The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1907-03-21
TWO MEETINGS

railway station-illed with
crowd of folk, some laughing. sone
crying, some pretending not.
"Good-by, Jim, take care of your
-eif!" The tall girl gathered her
worn cloak closer round her-ths
lady who held the door handle of the
compartment, first class, was robei
IN sables. II wish I were coming
tool"
80 do I, old lady" A handsome
nan bent forward on the seat of the
ehirdclass carriage, and his hand
! ,lo,ed over her slim ungloved fin
gers with tender pressure.
His blue eyes looked most suspf-
:iously moist-but what of that? 1t
as not every one who can afford to be-
:a.lous.
ct seems such long time-three
ears, JIM" the girl said again, and
i 5here was break In her voice: And
It's such a chance, a mere"
"A mere chance-yes, the man
! echoed; but We must just trust to
trance, Monica It's the only thing
aeort, because l shall be coming
back in three years time"
Jim" the tears so bravely with
,eld up till now overlooked at last,
ID fell on to the neat but worn
;loak
The lady in the furs turned at the
ound of the pain-filled tones, and
Ter own voice grew a little husky az
he trains steamed on.
''Good-by, 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 I take you anywhere?"
pleasant. sympathetic voice said.
Thank you" she said, ut Ia
very good of you to trouble yourself
about stranger"
after alive are sisters" the
other said little dryly. Comet"
And for the next half hour Monica
bowled along In the lady's carriage,
behind pair of prancing chestnut
horses.
She did not remember till she
which looked SO deserted now that
Jim had gone, that she had never
found out the name of her friend In
need.
Its due now, miss, quite due,
and | don't think it's more than q
few minutes late"
Suddenly there was a noises
putting, painting sound, and the train
was in.
Monica's heart beat fast, and she
was so excited that she could hardly
see anything in front of her. Jim
was coming home-home-.
Was this Jim?-this man coming
toward her with Jim's face, and at
not his face-with a rolling gait and
unsteady eyes?
She shuddered her color forsook
her cheeks, her eyes looked fright
ened-her feet shook SO that she
could hardly stand.
Involuntarily she took a step
backward; the advancing man no
ticed it and her.
MY pretty dear!" he cried thick
lly-and Monica was just recoiling
Tin horror when a man laid his arm
on hers.
"Monica!' 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?"
"Monica!' returned her husband
reproachfully, land that fellow was
drunk! Never mind, darling" Slip
ping her hand through his arm,
come home-somebody has come to
claim him-somebody- poor
devil of a somebody"
Monica looked half fearfully
across the platform. Not far away
stood the man whom she had mis-
taken for Jim, standing surrounded
by porters, and small crowd of
gapers-a footman was urging, i'm
ploring. BY his side, bravely facing
them all, stood some one whom she
recollected as In dream.
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.
''Jim," she said, suddenly. That
man 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
these gaping crowds? That's his
1t, 70 hn do
you left All, Jim, II 1t had bee ]
you!"
Jim Ward needed no second =
ding With a few steady strides
reached the little group. The lady
1urs was pleading, scolding, threa..
snlng, but all to no purpose.
What she could not accomplish
Jin's strong voice and steady ar
thoritative manner did. In a fe
minutes he had escorted the ira.
a!ior to the waiting carriage and LETT
him there.
How could l have thought it ""
Jim?" she said in softly h.
" voice I'm so glad-and yet
that day, that miserable day en-
We'd herr"
They were in the cab, and he took
her in his arms and kissed her.
But you don't now?" he asked |
passionately.
mo, ] don't, now" she answered
In tones of deep content; II almost
think-it was worth letting you go
to have you back again, JIM"
And for the moment he thought 80