Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-08-31
TWO MEETINGS.


The tall girl gathered her worn cloak
closer round her-the lady who held the
door handle of the next compartment, a
first class, was robed in sables. Il wish
I were coming, too!'
80 do |, old lady" A handsome man
bent forward on the seat of the third
her slim ungloved fingers with a tender
pressure.
His blue eyes looked most suspiciously
moist-but what of that? 1t is not
every one who can afford to be callous.
at seems such a long time-three
years, Jim" the girl said again, and
there was a break in her voice. ''And
it's such chance, a mere"
"a mere chance-yes, the man
echoed; "but we must just trust to
chance, Monica: it's the only thing to be
done, dear. Keep up good heart, be-
cause | shall be coming back in three
years time. Think of that, little one.
Three years, perhaps today, this very
day, you may be standing at this very
in; and l shall dash out shall be hum
gering for the sight and feel of you,
darling, and you will throw your arms
around my neck"
''Jim!'' the tears so bravely withheld
up till now overlooked at last, and fell on
TO JIlo neat Out worn ClOdk.
The lady IN the furs turned at the
sound of the pain-flled tones, and her
own voice grew a little husky as the
trains steamed off.
Goodbye, Monica, my darling!
A moment later, Monica Ward was
standing on an empty platform, with an
empty, aching heart.
A hand touched her shoulder.
Can take oyu anywhere?" Il pleasant,
sympathetic voice said It was the lady
in furs. II always think the first few
moments are the Worst-afterward-
"Afterward,' repeated Monica in dull
tones.
ooh! afterward one gets accustomed
to it, returned the other lightly, land
one wonders why one felt so much
Come, will you let me just drop you
anywhere?
1t seemed all one to Monica Ward
what she did, and where she went. She
nodded, and tried to smile.
"Thank you," she said, 1T is very good
of you to-. trouble yourself about a
After alive are sisters" the other
said a little dryly. Gomez
And for the next half hour Monica
bowled along in the lady's carriage, be-
hind pair of prancing chestnut horses
once more in the little room, which
looked so deserted now that Jim had
gone, that she had never found out the
name of her friend in need.
And the days slipped into weeks and
the weeks into months, and all the while
Jim Ward, in distant country, was try
ing to court the fortune which had failed
to smile on him in England.
cts due now, miss, quite due, and
don't think it's more than few minutes
late"
Monica Ward, tall and slim, with the
pretty color coming and going in her soft
cheeks, stood once more on the platform
awaiting the train.
Suddenly there was a noise-a putting,
painting sound, and the train was in.
Monica's heart beat fast, and she was
so excited that she could hardly see any
thing in front of her. Jim was coming
Monochrome.
Was this Jim ?-this man coming to-
ward her with inns face, and yet not
his face-with a rolling gait and I'M
steady eyes?
She shuddered; her color forsook her
cheeks, her eyes looked frightened-her
feet shook so that she could hardly
stand.
After all, as the other woman had
said, one gets accustomed to it. Better
far better-if he had stayed away al
together than return to her like this!
Invountarily she took step back
ward; the advancing man noticed it and
her.
'NIy pretty dear" he cried thickly-
and Monica was just recoiling in horror
when a man laid his arm on hers.
''Monicav' a well-known voice said.
She turned-Jim, the real Jim, was
standing behind her smiling and holding
out his hands.
"Monica!' he cried, ''surely you
haven't forgotten me?
And then, somehow or another, she
found herself in his arms-sobbing and
laughing in one breath out of sheer joy
and relief.
''That other MANI she cried a little
incoherently, ''he was so like you-that
thought it was you, jim"
'Monicaw returned her husband re-
proachfully. land that fellow was drunk!
Never mind, darling" slipping her hand
through his arm, come home-somebody
has come to claim him-somebody-som
poor devil Of a somebody"
Monico licked half fearfully across the
platform. Not far away stood the man
whom she had mistaken for Jim, stand
ing surrounded by porters, and a small
crowd of gapers-a footman was urging.
imploring. By his side, bravely facing
them all, stood some one whom she recol-
lected as in a dream.
"Afterward, one gets accustomed to
it."
The words cleared Monica's brain, they
echoed in he" ears-the bright painting
engine throbbed TO the same refrain.
All! she remembered. 1t was her friend
of that black day three years ago, whom
she had not seen since. What chance
what irony of fate had brought them
together again.
'sJim," she said, suddenly "That mau
over there-he won't move.-they can't
do anything with him. Can't you. won't
you go over and see if you can get him
away from those gaping crowds? That's
his wife-she was kind to me-the day
you left. All! Jim, if it had been you!"
Jim Ward needed no second bidding
With few steady strides he reached the
little group. The lady in furs was
pleading. scolding, threatening, but all to
no purpose.
What she could not accomplish Jims
strong voice and steady authoritative
manner did. In few minutes he had
escorted the traveller to the waiting car
riage and left him there.
Monica stood just outside the door, and
he linked her arm in his once more as
they walked to the cab.
How could | have thought it was
Won Tim 2" she said in softly hanDy