Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-06-22
At the
Junction

train on the Lindon Valley road He
sat himself on an unused baggage
truck to wait until the south-bcund
train should come along.
Julian preferred the winter sunlight
and the crisp air to the lifeless hent
Of the big stove and the reek Of many
bodies. He was going hum6iy to CO..,
fess his faults, and he wanted to keep
clear headed that they might remain
fresh In his mind.
He felt that he needed to be WATCH
full. for ins his heart he believed TIE
faults to be few. There was grGEN
danger that he might forget again
that he was the offender. and take the
same attitude OF injured dignity thar
had caused Lottie Maynard to go hur-
rying back to the city with the deo-
laration that when he came 10 hiG
senses she might be ready to talk -
him again.
There was an accent on the nigh"
that left the matter in doubt, and
Julian felt that 1t behooved him to
keep wildly in mind what Lottie de-
clared to be his offenses.
Mentally Julian recited the cate
chism of his offenses. punctQating his
self-examihation with appropriate re-
marks concerning train that was
two hours late. He was still occupied
with this task when q distant whistle
sounded, and the waiting passengers
hurried from the station to the plat
form. There was some grumbling
when 1t was seen that this was only
a slow train from the south instead OF
the desired south-bound, but they
lined up along the platform to watch
the arrival of the few passengers who
hurried back to the warmth Of the
waiting room.
Only one girl remained behind to
walk briskly up and down the plat
form. With a glad cry of surprise
Julian hurried toward her
What are you doing here, Lottie?"
he asked. as he took her hand, In his.
Where are you going?" she coun-
tered.
Il was running down to town to sec
you," he explained. And to think
of finding you here. on your way to
Lindon."
Il was not going to- Lindon," de-
clared the girl. Il was going on, but
somehow | stepped of the train
through habit, and the train went ON
without me-"
81 was hoping that you were COM
ing back-to me- he said tenderly,
but Lottie tossed her head
81 told you that when you were
ready to admit that you were at fault.
that you might write. and that then
perhaps would come. You don't sup
pose that would change my mind. do
you?"
mo such luck" he admitted dis
mally. THAT was why was coming
to you" .-@
ITO apologize?" she demanded. and
Julian nodded his head.
A CLEAN of triumph flashed into
Lottie's eyes, but she was not to be
won SO easily. She had very pro-
nounced ideas on the proper way of
handling the man she purposed to
marry, and now that he was penitent,
i6LQZW 6S@1A=0O y=atO5I
sweet surrender that Julian sought.
Il suppose you are saying that just
because you want to make up" she
declared judicially. q don't know
that 1t should count"
you said that when would admit
that was in the wrong you would be
my friend again." reminded Julian
NPlIt Vnhof'a he ~ 3A,rIx
that you are wrong. when you don't
mean it," argued Lottie. You'll say
the same things again the first time
that you want te-be nasty.
Don't you believe it." advised
Julian with convincing emphasis. IF
you would only know how utterly
miserable l have been since you went
back to town! That was why T. de-
cided to come, instead Of writing
And almost missed me-" supplied
Lottie. 81 think Julian, that I'll make
my visit, and in the meantime think
about coming to Lindon on the-waY
back"
Julian's face darkened. 81 wish
you'd make up now" he pleaded. THE
fact that we met each other here at
the Junction proves that 1t was meant
by fate that we should be friends
again"
For a moment the girl hesitated.
She had meant to keep Julian on the
anxious seat for few weeks, but now,
that he was coming. penitent and con-
quered. she felt that perhaps 1t would
be well to surrender before he should
again change his mind. The patent
leather tip OF her shoe dug into the
snow.
1T does seem little like the work.
ing of fate" she admitted. Here go
| out of town to visit In Peltonville and
you are on your way to town to see
me, You are waiting at the Junction
for a train that Is late and am LETT
behind by my train"
Then accept the omen and say that
you will make up" he urged we
can go back to town and pick out the
ring and then we'll come back to Lin
don and tell the folks"
For another tense moment Lottfe
hesitated. then she nodded and Julian
| gave a shout of Joy.
There's the whistle of our train"
he cried. "Ill hurry in and get You q.
| ticket back to town"
I'm glad that he didn't know that
was on my way to give In" said
Lottie half aloud. 1T will be hard
enough, anyway. to manage him with