Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-12-15

the Welch persuasion are few and ial between. l did not feel justified in re fusing Cousin Clara's invita1on. Be sides that. Blxby was only few miles
 distant from Mayviile, where I expect ed to put in a more or less painful sea son Christmas evening.
 Therefore 1 wrote Clara that I'd ar rive on the J:30 train Christmas eve and remain with her until o'clock the following afternoon. In this cont"r- tion l mentioned aei1her my deSi in;'- tfon after o'clock uor any prospective delight there.
 Truth to tell. in my thoughts 1 wa, leaving that evening call as far as pos, sible in the keeping of Providenrc, realizing from past experiences thai the atmosphere of Mayville had q curiously unnerving effect on me. The only preparation I had made was to secure a Christmas offering ill the shape of a very small gold band carry. ing q handsome diamond and engra yrt! inside with the Qo me, musical name -'Rey Day
 But whether it will ever see thc rays of day" said aloud, grimly pln ming as l stuffed the tiny box into ml pocket. '.remainS 1o Joe seen as she must take with ii such q big bundtr CT as myself Oh. for q slice of liar, old's assurance" 1 added, catching up my umbrella and running for the street car
 Harold Welch was my cousin and the "othcl man in the case. did not love my cousin but then we were even there
 Il wonder l thought as l raced across the platform and spran@ on r." already moving express, 'if Clara has invited Iiarold:'
 Ten minutes later my question was answered i'll the person Of that gentle man himself strolling leisurely down the aisle of the smoker.
 What a deuced'y well set up fel- low" said d man hchinl me to his seat mate Looks as if he had walked out of a bandhoN. doesn't he:
 HaroldS appearance was always of the bandboX type, but well knew that his actions were not always, and Miss Day
 "Hello, Rob.' he cried, surprised. but not any better pleased than myself at the meeting. Going down to Clara's?''
 emerged from behind my newSpa- per long enough to n0G "Yes. Are you:'
 He did not reply at once. He w0S taking my measure. as usual, with an air of quzZical, Galling amusement. The cad has a way of making me real iZe my inconvenient length. the inferi ority of my tailor aud the cOwlick that adorns the right side of my hair. His eyes wandered upward to the racl; over the seat and lodged on my h%H hat, the first l had ever indulged .::. while over his face spread Il grin which made comments needless.
 Then he replied carcicSSIy: "Oh. yes, I shall get around to tue Pines oil lll, 10 o'clock train in the morning Please tell Cousin Clara, will you and give her my regards! Tonight threw the chill inducing remark at mo over his shoulder as lie moved away Il go on to Mayville.
 MayVillc, The blood pounded al my temples and burnca nay face. Ills all up with me" was my solemn thought as ] searched my pockets for my match case. My fingers encountered 1he tiny jewellers box. IsuetuliN l pressed ii-poor useless little triH9>et and lookc,s out of Ihe window a; jh, weather.
 could not haYc looked at anNti:in@ less calculated to impart cons lat m. There WaS q storm on, q driving St,.m Of sieet, rain and snow, with a heavy leader sky overhead and shoe deep mud uMdcrfool. the outer world, cspe ciaLy that part of il containing lNhy. being an exact counterpart to m4 feel ings
 ] a.sl never seen Bixby before and l tNlnk one view would satisfy any person. Ii consists = small lnpainted station set dow !- protected in the midst of the river {. tempting all the winds of heaYe" VI I discovered the moment I had sf x ou the platform that none C was resisting temlation. cyclone wound ihe tails c !f.- coat firmly arot ad my .1- and forced me to harg on to ny ,all hat with q death grip, All of which graceful IIarsia was viewing with relish from d Wi,.Go,' of the rear ear
 As the train rushed on down tine var ley ! whirlod around an<! around Y Iibarafe my legs from the embrace ot my coat tails. al the same time view ing the nearby landscape in search "f proper means of iocomotion to the Pines. Saving my own patent leather shoes, none was in sight.
 From the station road wound back among the foothills garhed in @annt signing pines, which concealed any signs of she hospitality underscored in Oara's note It was certainly tfe most unprolnising looking landSca! over viewed under the wings of night.