The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-01-21

his cap came down the platform, ant
Bates called him with gesture.
How long before the next trair
north?' he demanded
An hour and forty minutes"
Good" turning to her. with beam
ing satisfaction. And you have to wal
two hours. That will give us plenty
Of time to talk. Now" with strange
eagerness In his voice. do you mean
to tell me that you did not marry Bot
Bates the fall left?"
Certainly | did not" wonderingly
Il never married anybody. much less
Bob Bates. never liked that man..
Strange. and he told me-
"WhatT' she demanded sharply.
why. that you were promised to
him and that-well. what he told me
was the cause of my leaving and Of
my not communicating with any one
In the old village during all these
years. And to think Here truck
load Of trunks was pushed rapidly to-
ward them, and they were forced aside.
hackman and nodded. moment later
the carriage stood beside the platform,
with the driver holding open the door
for them to enter.
"A station platform is no place to
talk" said Bates genially. Suppose
we take drive through some Of the
quiet streets of the city We have
plenty of time" Then he looked at
her with new thought in his eyes.
II didn't see you in the he began.
then added hastily, You haven't had
dinner. | suppose"
No" hesitating and flushing a lit
tie, ~
"Oh, understand" quickly "Yon
are like me and can't put up with the
makeshifts of railroad restaurant
Now. III tell you what" unblushngly.
I'm about as hungry as a man can be.
There's nice hotel in back some
where. Well go TO that and have
dinner. and then well drive about the
city and talk until train time"
There was hesitation. almost refu-
sal. on her face: but. feigning not to
notice it, he urged her into the carriage
and then sprang in himself and mo.
toned for the driver TO close the door.
An hour passed and then half
hour. and soon after train rumbled
into the station and then rumbled
away. Twenty minutes more and an
nth ar In, rri, "a fal 10
it disappeared the carriage again
whirled up beside the station.
Has my train gone" the woman
asked anxiously as she reached the
platform.
Bates took out his watch and looked
at it meditatively
I'm afraid it has" he answered
land my train. too. with its possible
thousand dollars We've been gone
little over two hours Driver" severe
ly, you ought not to have taken rs
SO far"
There was grave concern in his voice.
but in his eyes was ID SLY twinkle.
which she did not notice. The driver
twirled his hat apologetically in one
hand. but into the other a generous tip
had been slipped. so he was silent.
1T is really too bad" Bates con-
tinued sympathetically There is only
one more train out today. and that
goes toward Richmond. But III tell
you what" as though struck by sud
den solution of the problem, suppose
we take that You know what you
have promised me at the end of three
Now, what is the use Of
waiting that long? You have no peo-
pie. and | have none, and If you go
back to that school you have been
telling me about it will be to unap-
preciative employers and at wages
that will scarce pay your expenses. l
have good house waiting for some
body to look after it and more money
in the bank than | know what to do
with. Now. my idea is for us to go
to a minister. You know where min
lister lives. don't you?" TO the driver.
"Yis. sorr." grinning.
And then come back and take the
tram Tor Rlcntnonu. IL Is very ulCe
city, and you are bound to like it. How
does the scheme strike you:'
Evidently ii struck her unfayorably
or as something too astounding TO ad-
NIT even of Il reply.
Good he said beamingly. SILENCE
means consent. Now we will drive
back to the hotel and write couple of
letters. You tell the school committee
that unforeseen circumstances prevent
ed your returning, and | will write
that the same kind of circumstances
have kept me from attending the sale.
Come"
She parted her lips as though to pro
test and even tried to draw back. but
her heart was with this man who had
been so much to her youth and who
had returned. and in the end she en-
tered the carriage with him and tho
door was again closed by the driver.
1t is said that the groom is uSuaIR
the one to show trepidation at Wei
ding. but in this case ii was the bride.
In twinkling the whole course of her
life had been turned. She was being
N s-phppltnppbn