Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-05-24

Up BESIDE YOU.
came. tall broad .houliered, crossing
the room 10 her with quick. easy
stride >hy could 8ud no words for the
VIII rush 81 soy that euyeloped her.
but stood maffoHIes~ holding out her
hands 10 him iu the dim. firelit room.
Martha Martha he said INSTEAD
uy. gra>piu- the slender, outStretched
hands tightly u his own. And when
she did not speak
Martha. have / made a mistake? DO
you want me 10 stay: Tell me the
truth ="
Yes, YES she answered tremulous-
ly. leaving her hands in his Ia her tu-
mutt of delight "I-oh. can YOU not
see itf''
Yes. he said gravely; Il know"
4 never meant that other" she went
on. breaking into low. nervous laugh
ter 4 knew even when ! said & that
I didn't Then-y yesterday -oh"'-the
clasp of her slender fingers tightened
On bis n don't know what | should
have done Il you had
She stopped abruptly and, with
heavy shudder. burst into tears In the
strong tender clasp Of his arms
Some time afterward she slipped
away from him aud dropped into the
deep leather chair drawn up IN front
O. the fireplace 4 little sigh escaped
her Sh- Matoned him TO q neighbor-
taE chair hut 2ravely and not with her
accustomed Eayety.
Too far Of ! can DO the subject
justice only ~ close range" he object
Ell
Standing on the hearth rug he smiled
down af her. She waS looking straight
before her. wide eyed and Inotionless,
staring into the dancing flames. He
regarded her Sparchiugly and as If i'm
pelled 70 tie question because of her
extreme stiffness.
~Of what are you thinkingf' he
asked
she turned to him. drawing her
breath quickly Tie logs in the fre-
place flannel UP IN sudden briliiance,
AMI for the first time she noticed his
pAll0r and the dark circles under his
eyes. lis laea too, was graver than
IL won't IL spite OF its great content
Il have forgotten how hard II was
for you. too. Martha said. with quick
c0ntritlon. 10 you know, Robert
she sat Up suddenly, her eyes dark
with horror thought / was there
with you ! heard the shrieks. | saw
the red glare Of the flames | felt the
train sway aud Jar a. the cars ahead
crashed into the engine. OH"
She broke of with a long, shuddering
breath
Robert" she said solemnIy. Il did
see e. I-was-on- thai train"
lie looked at her strangely, then
seated himself on the arm Of the big
leather chair and. slipping his arm
around her drew her gently toward
him
1T was yesterday" she went on in a
choked voice. uervousiy clasping and
unciasp!ng his hand Il was sitting
here and kept thinking and thinking
" y0u. and then suddenly | saw you.
You were sitting tn a car smoking and
laughing aud talking. and all the while
some dreadful thing was creeping up
beside you-closlug I'm around you-and
you would not soc With all my might
7 called to You - come away, and al
most that same instant came terrific
Jolt and tie horrible grinding sound of
crashing cars tried 70 close my eyes
10 the binding glare Of tie spreading
al 3 D.. to
Just sitting here before the fire at
home
A sob shook her. and he drew her
Foser Then she went on again nerv-
auSly. iu a half -mgthcred voice, a lit
tie pause between each sentence.
The dream haunted me Then your
telegram came Robert'-she changed
her position somewhat and regarded
him earnestly did not dream it.
saw t. Tell me that You believe did
not dream d."
He nodded. regarding her gravely
but how could | see II when was
here iu this room all the timer" she
went on with q little laugh Then her
nerves. already strained 10 the break
lne ra.ut. gave way. and her slender
hody anivsra1 with heavy sobs
The clasp 90 bis arms reassured her
tie drew DEER bead % his shoulder. and
they ~at 10 silence TO the fast darkeu-
iug room. hghfel only by the flames
leapInE Ga and ort batween~he heavy
logs
Ills voice. intense and hushed was
the first o. break the silence.
Il was in the front part OF the train
Ia Tie smoking car he said gravely.
Il had finished one cigar and was
about To take another Indeed. the