The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-08-11
THE
| MINORITY
By FREDERICK TREVOR HILL
Author of The Case and
Exceptions" Etc.
IoOpyright. lgOa, By Frederick A. stokes & Cog
Continued
CHAPTER X.

hour, day, month, year, ten years
later, and you will find the same peo-
pie surrounding and jostling you.
Some face you may look for in vain.
Some voice may fail to greet you
that often happens in crowds-but are
they lost or are you?
Kennard hurried across the muddy
door, dOdged through the nearest exit,
raced to the barrier, and reached it
Just as the iron gate rolled to and bit
Its lock with vicious snap.
Next local 5:04 on track q" chant
cd the official, mechanically.
The painting passenger dropped his
heavy bag with a groan and looked at
bis watch.
There was half an hour to wait, so
he sauntered back to the telegraph Of
nce and sent message to Mrs. Par
sons at Mamaroneck, saying he had
missed his train. 1t should have been
punctually late, as usual, but some
thing had "crisscrossed his luck" that
day, he admitted to himself, as he
showed his bag under one of the long
benches and settled down to sit it out.
BY the time his train started Ken
nard had almost recovered his droop-
ing spirits, and when the lights of
the Mamaroneck station twinkled
through the haze, not even the damp
tog and chilly atmosphere served TO
depress him.
Mrs Parsons carriage was not to be
seen in the cluster of vehicles near
the platform, and Kennard picked his
way among the traps and teams, peer
ing closely at the half-hidden drivers
But one by one they drove off, and
when Kennard reached the station
again, all the cabs had also disap-
peared, and he faced the prospect of
walking to his destination Juggling
heavy bag. Resigning himself to this
fate he started down the road, in the
wake of q low dog-cart disappearing
slowly into the fog. Hoping against
hope, he quickened his pace in pur-
suit and was soon rewarded by recog-
uizing Carroll Parsons astrakhan coat
and furs With a cheerful halloo he
ran up behind the cart, tossed in his
bag, and swung himself into the seat
beside the girl
well net, Carroll" he exclaimed.
"If you were trying to abandon me, |
had a narrow escape"
He grasped the girls disengaged
hand in both of his and shook it
warmly.
She laughed pleasantly in answer as
the pony started forward at a brisk
pace, striking sparks from the flinty
road.
"Well, how are your" he continued
"Pm terribly glad to see you. You
don't know how glad. I've been in
the worst possible temper all day, and
If 1t hadn't been for the thought of
coming here tonight, believe I'd have
Rssassinated half dozen people. AS
It Is, there are probably more than
that number who'd like to assassinate
me. 1t was mighty friendly of you to
meet me a night like this" he ran on,
especially after I'd missed my train
At first | thought you hadn't come, and
l was starting to walk when saw you
Hope you haven't left house full of
company. I'm afraid you have. But
do tell me you haven't got a horrid
lot of outsiders"
Really, l don't think I'm in posi-
ton to say"
Kennard peered sharply at his COM
panion.
II beg pardon" he began awkward
ly, but | fear | must have-that there
must be mistake. You are not"
II have been trying to tell you SO
ever since we started. Now | feel like
q criminal | shall never be able to
convey to Miss Parsons the warmth
Of your greeting!"
The merry laugh which had FIRST an
swered him broke forth again.
II hope you will pardon me-" he be-
gan once more. Il thought this was
Mrs. Parsons cart and"
at is"
And you are"
"Unintentionally disguised in Miss
Parsons coat and furs, which she'll
never forgive me for wearing in
weather like this, even if she con-
dones the theft of your greeting
Hereafter | shall change the proverb
we are known by our frieHds, to Our
clothes are known by our friends.
81 know you now. You are"
zone of the horrid outsiders. l con-
Tess it,"
That's hardly fair Miss Harlan"
81 am discovered"
81 hadn't the slightest idea you were
TO be here, but if l had known it, that
coat and those furs would have in
vited the Same mistake. Now, honest
ly, do you blame me?'
mot at ali. 1t is Carroll you must
make your peace with. Mrs. Parsons
and she went to Rye for other guests
and as the eoachman went too, | was
assigned to meet you. At the last mo
ment 1 couldn't find my own cape, sc
picked up these and"
THUS misled me a second time"
Miss Harlan glanced at the innocent.
" grave face beside her, and touched
the pony lightly with her whip
81 call that downright brutal" she