The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-12-17


ready in a minute, sir, and the first
call for breakfast has been given, sir .
But what are we stopping here for?'
Borden demanded with the irritation OF
interrupted rest. He could never sleep
on board a train unless the car was In
motion. ... ..'
Freight wreck, sir. Rear-end coils
ion, n two men killed, sir
Too bad" said Borden, ducking back
into his berth; but he was not think
Ing OF the two men-only OF a probable
wait of hours. Waiting always got
on his erves
He dressed deliberately, having the
wash room n smoking apartment
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 and studied
the menu with the air OF a man who
had time to kill. Then he leaned back
10 make the best Of The Albany papers.
There was a stir at the door. The
dining car conductor stepped forward
to usher In a trim figure, clad in a Pc
destffan skirt OF mannish material, a
TAILORED shirt waist and a smart, stiff
hat With coquettish wings on n side.
Hers was not a girlish face, but the
face well preserved and frightened by
experience cheerfulIy accepted. She
was well groomed, and radiated not
the siakening heavy perfume which
some women affect to offset the fetfd
atmosphere Of the train, but the clean.
almost keen air OF one who has just
returned from a brisk walk in the win
ter air.
Fruit yes, oranges-and cracked
wheat" = #
The Albany paper slipped to the floor
and Borden swung round so suddenly
that his tweed coat sleeve almost
knocked over the cream pitcher.
He had o heard the voice for seven
years, yet II came to him with the
~clearness o. a bell--and something
more. The girl vas looking out OF Tire
window now, and he studied her profile
~curiously. IL had changed. The round
ness was ore with the din.pled mis-
chief that hss brought on his first af-
fair of the heart. BY Jove! he won
dered, a his mother thrown away the
little pearl ring? II 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
wanted to be married then, and 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-eonfidence 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 APP
pie orchards, a hnttering hand that
rested quietly only I'm his, and a head
that once eoddied eonfidfngly on his
big, square shoulder. There were no
curls now, just well-arranged waves.
but Borden liked them better. He liked
the Arm potse Of the head. too: 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 not care
for casual travelling acquaintance.
Then the look OF hauteNr gave way to
a sudden expression Of almost girlish
pleasure. we . q y
-Of an the people to meet here, in
the dead OF winter. ana dear knows
how many miles from where" she ex-
claimed. Certainly, have yocr break
fast brought right over hore. My dear
boy, you have-yes-you 0ave actually
grown, since we met-let's see IL was
seven years ago-or eight?
Jack Borden sat opposite her and
madea pretense of eating his breakfast.
The waiter reported in the Tiny pantry
that the young chap was evidently
hard hit. ..,.
Borden was hard hit, but ne did not
know II. His parting with impulsive,
girlish Mildred Davis had not occa-
stoned any particular pain and had
soon been forgotten in the scramble for
business recognition. Yet his meeting
with the new Mildred, calm, self-con-
tanned and somehow ~radiating a social
superiority that mere wealth cannot
give, had thrilled him..
Where am / going? Why, home for
Christmas, OF course" she was saying
In even tones. You heard OF mothers
death, \ presume?" r....... .,.'. sin
Borden flushed. He had heard moth
ing from the old town in years. He
murmured some words OF sympathy
and noted that she looked wistful, but
there was no q OF tears in her eyes.
The old Mildred had been given to
tears.
Il had my position in Albany two
years before she left Us. No, there is
no one for me to stay with at Clay
Vile except the Applebys, but they al
ways take me in at Christmas time. /
simply cannot stay in Albany then.
Even second or third cousins are better
than business friends"
They returned to the sleeper after a
breakfast drawn out until the dining
car began to NIL up! He forgot his in
evitable after-breakfast cigar and
passed the smoking compartment
without flnching. a
He had so much to tell her about his
success, and their beautiful home. Per-
haps, then, h would understand why
Clayville was only a memory to
him. So "a *.
She listened appreciatively, but asked
more questions about his mother than
about his great factory. The train
started up. Three hours had passed on
wings. She would leave him at SYRIA
cuse to take the accommodation north
to Clayyise. He said something ex-
pressive OF regret, but he said IL awk-
wardly. This brought to him a realiza-
ton that he mad somehow lost his grip