The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-11-08
CHAPTER XI.


CHAPTER XI.
5F 4 1R. Ross sCHoFIELD was en-
NS gagged in decorating the bat
ss tered chairs in the Herald edi-
9 forial room with blue satin
xsabon: the purchase Of which at the
gl-y Goods Emporium had been direct
ed by sudden inspiration of his supe-
SzoE, Mr. Parker Of the composing
aorce. It was Ross intention to gar
z.zsh each chair with an elaborately
aIssi bow, but as he was no sailor and
E2ierstood only the intricacies of a
as;lru knot he confined himself to that
ssseeies of ornamentahen, leaving, how
syr very long ends of, ribbon banging
eoEn after the manner Of the pendants
ss rosettes. Nj. Schofeld was alone at
s6s labot, his two confreres having be-
szsen themselves to the sta tion tomeet
The train from Rouen.
It was wet. gray day. The wide
ccantry lay dripping under formless
wraps Of thin mist. and the warm, driz-
zUng rain blackened the weather beat
@ shingles Of the station, made clear
rejecting puddles on the unevenly
worn planks of the platform and damp
saL fhe packing cases too thoroughly
Eor occupation by the station 'ounger.
,Ehe bus driver. Mr.. Bennett, and the
groprietors of two attendant "cut un-
ders" and three or four other worthless
wfaom business or the lack Of it called
80 that locality availed themselves Of
tSe shelter Of the waiting room, but the
gentlemen Of the Herald were too agi-
aated 20 be confined save by the limits
NJ the horizon.
they had reached the station half an
zaow before train time and consumed
sse interval in pacing the platform un-
esec big cotton Umbrella, addressing
each other only In monosyllables. Those
za the waiting roona gossiped eagerly
aad for the thousandth time about the
7ate events and particularly about the
tremendous news Of Fisbee. Judd Ben
eezt looked out through the rainy door
way at the latter with reverence and
nne pride Of townsmanship. BE de
csared it to be his belief that Fisbee
and Parker were waiting for her now.
a For all Carlow knew why Fisbee had
gone to meet the strange lady at the
sseeation when she had come to visit
She Briscoes. why he had come with
z.s.r 20 the lecture, why he had taken
sapner at the Briscoes three times and
1ss:ii,an..- twice when she was there. Eis-
ssss Lad lold the story to Parker OF
-se: :sncho,y afternoon as they sat to-
tsse1 her sn the Herald Office, and Parker
.s..a told the town. It was simple
enough indeed, and Fisbee's past was
mystery no longer. 1t might have
sssecn revealed years before lad there
aaeen anything in particular t., reveal
sua # it had ever occurred to Fisoee
10 talk of himself and his affairs.
Things had a habit Of not occurring tc
FIsbee-
@ Adr. Parker, very nervous himself.
sfalf his compauion's elbow trembling
against his OWL as the great engine.
reeking in the mist and sending great
clouds of white vapor Up to The SKY,
swoooed down the track. rushed by
them ard came to 4 seanGstjil beyond
=she platform. Fis5ee and the foreman
made haste to the nearest vesdEuie
and we're gazing hlanhly at its barred
approaches when they heard silvery
laugh behind them and an exclamation
--UDstairs and downstairs and in ny
Iady's chamber! Just behind you.
dearrr'
Turning quickly, the foreman beheld
a hlushing and smiling little vision, a
vis;on with light brown hair, vision
enveloped in a light brown rain cloak
and with brown gloves from which
the handles of big brown travelling
bag were let fall as the vision dis
appeared. under the cotton umbrella.
while the .smitten Judd Bennett reeled
: gasping ,agains. the station.
@Dearest," the girl cried to the old
man. ..you should have been looking
for me between the devil and the deep
sea, tae parlor car and the smoker:
I've given up cigars. and I've begun
30 stady economy, so didn't come on
.eitherr'
The firizzIe and mist blew in under
ahe top of the "cut under" as thes
drove rapidly into town. and Dfisht Mt
ale drops sparkied on the fair h;'1'
above the new editors forehead ana Oh
the long lashes above the new eoi'ot
cheeks. She shook these transieh'
gems of lightly Is she paused IN 'he
doorway Of the Office at the top OF IL.
riekety stairway.
Mr. Schofeld had just added the las'
touch to his decorations ana manasee
30 slide into his coat as the party cains
up the stairs. and now. perspirlnS
broad, embarrassed. he assumed an az
fitude at once deprecatory of his en-
deavors a3G pointedly expectant OF
comnen&a.ions for the results. (Hf
was :, .,.o>.ast you,,h ard conscious
l. --l<. t<N<N