Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-05-21
CHAPTER *
The HaIeron Rreakfa.t-

me f1a|ClQf ErcakfaGf-
We were still dazed. think. FOR we
wandered like two troubled children.
our one idea at first 10 get as FAR
away as We could from the horror be-
hind MS. We were both bare headed
Erimy. psllid through the grit Now
and then we mot little groups of coun-
try folk hurryiug to The track. they
stared at us curiousIy. and some
wished 90 question as. But we hur-
ried past them. We had put the wreck
behind us. That way lay madness.
Only once the girl turned and look
ed behind her. The wreck was hid
den, but the smoke cloud hung heavy
and dense. For the first time Z re-
Uembered that nay companion had not
been alone on the train.
IT SIS quiet here" 7 suggested. II
you Will sit down on the bank I will
60 back and make some inquiries
I've been criminally thoughtless. Your
travelling companion"
She interrupted me- and something
OF her splendid poise was gone
Please don't 20 back" she said CT
an afraid IL would be OF no use. And
II don't want 90 be- len alone"
Heaven knows did not want her 20
be alone ] was more than content 10
walk along beside her aimIesslv. for
any length OF time. Gradually. as she
lost the eyaltation OF the moment. I
vas gaining my normal condition OF
mind. ] was beginning 20 realize that
/ had lacked the morning grace OF a
shave. that I looked like some lost
hope OF yesterday. and that my left
shoe pinched outrageously. A man
does not rise triumphant above such
handicaps. The girl. for all her disor-
oered hair and the crumpled linen OF
her waist, In spite OF her missing hat
and the small gold bag that hung for
lornly from broken chain. looked ex.
ceedingly lovely
Then I won't leave you alone" I
said manfully. and we stumbled on 10.
gether. Thus far We had seen no
body from the wreck. but well M the
lane We came across the tall dark
woman who had occupied lower II.
She was half crouching beside the
ROAD. her black hair about her shout
ders, and an ugly bruise over her eve.
She did not seem 70 know US. and re.
fused 10 accompany US. We left her
there at last. babbling incoherently
and rolling in her hands a dozen peb-
bles she had gathered In the road
The girl shuddered as we went on.
Once she turned and glanced al my
bandage. Does II hurt very much?"|
abe asked.
Its growing rather numb. But II
might be worse" / answered menda-
eiously II anything in this world
could be worse. had never expert
snced a.
And so We trudged on bareheaded
under the summer sun, growing
parched and dusty and weary, logged
~ leaving behind US the pillar of
smoke. I thought I knew OF a trolley
line somewhere in the direction we
were going. or perhaps we could End
q horse and trap 70 take US into Bal
umore. The girl smiled when I sug-
Gested IL.
We will create a sensation, won't
ve?" she asked. Isn't IL queer-or
perhaps it's my state OF mind-but I
keep wishing for a pair OF gloves,
when ] haven't even a hat"
When We reached the main road we
sat down for a moment, and her hair,
which had been coming loose for some
time, fell over her shoulders in little
waves that were most allurinK. II
seemed a pity TO twist II up again,
but when I suggested this, cautiously.
She said II was troublesome and got
N her eyes when II was loose. So she
gathered u up, while I held a row Of
nttle shell combs and pins, and when
IL was done IL was vastly becoming.
Too. Funny about hair: man never
KNOWS he has IL until he begins 20
lose IL, but it's different with a girl.
Something OF the unconventional stu
alton began 10 dawn on her as she put
In the last hair pin and patted some
stray locks TO place
Il have not told you my name"
she said abruptly. Il forgot that be-
cause l know who you are. you know
nothing about me I am Alison West,
and my home is In Richmond"
So that was II! This was the girl
OF the photograph on John Gilmore's
bedside table. The girl Mcknight ex-
Rectsd to see in Richmond the next