The Springdale news., 1907-12-20

day at the hospitable Pines
 in Bixby was net espeeiall! pleasing to me; but. since cousins of the Welch persuasion are few and far between. did not feel justified in re fusing Cousin Clara's lavitation. Be sides that. Bixby was only few miles distant from Mayviile. where expect cd to put i'll q more or less painful Scaz son Christmas evening.
 Therefore wrote Clara that Id IF rive on the 5:3o train Christmas eve aid remain with her until o'clock the following afternoon ia this ceunecs ion l mentioned neither my destina= ton after o'clock nor any prospective delight there.
 Truth to tell, in my thoughts l was leaving that evening call as Gar as pos slble in the keeping of Providence. realizing from past experiences that he atmosphere of Mayviiie had cautiously unnerVing effect oa me. The only preparation l had made was to secure q Christmas oifcriag in the shape of a very small gold f,aad carry ing handsome diamond aud engraved inside with the Uo mcl musical name 'Rey Day
 ! But whether il will ever see the rays of day" said aloud etimly pun. ning us | stuffed the tiny hox into my pocket. remains te l,e seen. as she must take with it such he hiandef IT as myself Oh. for siice ef liar 0ld's assurancc," I added. catching Gte my umbrella and running for the street car.
 Harold Welch was tay e"ast, and the sother man in the case. did not love my cousin, but then we were even here.
 T wonder.' thouett as 1 raced across the platform and sprane on the already moving express. ''if Clara has invited Harold:''
 Ten minutes later iay question was answered in the person of that gentle man himself strolihe ieisurely down the aisle of the smoker
 What deucedly well set up fef= low.." said Il man t,ehiad me ia hi seat mate Looks as if he had walked out of bandbox. deesa't he.
 Harolds appearance was always Of the bandbox type. but l well knew that bis actions were not always. and Miss bay
 Hello Rob he cried surprised, but not any better pleased ibaa myself II the meeting Going down to Clara < -
 emerged from behind ay newspa5 per long enough to nod Yes. Are yoH:s
 He did not reply at once. He Was taking my measure. as usust. with an air Of quizzical. gaiiing amusement. The cad has l way of making me real i2e my inconyenient iength the infefi. ority of my tailor and the cowiick that adoins the right side of my hair. His eyes wandered upward to the rack over the seat and lodged oa nlY higa bat. the first l had eset iaduleed 1T. while over his face spread a grin which made comments needless
 Then he replied carelessty. oh yes. l shall get around te the I'ioes OH the 10 o'clock train in the morping Please Iell Cousin Clara. will yoa and give her my regards: Tonight he threw the chill inducing remark at lie over his shoulder us he moved awat-"l se on to MayVile."
 MayVile, The blood peutded at la3 temples and burned ny face Its all np with me- was ma sotenn thought IS searched my pockets for mE match case. My fingers encountered tite tiny jewellers box kaefull3 t4a,. ,,l,f...s.3 Iftt3a f4.if,f and looked out of the window at tbe weather
 l could ne4 have locked u anything less calculated to impart eonseiatiafl There was il storm on, driving sta.sa oa sleet rain and snau. with I heaz.X leaden skY overhead and sllae deeh mud undegfeet, Inc outer w4rla. espe= eially that part of il eenlaioius EiNbN. Icing an esaeI counterpart tn my feel fees=
 l had never seen afNhS l,efofe and
 thiBk eae view Haald satisfy aa9 reasonable person Il consists of a >naH unpdintca station sts Ao0n rtf= prateeted in the midst q the rivel tai. tempting al the winds of heaven. and discovered the moment | had sci faat au the platform that none of the winds was resisting feiuptaraH An iufagf cyclone wound he t5ils of ny l5n- eeat HrmlY around n,y laleeS and forced ne t9 hang ell to u,Y ttH hat With d death grip all If witch sraeef#f iaaaeHvering Harold was viewing wifa relish from l window ot the rear cal
 aS the tram rushed aa dawn ttie ysi- lev l Whirled onna and around lheratc laz logs from 'he embrace a ny coat taiis. at the same time view ing the nearby landscape in search proper means of isF8motiaa 10 the Pines. saving mt own patent leather shoes. none was in sight
 From the station road wound back among the foothills garbed in gaHnt signing pines, which concealed any signs es .he hospitality underscored in Clara'S note II was certainly the most unpromlsing looking landscape ever viewed under the wings ef night