke out.
lie had stuck 10 II and made good. and
the reward had come most unexpected
ly when said old 10y had taken no
tlon TO die comfortably and opportune-
/ IL and leave his accumulated posses
sions 60 the prodigal In the far land.
There had been no thought during the
year Of work but Of Gladys. He had
left on the first boat for home TO claim
the promise OF the tunnel kiss and had
found instead Esteyan. warranted
imported antique. tall. suave and
slightly gray. with an eye out for
ready money.
The thought Of II all made him des-
perate tonight lie put her from him
almost roughly. In three weeks she
would be the Countess Estevan. chate-
laine Of some dinky little old castel-
lated ruin In Austria. lie was sorry
that he had tried to see her. sorry he
had come back. sorry be had made
Culverton change places with him.
"You had better stop crying" he said.
Wen bee there In a few minutes. Es-
tevan might not like IT,"
she smiled back at him, her eyes
bright with tears.
80 you try TO Brighten the bad little
girl into good behavior Well, she
doesn't scare worth a cent, Darby.
Your bogy man Is such a fragile. prop
or, tissue paper bogy man that the
bad little girl has decided he isn't
worth being afraid Of"
What DO you meanT
Cant you guessi You expect Others
20 be so good at guessing. you know.
You expect 10 kiss a girl and 20 away
70 Manchuria-or was II the moon
and then come back and end love In
her eyes. What was Il? Like thlsf"
She was laughing az him. lie felt
angry and obstinate.
"Can you say that you never loved
me-"
"No. / cannot" Her eyes met his with
calm, defensive candor "Of course
| loved you DO you think / would
have kissed YOU that day n had nott
And you are right about the other too.
| shall always love you"
He bent towrrd her with keen. half
shut eyes.
And yet In three weeks you will be-
his wife"
mo. / won't. DO you think / could j.
after tonIghtl / shall break the en-
gagement tonight. You have accom-
plished that at least. Now. take the
first boat hack TO Manchuria'
He smiled slowly and happily. She
had not heard yet ~ the accumulated
possessions
We've turned out OF the park." be
said Il don't want 90 20 10 the house
and face a crowd. Gladys. look az me.
No. straight IN the eyes, please. Try 20 /
think quickly. I've come all the way ,
around the world 10 see you. I've al. /
ways wanted YOU. you know that |
was afraid before. and ran away Ike .
a coward and didn't even give you the /
chance 10 refuse me. VIII You refuse /
me now
"As iflt made any difference Her /
eyes were clear and true and some
what Indignant II / have enough /
money 10 satisfy even Aunt Victoria 4
and her little count. isn't there enough /
for your n you 90 back there
"WhatT
Il shall give away al the money and
come after your
Come. now
Her lips were half parted, her eyes
wlstful and troubled.
1T viii be- easy 10 come back and
break the engagement then. You will
only have TO present your husband"
III dared
lie tapped on the glass slide and
gave an order 20 the driver. ana they
turned back down the avenue Just as
the bells were Ginning midnight
Ready For an Emergency.
L