Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-07-14
At
The
Junction.
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Julian Grove. burdened with
heavy suitcase and an humbled pride.
descended the steps Of the yellow day.
coach THAT formed half of the only
train on the Lindon Valley road. He
sat himself on an unused baggage
truck to await until the southbound
train should come along.
The Junction train had run down
to meet the northbound, and when
that heavy express had gone tear
ing into the distance, and the juno
ton train hal scuttled back up the
valley toward Eindon, Julian had the
station platform very much to him.
self. The few waiting passengers
we're huddled about the stove in the
tiny shed that served at the juno
ton station.
Julian preferred the winter sun
light and the crisp air to the lifeless
heat of the big stove and the reek If
many bodies. He was going humb!y
to confess his faults, and ne wanted
W ACCP ClCdIeicduSN Iuht LuSy ml6uk
remain fresh in his mind.
He felt that he needed to be watch
ed, for IN his heart he believed the
faults to be few. There was grave
danger that he might forget again
that he was the offender, and taloe
the same attitude of injured dignity
that had caused Lottie Maynard to
go hurrying back 10 the city with
the declaration that when he came to
his senses she might be ready to
talk to him again.
There was an accent on the
smight" that left the matter in
doubt, and Julian felt that it be.
hooved him to keep vividly N mind
what Lottie declared to be his Of
lenses. Lottie was the dearest little
woman in the world, but she had
very decided notions. To run TO
those notions was to make rugged
the course OF true love.
Mentally Julian recited the cate.
chism of his offenses, punctuating his
determination with appropriate re.
marks concerning tran that was
two hours late. He was still occu-
pied with this task when a distant
whistle sounded, and the waiting pas
sengers hurried from the station to
the platform There was some
grumbling when 1t was seen that this
was only slow train from the south.
but they lined up along the platform
to watch the arrival of the few pas.
sengers who we're making change.
Then they hurried back to the
warmth of the waiting room.
Only one girl remained behind to
walk briskly up and down tue plat.
form. With glad cry of surprise
Julian hurried toward her.
What are you doing here, Letter"
he asked, as he took her hand in
his.
Where are you going?" she coun.
tered.
Il was running down to town to
see you." he explained. And to
think OF finding you here, on your
way to Lindon.'
II was not going to Lindon." de-
clared the girl. 81 was going on,
but somehow l stepped of the train
through the habit, and the train went
on without me-"
~ was hoping that you we're COM
ing back-to me-" he said tenderly,
but Lottie tossed her head.
Il told you that when you were
ready to admit that you we're at fault
that you might write, and that then
perhaps would come. You don't
suppose. that l would change my
mind. do your"
mo such luck" he admitted dis.
mally. THAT was why | was COM
Ing to you"
ITO apologize she demanded, and
Julian nodded his head.
A CLEAN of triumph flashed into
Lottie's eyes, but she was not to be
won so easily. She had very pro-
nounced ideas on the proper way 81
handling the man she purposed to
marry, and now that he was penitent,
she was in no hurry to make the
sweet surrender that Jrlian sought.
'''I suppose you are saying that Just
because you want to make up" she
declared. judicialy. II don't know
that 1t should count"
"You said that when would admit
tina. l was in the wrong you would
be friends again." reminded Julian.
"Rut what's the use of admitting
that you are wrong, when you don't
mean it," aryurd Lottie. you'll sly
the same thing again the first time
that you want to be nasty"
Julian with convincing emphasis.
'tf you would only know how utter
ay miserable l have been since you
went back to town! That was why
I decided to come. instead of writ
ing"
And almost missed me-" supplied
Lottie. 81 think, Julian, that I'll
make my visit. and in the meantime
think about coming to Linden on
the way back"
Jultan's face darkened. II wish
you'd make up now" he pleaded.
'iThe fact that we met each other
here at the Junction proves that 1t
was meant by fate that we should
be friends again"
For a moment the girl hesitated.
! Che had meant to keep Julian on tho
anxious seat fer few weeks, but
now that he was coming penitent and
conquered, she felt that perhaps X
would be well to surrender before he
should change his mind. The patent
leather tip Of her shoe dug into the