The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1910-03-10

What had happenedf He could not
imagine He had not knowingly hurt
her In any way How lonely II was
without her. How he missed her
bright, CHEEKY ways, the sparkle Of
her brown eyes, her girlish laughter!
"Can II be" thought the young fel-
low. that ! am In love"
Before the next day he felt there
could nol be much doubt about II. for
be hud never spent more miserable
twenty-four hours. Then II was that
he determined to follow her and tell
her he loved her with all the ardor of
a nature that had never frlttered 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
to sail. but he scanned passenger lists
and haunted steamboat Offices with a
pertinacity that laid him open to criti-
cism by his friends, who one and all
declared the truth--tha 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 SO
tamely surrendcred 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 impatlently for the time when
she was to return to America. In o
sort Of aimless 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 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 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 aud discouraged that she did that
which she had never attempted be-
fore In the evening-took II bus ride.
She was just homesick enough ana out
Of sorts enough to want to lose her
self for time In London traffic, She
went out to Trafalgar square. sig
nailed a bus, mounted to 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 arousipg her
self with start, she saw that she
was approaching her starting point
She started down the steep hight 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. II seemed
as II thousands OF vehicles were ready
and waiting to pass over her body.
There was shouting and oaths aud
shrlIl screams from women, but In the
midst Of II all she felt herself lifted
by two strong arms, set on her feet
and hurried to place OF safety.
Trembling and shaken. she looked up
to her preseryer OF course 1t could
be none other than the Englishman.
There was only one pair VI strong
arms like that In the world.
Three times and out. my darling.
said Harcourt. You are not 10 be
trusted alone ever any more You are
my little love. my wife that Is 10 be.
Never again viii trust you out OF my
sight"
But the black eyed girl who called
you Edward and kissed YOU sobbed
the thoroughly unnerved girl.
Was that the reason n almost
shouted Harcourt. You little goose.
YOU blessed little goose. II just hap
sened to be my sister: that Is all. !
viii introduce you to her tomorrow"
Blissfully happy. yet with a little
ommon sense mingled with her hap
nlness. Gertrude persuaded her lover
% curb his impatience for hasty
marriage. but II was only a few short
weeks when over 10 America another
alliance was made between England
and Americs which made two hearts
beat a. one