The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-06-22

mates. With her excitable and impul-
sive temperament there seemed to her
at that moment just one desirable
thing in the world, and that was to
be allowed to stay to the dance. Why
should she not, too, wait and take
the later car?
There was not much time to think
about 1t. Almost as soon as the side
walk was reached, the ten-ten car ap-
peared and stopped, and a file Of
cross, disappointed girls began to en-
ter it. Miss Gordon, young and in
experienced in chaperoning, stepped
in when 1t was naturally her turn.
Half the girls were behind her. Soon
the car moved on, and when Miss
find that three of her party were
missing. She did not see that 1t
would be the sensible thing for her
to jump off as quickly as possible and
go back, since the fifteen on the car
had shown they could do without
chaperon much better than the three
who stayed behind. To her mind, she
was responsible for a party and that
party was on the car.
Lottie Brett came to herself before
the car had gone far. Then she
waved her hand frantically and called,
but no one appeared to notice her.
She started to run uX this middle Of
the street, to the great amusement OF
June Dennison and Edith Wallace,
who had yielded to their temptation
the moment Miss Gordon had stepped
on board. They had slipped away
from the others and gone round back
of the car.
"Come back" they called once, but
Lottie did not heed them. She stum-
bled along the car track for almost
block while the car was in sight; then
realizing that she would attract at
tention, she hurried along the side
walk.
No thought OF the dance entered
her mind her one all.controlling idea
was that she ought to go home. There
was no car for an hour, and there
was nothing for her to do but walk as
last do SIG was dult. " Bt Opthly
disobedient was new experience for
Lottie, and the immediate effect was
to make her feel sick at heart. 1t
was five miles home, 1t was after
ten o'clock, it was dark and she was
decidedly timid, but after the wave of
unavailing regret broke over her, it
would have taken physical force to
keep her from the journey home.
She was on the outskirts of the
city in twenty minutes. Then there
were four miles of country road.
There were frequent houses, but at
half past ten most Of them were
dark. There were several long inter.
walls without house. Lottie was
thoroughly frightened and thoroughly
miserable, but it never occurred to
her to turn back. With the determin-
alton that was her endearing quality
she kept on; she ran. she walked, part
of the time she travelled along the
car-track; then again she tried the
road. Once carriage came along,
but she hid behind tree until 1t had
passed.
When she was half way home It
seemed to her that she could not hold
out for the remaining distance, but
she stopped running so often, and
found she could keep on. The last
half-mile, in fact, was the easiest in
some respects. Most of the time she
was covering that distance she could
hear the last car approaching. 1t
overlook and passed her. She made
no effort to hail 1t for she did not
wish to see any one who might her,
but the lights were company and
the end of the line Lottie nerved her.
self for one more burst of speed. and
not more than ten minutes. after
passenger from the car should have
reached the seminary, Lottie stumbled
the steps.
Miss winthrop, the preceptress, and
Miss Gordon had met the car, and
failing to find any of the missing ones,
had returned to the seminary. Doctor
Manning was away. Just what to do
at midnight to find the two lost girls
was the serious question confronting
the teachers when the bell rang, and
Miss Winthrop gladly admitted Lottie.
Where are the others?" demanded
poor, overwrought Miss Gordon.
Gone to June's Aunt May's!" Lot.
tie gasped, and burst into a fearful
apology to Miss Gordon.
With intense relief, but uncon-
cealed disgust in her expression, Miss
Gordon, when she had heard the in
coherent apology, turned sharply and
went to her room to have her cry
there. Miss Winthrop, left with the
sobbing girl, took her to her own
room, and with the practise OF years
soon had her calm enough to explain
matters.
'T want to see Doctor Manning"
was Lottie's one desire.
He is away, and moreover, you
could not see him at this time of night
if he were at home. What you must
do is to take hot bath and an alco-
1,n1 irtn haI Of