The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-11-01

meet me-" thought judith. ana the
frovn of perplexity deepened between
her eyebrows. Il must have lost my
nerve somewhere out there In the
rain" she added with q rueful little
smile.
The other passengers were looking
at magazines or sitting In attitudes Of
bored patience. Every one felt tried
by the delay.
At last the ceaseless beating CT rain
against the windows had a soothing
effect, and resting her head against
pillow, Judith closed her eyes. For
some time she slept. till she was
awakened by a harsh voice of the
brakeman calling Tulsa" Mary Of
the passengers streamed out to pat
ronize the clearinghouse. glad Of any
diversion.
Several new passengers entered the
train, and Judith watched them idly,
without interest. As one man placed
his suitcase across the aisle from her.
she glanced at him carelessly. then
something about the shape Of his head
seemed strangely familiar. She leaned
forward In amazemnt.
HE looks like Frank LeedfOrd: that
is certainly who 1t Isl" she declared.
She had not seen him since their
high school days. when his general
trustworthiness and pleasant manners
had made him a general favorite in
spite Of his poor surroundings and
humble parentage. He had been
obliged to stop school and 30 to work
before finishing his course. and had
! obtained work in a distant city where
she had lost track OF him. Judith OBJ
served that he now had the bearing of
one who had succeeded. and she felt
glad as she remembered his early
struggles.
As he turned. she noted the manli.
ness OF his face, and at the same mo-
ment he observed the smiling gray
eyes opposite. and his own lighted up
with recognition and pleasure.
Judith Cameron. by all that Is
lucky!" he exclaimed, and crossed the
aisle to shake hands.
where did you come from be
asked as she made room for him in
the seat beside her.
From the Old home back in Ohio"
she laughed.
But what are you doing way o.
here?" he asked boyishly, unable to
grasp the situation.
I'm on my way to Oklahoma City,
to teach chemistry and biology in the
high school. And | might ask the
same question of YOU" she smiling
ly returned
"On my way to the Panhandle to
plat some new additions for a town."
he replied. and nodded. toward a sur
veyOr's transit in the front enc of the
ear. Il feel that | owe my success to
you, Judith. for you were The one who
frs, gave me hope Of realizing my am
btions through the methods of spare
time study and correspondence work.
You worn always 50 kind to ne.
Il might have done great deal
lore" \ wave e Srt swept over
lrg as she remembered the narrow
snobbishness of the little town where
they had both spent their early youth
Mentally, she contrasted his self,
made success With the dcrcliction OF
the other man who started out in life
with every advantage on his side, and
who was nov kept anoat merely
through his family influence
Meanwhile, the train that had beer
moving slowly. stopped again Glanc
Ing out the window. they could no
see a break in the leaden cloud.
above. nor the red water that GOV
cred the earth
fou-alls am shoah watah bound.
the porter remarked with cleaning
smile as he passed through the car.
AT that moment. the conductor Ell
tered and said: We'll have to tie III
here for the night. as the condition c
the track makes 1t unsafe to go on
we are just at the edge of town, an,
therell be a cab down here in a few
minutes II anyone wants to 20 to
hotel"
WhereupOn arose discussion as t,
what they had better do. At last, onl
q few OF the more venturesome spirit
decided 10 brave the rain. The major
ity preferred to remain.
A little later. as Judith lay in he
berth listening to the patter of tn
: rain. the strangeness Of it all kept he
awake. She was glad that Frank ha
not gone to a hotel; the knowledg
that he was still on the train brough
a sense OF protection and made
seem less lonely. She went over an
over In her mind as woman viii
each detail Of their unexpected NEE
ing. Their talk together made her r,
call many incidents OF her girlhoo
mat she had not thought of for year,
she fell asleep wondering il Fran
remembered the many times he use
70 help her with her algebra problem
Next morning the rain ceased. Ora,
ualiy the passengers began to emerc
IRON their berths. and greet each oil
er with that feeling of long acquain
ance which delay on train ofte
orhSs. Just as they were discussin