The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-04-17

mar WIN q 6nOcK OF WllLo na1r ana
long eyebrows, from beneath which
glared eyes of great restlessness, and
also remembered that the dress suit
which had caused so much worry was
stained with freshly spilled chemicals,
and that ever as he came the inventor
was furtively wiping a pair of grimy
hands on his handkerchief. But it was
not the man nor the suppressed tit
tiers of laughter that he recollected
best; it was the girl who escorted
him.
She came leading her father by the
arm, the daintiness Of her costume
enhanced by the marks Of the work
shop on his coat. She walked smiling
ly forward, completely self-possessed,
with head thrown back, and making
no apologies. Had it not been for the
conversation at the door, overheard
within the room, one would have
supposed that she wished a more cere-
monious appearance. She challenged
with her eyes as she passed her
guests, and to Killers surprise, bound
in conventionality as he always had
been, it suddenly seemed that in all
of it there was nothing inappropriate
nor incongruous.
Then came that later hour when he
was introduced to the savant, and the
latter had looked him squarely in the
, eyes and given him a handshake that
was surprisingly strong. And the
girl! At the first word spoken by her
his heart gave a great leap, insistently
demanding that he should know her
better. 1t had been easy to yield to
it's call, and he made occasion to be
as neal her side throughout the even
ing as was possible. He was to learn
later that she always was with her IA
ther, nearly always inaccessible, and
sometimes wrapped in such thought
that he could scarcely probe her mind.
The evening of their meeting had
ended as do all evenings; but thence
forth he had sought her. Their ac-
q%uaintance. grew to a more friendly
basis, and went steadily forward until
on his part at least it eliminated in
love. Sometimes he had the courage
to believe it returned. At other times
he grew respondent in his assault on
the portals of her heart, but now that
war and separation threatened, he
was resolved to bring his siege to the
issue and gain an swe
A long-drawn whistle of increasing
volume vibrated through the dusk;
n headlight stared more steadily
than the others which cleaned across
the network of steel rails beyond and
came swiftly, picking a trail to the
great arched shed. With a final clang-
ing of its bell, the big locomotive
%perspired past him, the whistling
brakes gave a harsh grind and the
train came to a halt.
Guy hurried back with quick, i'm
patient steps to the Pullman, where
negroes dropped carpeted steps, in
time to see the n for whom he
waited emerge, calm and Immaculate
as usual, but with such a gladness of
barely resist taking her into his arms.
Time might drag, but it always found
her unchanged. In sudden awkward
ness he took her lighter luggage and
wrap and walked with her to the exit
of the noisy station, finding all his
carefully formulated sentences for
gotten, and listening to her rather
than saying anything himself.
Almost the first question she asked
him was of the war; and at this he felt
a tinge of disappointment. 1t was too
impersonal a topic for a man who had
waited a month for an opportunity to
speak of affection. He would rather
she gave first thought to, what he had
been doing, what he was going to do
and what he wished to do. Even when
they reached a more quiet place away
from the din of railway traffic and
aside from the rush of outgoing pas
sengers, she turned toward him with a
grave face and asked for "the real
latest news"
."Do tell me-" she said, mot what
people say, Or what the officials send
out, but the real inside situation. Is
there going to be any war;"
"I am afraid So" he answered.
SlOOmlly. 1u0 6OVoIAAueuI AS BILL AZ
sisting that there is not much danger
of a clash, and backs up its manifes-
toes by making no preparation what
ever. There has been no attempt to
mobilize q feet in the Pacific, nor to
assemble other vessels from foreign
ports; but our own advices are that
war is inevitable and may come at any
moment"
She did not respond, but seemed
almost to have forgotten him in her
| reverie +, and contemplation of his
words. Nor did she express surprise
and interest when he gave her a seat
in the brougham which waited for
them beside the station gates. Not
till she heard him order the driver to
take them to q fashionable cafe did
she return from the land Of abstrae-
ton and become vivacious again.
Where are you taking met" she
asked. did I understand it that we
are going to an old friend? I'm half
starved. and am going to drop all this
wal subject for . while"
When he told her their destination
she clapped her hands and showed her
| orrroval nv aavin1. That good.