Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-12-01

you of the change, and as you d.l IL
reply supposed that you were lost i
the social whirl and did not care l.
waste time in writing when ] was 81.
far away"
"YOu should have known me better
than that" The words We're simple.
but the look accompanying them Was
eloquent. 1t seemed to tell Chris that
only through faint heartedness had he
failed 10 win his fair lady ana tha;
there still might be chance.
at seems to be muddle all around,
he said. THE firm were rather angry
at my going. though ] gave them tw,
weeks notice. and they knew that !
was bettering myself"
"The chances are that they did not
forward your letter to me and dill not
mail my letter to you. remember
that I dropped 1t into the office mall
box. The cashier was petty sort OF
person. This may have been one OF
his revenges."
The many changes which had conc
to both since their parting furnished
theme for conversation. and the train
was pulling into the terminal at Jerse..
City before 1t was exhausted.
Exultingly Chris felt that the misun
derstanding was all cleared up. and he
told himself that it would not be his
fault IL Frances did not return home
an engaged girl.
"Will your friends be here to meet
you?" lie asked as the porter took thei.
hand bags.
"I told them not to bother" explain
ed Frances. "Bessie's mother is an IN
valid, and Bess works downtown some
where III Just take cab to the
house. It's uptown. The address IS in
my grip. I always carry everything
In my grip. Then have only one thing
to watch instead Of vallse and n
purse and perhaps couple OF bun
dies"
"That's sensible thing" cried Chris
admiringly. "Only you mustn't lose
your valise."
T should say not" agreed Frances
laughingly. ~ should find myself with
out money and. worse yet, without
even Bess' address, since she had to
move last week because their old house
was torn down."
"I'll look out for the valise." prom
ised Chris as he helped her down the
steps of the Pullman. Better walk be
hind me and let me force the way. I'm
more used to New York crowds" he
explained, with the pride Of new resi-.
dent.
Now, ut Jersey City the concourse
opens on three ferry slips. all lead;
to various parts Of Manhattan. Chris
headed for the downtown ferry, which
would bring them near the subway.
and not until the boat was reached did
be turn to see II the girl was still fol
lowing.
The gates were closed behind him
and the boat was slowly passing out Of
the slip when he made the discovery
that Frances had not followed his In
structions.
She was not In the tail Of the crowd
that had been hurried aboard by impa-
tient gatemen, nor did careful search
of the boat reveal her, and Chris hope
that she might have been swept aboard
by the other gangway was dashed.
He made the return trip on the same
boat, railing at the delay. and after a
hurried scrutiny Of the concourse de-
cided that she must have taken the
upper ferry to Twenty third street.
A boat was about to start, and he
rushed on board, the perspiration
streaming from his face. He still car
ried Frances valise and his own heavy
suit ease. Frances could not leave any
ferry house without the valise, for It
contained her money and her friends
address. She could not apply to the
old address to find out where her
hostess had moved, because the house
had been torn down. She must wait
for him.
He dashed through the exit and
through the waiting room, searching
both floors, but there was no trace Of
the girl. He was about to go to the
street and question the carriage agent
when the doorman, who had watched
his actions curiously, came up.
"Are you the chap that lost lady"
he demanded. III you are, told her
to go back to the Jersey side and wait
for you. She followed man she
thought was you and got on the wrong
boat"
Chris pressed a coin Into the mans
hand and spripted down the slip Just