The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-06-02

She noted how obliviOus he was to
her presence, and, with the impetuosity
which was so apt to characterize her
actions, she left the abbey. Going rap
idly back to her hotel and finding thai
she could leave MelrOse ut once. she
packed her few belongings, made her
way to the station. and when Har-
court returned and called for her she
was gone. He was mystitied enough
What had happened? He could not
imagine. He had not knowingly hurt
her in any way. How lonely it was
without her. How he missed her
bright. CHEEKY ways, the sparkle of
her brown eyes, her girlish laughter.
Can it be- thought the young fell
low, that am in love?"
Before the next day he felt there
could not be much doubt about it. for
he had never spent a more miserable
twenty-four hours. Then it was that
he determined to follow her and tell
her he loved her with all the ardOr of
a nature that had never frittered itself
away in the love of many women. He
| travelled day after day. getting now
! and then a clew of the girl. but he
never found her. and when he finally
reached London he was almost dis
couraged He could not remember the
steamer she was to take back to Amer
lea nor the port from which she was
10 h,,t bn lf,.+.,
and haunted steamboat offices with
pertinacity that laid him open to criti-
cism by his friends, who one and all
declared the truth-that he was in
love.
Gertrude, for her part. was misera-
BILE indeed The thought of the black
eyed beauty who had kissed the Eng
lishman and called him Edward was
torture, but the thought she had 50
tamely surrendered herself to a love
which had been unasked and evidently
undesired was far greater torture. BY
the time she had reached London she
was a very weary girl indeed, and she
waited impaticntly for the time when
she was to return to America. In
sort of aimlcss way she did West
minister abbey and the galleries, and
during those days of waiting she took
a fancy to the omnibuSes which are
so great a feature of London life. Day
after day she rode on the tops Of the
buses. looking at the sights of Lon
don, listening to the sounds. but for
the most part thinking Of the young
fellow who had become so much to
her. She was impatient with herself,
but she felt a little sorry for herself
also, and when one begins to pity one
self one is in bad condition.
One evening she felt so thoroughly
blue and discouraged that she did that
which she had never attempted be
fore in the eyening-tOok a bus ride.
She was just homesick enough and out
Of sorts enough to want to lose her
self for a time in London traffic. She
went out to Trafalgar square. sig
nailed bus, mounted 10 its top and
gave herself up to the contemplation
Of London streets in the evening from
the top Of a motor bus. She rode an
hour or so until. finally arousing her
self with a start. she saw that she
was approaching her starting point
She started down the steep flight of
little stairs to the ground. Just be
fore she reached the bottom step the
bus gave a lurch. and Gertrude was
precipitated to the ground. 1t seemed
as if thousands Of vehicles were ready
and waiting to pass over her body.
There was shouting and oaths and
shrill screams from women, but in the
midst Of it all she felt herself lifted
by two strong arms, set on her feet
and hurried to a place Of safety.
Trembling and shaken. she looked up
to her preserver OF course it could
be none other than the Englishman.
There was only one pair Of strong
arms like that in the world.
Three times and out, my darling"
said Harcourt. You are not to be
trusted alone ever any more. You are