The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1908-04-09


yet in a breath they cleaned with
anger. His face went livid, and he
hurried away
But Sally b. saved the moment My
cook set up all night to make that
cake, Mr. Crocltor; please don't
laugh" she whispered past the two
intervening guests.
At once the host rose, and taking
his cue from her anxious face, pro
posed a toast to "The Cake and the
Cook" that was responded to with
hearty cheers. Vic Wah entered
bowed. and retired with a beaming
race
The toastmaster now raped for
order The conversation and laughter
ceased, the soft rustic of serving and
eating hushed, and the speeches he.
gan.
Mr. Crocker spoke first. to the gen
eral topic: The Railroad" He told
the story of it's inception and progress,
paying tribute to Theodore n. Judah,
to the men who furthered the under
taking in congress and legislature, to
all the officers, especially to Mr.. Greg
ory; and closed with neat compi-
ment TO Alfred Stella ever so gently
pressed his arm with her own; but the
woman on the other side smiled allur-
ingly into his face, and pouted at her
uncle.
Uncle Charley didn't say half
/,
Stella heard it,
81 shall tell him he has left his debt
of gratitude for me to liqudate the
beauty continued. "Or-or can ! pay
Uncle Charley's scores?" she ques-
toned in mock humility, leaning to-
ward Alfred till her breath brushed
his cheek. Perhaps my coin is not
current in your market"
OF course, he had to meet her badin-
age, She meant her coin should be
current with him, and above par; and
he would have been ice had he entire
ly escaped the spell of her witcheries.
Several speeches followed, among
them Mr. Ludlow's memorable toast,
The Pacific Railroad the Beautiful
Belt of the Union, with California as
the Golden Buckle
AT the close of the banquet Stella
cover OF darkness watched knots of
men gather and dissolve about Miss
Hamilton; marked her every motion
and speech: noted her vivacity, her
perfect grace, her quick smile; saw
llattered Alfreds ready response as
she appealed to him prettily for fact
or corroboration of her own assertions.
The little court melted away at last.
Mr.. Crocker was buttonholed by Mr..
Gregory and led off. Viola disap-
peared; and Sally b. was already rush
ing the transformation that must pre-
cede the five o'clock breakfast.
When the radiant two were alone
Stella saw Miss HamiltQn's animation
fade in breath; saw her pale and
tremble and lift a pathetic little face
to Alfred. And Stella marvelled at
the heroism that had kept the girl
keyed so long to her role. However
artificial Miss Hamiltons manner
might have been before, Stella recog-
nized the significance of the dropped
mask. Here was perfect honesty, and
the sweet appeal of pain courageously
borne. How could Alfred resist it, or
her trust in him, her beatty, all the
subtle intimateness of the moment?
"Oh, Mr.. Vincent I've nearly died
this last hour" she said unsteadily.
Wont you please find Uncle Charley
as soon as you cam"
He made some quiet reply Stella did
not hear, and fastened to the door,
returning quickly to say that Mr..
Crocker had gone with Mr. Gregory,
no one knew where. you must let
me carry you to your room. Sally
B."
"Oh, no! I'm too heavy! I'm such
a big girl" Miss Hamilton inter-
rupted, looking up at him with tired,
appealing eyes. Stella, thinking of her
own largeness, felt this last sentence
to be sheer affectation.
For answer, Alfred gathered her
easily in his arms, and Stella recog-
Z.
You cannot stay here. III carry you
gently. Don't worry, you're only a
fairy weight I'll call Miss Anthony
-
Stella had seen the delicate face set
tie against his shoulder, had felt the
solicitude in his tones They came
toward her, and the gleam of lamp
fell full on their faces as the sound
OF her own name startled her She
shrank as from a blow, and fled to her
room. And when Alfred knocked later
she made no response, though to Sally
BIS anxious inquiry, following soon,
she sent CHEEKY reply Yet there
was no sleep for her in those early
morning hours; she was fighting a
battle that would change her life
She did not leave her room till late,
giving herself barely time to go to
the station, where she arrived Just as
Miss Hamilton was being lifted in a
chair to the platform of the rear car.
Stella adroitly avoided Alfred's at.
tempt at private moment. There was
no rancor in her serene face, her
cheerful speech She met his look
squarely And he. approved of the
fine dignity with which she received
Miss Hamiltons extrayagant compli-
ments, the invitation to her home and
her yoluble goodbye Yet when Stella
put her hand in his in farewell, though
she smiled, and her words were all he
could expect there seemed an ada.
mantine wall betWeen them thnt had