The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1909-04-09

me. Miss nrummond. although con.
fess I never saw you until today"
said Valdean. slowly. Last Easter I
chanced 10 be at st. Marks church ia
the city. and there heard you sing
for the FIRST time. know It was you.
for could not be mistaken In the
voice. | did not see you. nor was |
able to find out who you were or where
YOU lived, but your voice has haunted
me for whole year. In my thoughts.
In my dreams. you have been known
To- me only as the Easter lady; but
now--at last"
lie checked himself. and deliberate.
iy began TO turn the vehicle into a
cross.road leading at right angles from
the one they were following. The girl
quickly laid small gloved hand on
his arm.
mo. no." she cried: mot that way.
Keep straight on. Mrs. Camperdown
lives"
Mrs. Camperdown can wait" said
Valdcan firmly as the car shot into
the new road at an Increased rate OF
speed. IL am not ready TO take you
to Mrs. Camperdown yet. have
waited whole year for this oppor-
tunity; do you think | am going TO
turn you over To Mrs. Camperdown
so soon?"
| Miss Drummond sank helplessly
back In her seat. He knew she was
staring fxedly ut him. and he half-ex-
| pected an outburst OF eXpostulaton,
| k,,, h., a
Am being kidnapped" she asked
/ at last; and the humorous note in her
voice assured him that his bold move
was being condoned.
Valdeans face frightened with a
quick CLEAN OF excited pleasure.
Then you will let me drive you to
town."
Indeed Il will he great favor 10
me. hope 1t is not asking too much
OF you"
"oh. I shall be delighted. And we
can dine at the Red Eagle inn. which
is directly ON the way. and still get
home before nightfall."
The ice was broken: II was aston
ishing how quickly these young peo,
| pie arrived at a mutual and cordial
understanding. BY the time the Red
Eagle inn loomed up before them they
were chatting as gsily and unreseryed-
| ly as IL they had known each other for
years. They dined coEily and happily
at the inn. consuming much more time
| than was necessary in the perform
ance, and then taking their places In
| the car once more. they resumed their
| Journey toward the city.
Il was sure something portentous
would happen to-day" said Valdean.
enthusiastically. as they bowlcd along
the highway.
And has anything portentous hap
peped?" asked Miss Drummond. curl
ously.
Surely. Nothing could be more
significant than this chance meeting
between YOU and me"
"But-does Il portend anything"
TO me II does. II holds a beautiful
promise II is the fate OF the Val
deans. Listen. Miss Drummond." and
the young man became very serious.
Easter Is strangely mixed up with
the destinies ot the Naldeans. My
father met my mother for the first
time on Easter day. My grandfather
and grandmother first knew OF each
others existence on an Easter morn
ing and they were married the same
evening. II was the tricksy spirit OF
that festival that brought my great
grandparents together nearly a hun
dred years ago, AS far back as the
, record goes the members OF my family
have all met their affiuities az Easter
, time VIII YOU contend, Miss Drum
, mond- d-Marsaret-that our meeting
to-day has no meaning for the future .
: She save him a quick. frightene,
look Then the warm color strsamet
!, into her face and neck. and her eyes
i, dropped.
Might Il not mean" he continue,
with desperate earnestness, that ",
: are both controlled by the same fat,
that rules In the NaldeSn family
: Msht IL not mean that you and l."
NONSENSE" interrupted the girl
Il hut her voice was very faint aud tTsI,
ulous
. win YOU let ME hope, Margaret.
he whispered again.
She slowly shook her head Wv
have known each other so short
u time" she protested.
we have known each other 10
, ave hours" said Vsldean. looking a
his watch. What does 1, matter, !
is fate. Al least tell me thSt l ma
= hope
4. she Was silent q lors time; but q
q last she sighed softly and hfied he
I eyes ,rusttully 20 his