Charlevoix county herald., 1908-05-02
Copyright, by Daily Story Pub. Coz

scape without. There was a distinct
pucker between the pairs of golden
brown lashes that all but met over
the wide-set. surprisingly black eyes.
She tossed aside the volume in de-
spair, and blinked aggressively at her
vibrating likeness in the mirror at her
elbow.
The porter came through at last,
flourishng a premonitory whiskbroom,
and the girl assailed him eagerly.
"Huw much further is it to the juno
tionS" she asked, Just how late are
we? and are you perfectly sure | can
make safe connection with that
through train to New Orleans?' She
pulled out her watch. Il mustn't by
any manner of means reach there later
than SIX" she urged as the ebony in
dividuai made mumbling calculation of
the answer to each of her rapidly fired
questions.
Wen get to the junction now in
about ten minutes, miss; trains al
most an hour late Your train ~
generally meets this one, but it's 70
minute, behind
THANK you. Then I shall be in
plenty of time, ! suppose. And you
may brush me off" She rose with
paipabIe sigh of relief and submitted
gratefully to the deft fourishing
strokes of the broom. Then she
slipped a coin into the porter's hand
and began to take inventory of her
baggage.
When Miss Sheplar stepped out Oh
the deserted platform, Is minutes
later, a fine drive of snow had set in
that whipped her face like thousands
Of tiny lashes. She quickly pulled
down her heaviest veil and hurried
into the waitingroom. The usual
crowd Of intoxicating, fagged-out
travellers and motley-faced children
was there, and the room was sicken-
ing from the suffocating heat of
mammoth stove. She found a seat
in a deserted corner, and endured the
torture for exactly five minutes. Then
SHE started up impatiently, intending
10 take a short walk while waiting for
har team, and on her way to the doe"
paused to ask the operator exactly
what time the southbound was due
Two. hours late. now, miss. Guess
she'd be along at about four o'clock
The girl caught her breath in alarm
-Four O'Clock! It was three hours
rtu % New Orleans. and the wedding
was to take place at half past seven.
Her FIRST sensation was of anxiety;
bat it was followed instantly by
feeling Of intense relief and thank
fulness The whole thing had been
into;erable to her from the first; and
had il not been for the faithful prom
isa she had made to act as maid-of-
honCr at the marriage of her best
friend. Leona Stoddart-given when
they were at college together. and
renewed at each recurrent visit be.
tween them, she never would have
consented to the immolation. Here
was a possible escape.
Out in the biting air, she quickcned
her foots steps and walked rapidly for
several squares, till she could feel
tie teusion OF her nerves relax and the
blood pulse warm and free in her
body Something like eXhilaration
came to her suddenly, and with the
tonic OF it racing through her veins
she walked on and on, totally unmind
fyt OF the passage OF time. When
length she came TO herself she
must have been fully a mile from the
S alton She jerked ont her watch,
aud noted with a paling face that only
II minutes remained in which TO catch
h'r train! For, in spite of the fact
tnat she had viewed the prospect of
being balated as blessed release
FROM her obligations, the thought Of
having 10 be left and be forced TO
spcnd the night in place like this
flied her with CONSERVATION. She
t3Tuod on the impulse to cast about
for some any possible. means Of con.
veylnCe and came face 20 face with
very good looking young fellow in
a gray plaid suit. with the brim Of
his pearl-sray alpine pulled down al
most over his eyes. \ thrill went
through her.
"Katrina!"
You. Inc prOnoun was all-compre-
ieusiye.
why are you so anxious to escape
me- ne asked, matching his step with
hers. as she hurried along the soggy
pavement.
1t seems we both ought to be in
something of haste" she answered
over her shoulder, "if we miss that
train"
Young Prescott FASTENED to reassure
her. ooh, she's lost another so min
ntes: itu be 45 by the time we reach
the station"
Miss Sheplar paused and contem-
MATED him dazcdiy. And that
means" she said in a Mortified whis.
pcs. that we shall not arrive in time
for che ceremony