Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-09-20

chart to boat's-length; had trimmed
his sails to the minutest starting OF
q sheet. A glance at his watch and
another at the timetable gave him
the length of his respite. Six hours
there were; and dining-car dinner
interviewed. Those six hours, and the
dinner, he decided, must win or lose
the race. .x%e II
For five of the six, precious hours
Ormsby merely saw to it that Elinor
was judiciously marooned.s Then the
dining-car was reopened and the
evening meal was announced. Wait
ing until a sufficient number Of pas
sengers had gone forward to insure I
crowded car, Ormsby let his party fall
In with the tail of the procession, and
the, inevitable happened. Single seats
only could be had, and Elinor was
compelled to dine in solemn silence
at a table with three strangers.
Dinner over, there remained but 20
minutes of the respite; but the Dip
lomatist kept his head, going back to
the sleeping-car with his charges and
dropping into the seat beside Elinor
with the light of calm assurance In
his eye.
"You are quite comfortable?" he
began. .'"Sha'n't have the presence
in the buffet make you a cup of tea?
That in the diner didn't deserve the
name." 49, :. ~
She was regarding him with curious
anger in the gray eyes, and her re-
ply quite ignored the kindly offer OF
refreshment.
"You are the pink of dlragomans,' -
she said. Don't you want to go and
smoker
ITO be entirely consistent, l sup
pose I ought to-" he confessed, won
dering if his throw had failed. do
you want me to go?" -
II have; been alone all the after
noon; I can endure It little while
longer, presume"
Ormsby permitted himself. single
heart-throb of exultation. He had de-
liberately gone about to break down
her pOise, her only barrier of defense,
and it began to look as If he had sue
II couldn't help it, you know" he
said, catching his cue swiftly: There
are times when I'm obliged to keep
away from outlines when every
fiber of me rebels against the re-
straints of the false position you have
thrust me into. When I'm taken that
way don't dare play with the fire.
Il wish could know how much you
mean by that" she said musingly.
Deep down in her heart she knew she
was as far. as ever from loving this
man; but his love, or the insistent
urging of 1t. was like a strong current
drifting her whittier she would not
go. sSas'sf y sses2 s*S%&S - .s " - ~ =
IT mean ali that. an honest man
can mean," he rejoined. " have
fought like soldier for standing
room in the place you have assigned
me; have tried sincerely and stupid
", you will say-to be merely your
friend, just the best friend you ever
had. But It's no use. Coming or 60
ing, I shall always be yoar lover - =
Please don't" she said. neither
coldly nor warmly. "You are getting
over into the domain I Of the very
young people when you say things like
that" %5 ...E e. J 5.@.l. s IS 4
It was an unpleasant thing to say
and he was not beyond wincing q little
None the less, ne would not be turned
aside. s., 5t:s f:=# .3s. ;
You'll overlook It in me II I'VE
pressed the thing too hard on the side
Of sentiment, wont you? Apart from
the fact that I feel that way, I've been
going on the superstition that you'd
like It, Il you could only make III
your mind to like me- b. n. =.3.:
= do like you, 2 she admitted; more
than any one I have ever known, ]
think .S II 5=$ =s
There was q time when should
have begged hard for some thing more
Elinor: but now I'm willing to take
what Lean get, and be thankful. VIII
\ you aivs me the right to make you Il