The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-12-18

Richardson.
ready in a minute. sir. and the first
call for breakfast has been given, sir"
But what are we topping here for"
Borden demanded with the irritation of
interrupted rest. He could never sleep
on board a train niles the car was in
motion.
Freight wreck. sir. Rear-end collis-
ion, and two men killed, sir"
Too bad" sai Borden, ducking back
into his berth; but he was not think
ms of the two men-only of a probable
wait Of hours. Waiting always got
on his nerves.
He dressed deliberately. having the
wash room and smoking apartment
v practically to himself. The rest of the
/ male travellers were tiding over the de-
\ lay in slumber.
The dining car was also deserted at
his early hour, and each Of the six
Walters looked at him with expectant
eyes and itching palms. He took a
seat midway dOwn the car II studied
the menu with the air OF a man who
had time to kill. Their he leaned back
to make h best of .he Albany papers.
There was a stir at the door. The
dining car conductor stepped forward
to usher in q trim figure, clad in a pc
desttian skirt OF mannish material, q
tailoted shirt waist and a smart. stiff
hat With coquettish wings on one side.
Hers was not a girlish face, but the
face well preserved and frightened by
experience cheerfully accepted. She
was we'll groomed, and radlated not
the sitkening heavy perfume which
some women affect to Offset the fetid
atmosphere of the train. but the clean.
almost keen air of one who has Just
Il rAtIirnnAA FRAY, n NrfSJ yp,o1 Il IN, Tho yHiv>
ter air.
Fruit yes, oranges-and cracked
wheat"
The Albany ape slipped to the floor
and Borden swung round so suddenly
that his tweed coat sleeve almost
Knocked over the cream pitcher.
He had rot heard the voice for seven
years. yet 1t came to him with the
clearness on a bell-and something
more. The girl was looking out OF the
window now and he studied her profile
%curicusly. 1t had changed. The round
ness was got1e, with the din. pied mis-
chief that had brought on his first at
fair Of the heart. BY Jove! he Won
dered, had his mother thrown away the
little pearl ring? 1t had laid in a box
with some other boyish trinkets. She
had returned il in a fine pet. when he
told her he was going away from Clay
Vile to make his fortune. She had
WaNleu 10 D0 married lueU, ana let the
fortune be earned Jointly.
No doubt she had forgotten that lit
tie affair-she looked prosperous and
happy. And she had a certain air Of
self-restraint and self-confldence never
shown in those earlier and happier
days. Yes. he suddenly realized that
they had been happier days.. A vision
came to him of shaded lanes. and ap-
pie orchards, a tiMttering hand that
rested quietly only in his. and a head
that once coddled ~ronfidingly On his
big. square shoulde.. There were no
but Borden liked them better. He liked
the Arm poise of the head. DO: the
straight, self-reliant figure. He de-
cided that he had bAst make himself
known.
She turned with distinct evidence of
ANNOYANCE, Mildred Davis did Q care
for casual travelling acQuatntances.
Then the look of hauteNr rave way to
a sudden expression Of almost glrlish
pleasure.
"Of all the people to meet here. in
the dead of winter. and dear knows
!. claimed. Certainly. have your break
fast brought right over here. My dear
boy. you have-yes-you bave actually
grown, since we met-let's see 1t was
! seven years ago-or eight.
Jack Borden sat opposite her and
y IldUcd pTCJGIlSc VI SdliE8 ilM UIcdhI1SS.
The waiter reported in the tiny puntrs
!, that the young chap was evidently
! hard hit.
Borden was hard hit. but ne Lid not
know it. His parting with impulsive
. girlish Mildred Davis had not occa-
: stoned any particular pain, and hac
I soon been forgotten i'll the scramble FOL
, business recognition. Yet his meeting
r with the new Mildred, calm, self-con.
tained and somehow %radiating a socia
superiority that mere wealth canno
t give. had thrilled hin
where am 1 going? Why. home 70
n Christmas. Of course" h was saying
e in even tones. You heard OF mother
death, I presume"
: Borden flushed. He had heard noth
n ing from the old town in years. H
murmured some words of sympath.
e and noted that she looked wistful. bu
there was no trace of tears in her eyer
e The old Mildred had been given t
tears.
Il had my position in Albany w
e years before h left US. No, there !
o no one for me to stay with at Clay
vile except the Applebys, but they al
ways take me in at Christmas time.
d simply ann stay in Albany ther
e Even second or third cousins are bette
than business friends"
e They returned to the sleeper after
k breakfast; drawn out until he inin
CHI ueSdll 10 III up. AAG Aol6Ol lAS ~
d eyitable after breakfast cigar an
ID passed the smoking compartment
IT without t1lnching.
He had so much to tell her about hi
. success, and their beautiful home. PEI
p. haps. then, she would understand VIII
Clayville was only a memory I
him..
ID She listened appreciatively. but aske
ID more questions about his mother h
about his great factory. The trail
started up. Three houys had passed o
ID wings. She would leave him at Syra
n cuse to AXE tbs accommodation mort
ID to Clayville. He said something ea
he pressive OF regret, but he said 1t awA
wardly. This brought to him a realizs
ID ton that he had somehow lost his gri
be on the little arts Of politeness.