Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1911-10-05
All In a Day
By M. DIBBELL

htoP vi 'hO NOuSi, hyAhS W "iPO
away her fast falling tears with a
very much soaked handkerchief.
She heard his step, and at once
sat up. "Oh, Dan, / am so thank
full you have come at last. What do
you suppose Lillian will say? l am
sure Esther must have eloped with
Lewis Davenport
Her husband stared at her for an
instant in amazement, then dropped
beside her on the couch and drew her
head to his shoulder.
'FYou poor baby" he asked, "what
has happened to give you such an
idea? And l am sure if they have
eloped it isn't worth one of these
tears"
His soothing words comforted lit
tie Kate Franklin, and the tears
soon ceased to flow.
"Now tell me what has happened.
dearest" said Dan, when Kate grew
calmer.
"About an hour after you left
this morning Esther went down
street to match some embroidery
silks; she said she would not be
gone more than an hour at most
but now it is nearly six o'clock and
she has not returned. You know Lii
liam does not want her to marry for
ever so long, and since Esther came
to US Lewis has been calling so often
il had begun to wonder if it wasn't
my duty to tell her mother, but 1 did
not want Esther to 60 home. Where
do you think she can be?"
It looked as if second flood of
tears we're imminent, and Dan Frank.
lin fastened to reply. II don't be-
lieve there is any elopement, and l
am sure Esther is all right some
where. Perhaps she met one of her
old class friends-she said several of
them lived here"
Before either of them could say
more, the maid hastily entered the
room holding a note and exclaiming,
ooh, Mrs. Franklin, here is mes
sage from the hospital a boy just
brought for you-he says some one
wants to see you there%
Kate turned white but her hus-
bands encircling arm and loving
word helped her to be brave, and
with trembling fingers she took the
slip of paper. 1t said: "There is a
boy lying here who was knocked
down by a horse this morning. He
says he has a message to deliver to
you personally and wants you to
come at once"
''Thank heaven Esther is not
hurt" gasped Mrs. Franklin. I'M
mediately she began to make ready
to visit the hospital.
81 am sure his message is about
| Esther" she told her husband, as
they started out.
When they reached the side of the
cot where lay a sturdy looking
youngster, the first words he spoke
were about the missing girl.
care you Mrs. Franklin-Miss
Esther Roberts friend" he asked
eagerly, and being assured of her
identity continued "This morning j
went on an errand for mother, and
coming back a big motor car stopped
by me and a young lady asked If |
would take message for her. l said
/ would, and then she made me re-
peat it over several times to get il
right. 4 am going to see two friends
married. Will be back tonight
He stopped moment to rest. "Ther'
was a girl and a man on the seat
with her, and the man gave me q
fve-dollar bill. The young lady
wrote her name and address on &
piece of paper and said, BE sure and
tell her Esther Roberts is all right. -
"You arc q brave bog to keef
your word after such an accident
said Kate, patting the brown hand
"You have taken a big load off my
mind. l was dreadfully worried
about Esther"
T'm all right now" replied thu
youngster, "only it seemed to taxi
me a long time to remember thing
after being stunned. Mother says