The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-08-26


the car. He regarded her quizzically
for an instant. THE wedding will
doubtless proceed, anyway" he sug-
gested banteringlY.
"But-but you?'
Unfortunately, l am unable to at
tend. l had expected doing so up to
a couple of days ago; but business
exigencies, you know"
Miss Rasdale looked at him with
wide, questioning eyes. "What-the
bridegroom" she exclaimed, as they
stepped aboard the car. Dear me,
what are we coming tor
"Oh, the bridegroom's all right, l
guess-as bridegrooms CO." he an
swered, with an amused smile.
"I really don't understand"
Henderson laughed heartily. But
you would II you knew old Dick as
well as | do"
"old Dick? But isn't that your name
Richard Henderson,"
"To my everlasting sorrow. l must
confess It. We are, as It happens,
brothers children, and we both at one
it was pretty tough on me when had
to fall heir to all the bills and duns,
while Dick came in for most of the
good things. Stilr'-he smiled in a
way that made his gray eyes look very
/ pleasant indeed-'I shall have to ad-
init that both of us enjoyed some pret-
ty narrow escapes, to be exact"
| hA Atsfn
buildings with an odd light in her
Irish-blue eyes. Her face had relaxed
its tense expression, and a curious
| little smile-the first for many day
-flckered about her lips. Somehow,
things looked remarkably changed in
the past five minutes. But then, the
mist had cleared as though by magic,
and a perfect food of sunshine threw
it's prodigal splendor of gold over the
earth.
Soon the car slid to a standstill at
their stopping place, and in silence
they stepped down on the pavement;
down steep hill with a quaint, white
washed fence running past-she should
never forget those details to her dy.
|
and out onto a thronged platform
just in time to see the swaying end of
the last coach disappear below a dis
tant inclinel
Miss Rasdale turned nonplussed
eyes up to her companion. There
you don't think there's another could
get in time?" she questioned family.
| In, fnr M
"Heavens-what in the world shall
l do? l wonder when the train back
will leave here?"
Il could easily find that out for
you, But really, don't you think 1t
would be better for you to wait over
a day? You knew my sister Anna at
school. She's married and living here
now. Shed be delighted to have you
stop with her, l know. Come home
with us, and let's watch the old year
die together? Surely that would be a
better way than travelling all night on
a disagreeable train"
Miss Rasdale hesitated. The pros.
pect was certainly alluring, but
Il don't intend to take no for an
answer. Wen just get into this car
riage that's driving up now"
She allowed herself to be led with
out resistance and helped to a seat in
the carriage, ard without resistance
or regret-to be whirled away over the
smooth gravel.
Once, wnen she thought he was
looking the other way, she stole q sur
| N..Na =
face, but the quick look he flashed
back revealed something in the gray.
black eyes she could not mistake, and
broke down the pretense between them
all at once.
"Viola," he said, laying his hand for
a moment over hers, after months OF
misery and silence and doubt-almost
despair-Fate, II seems. has merciful.
ly thrust you across my path. 1t isn't
day Of miracles, and surely this
must mean something. / want you ia
tell me, here and now, the reason for
your sudden coldness-the abrupt
cessation Of your letters--the return
of mine, unopened"
Miss Rasdale broke into little un
certain laugh that bore a swift sug
gestion of tears in its transcience. 81
its too ridiculous" she jerked out
coloring furiously, "but-but when
Maize wrote me that she was to marry
a Mr.. Richard Hen"
Henderson laughed outright again
the under dog!" He bent toward hel
suddenly then-so close that his warn
breath lifted the fine hair from hel
temples. "Viola," he began pleading
ly, "after what has happened, We
really oughtn't to take a second risk
There is but one thing to do, ISM
, there, dear? We can be married IL
: time to see this unlucky old yeal
pass out of existence, and go bacl
t home on our wedding trip. Dick might
/ by some untoward chance, succeed II
! getting annihilated in railroad
J wreck. whereupon l should certainl,
be called upon to husband his wild
| oW-"