Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-12

] sollE Sd" MS Tail III hlH otANE. nc " a.
looking about him, but he did not see
her. and she took refuge in a car
I riage with three other women, and
/ slept away some Of her exhaustion on
the way to Waterford. There she had
TO change and on the platform the
/ first person she saw was-Meredith
He came up to her at once.
why did you run away last night ?''
! he said.
| II
Il don't want to worry you, but you
must LET me look after you You
| look half dead. Have you had any
/ breakfast"
| Yes"
She had had tea and bread and
| butter in the train. and the cool
morning air had whipped a faint col
or TO her white cheeks.
Slowly they crept away into the
! thick mist, nothing 70 be seen but
low fields stone walls and driving
mist on every side. Mary felt her
spirits sinking lower and lower as she
approached her destination.
Are we there?" she said.
"No. we've stopped for something
signal against us ! expect"
Meredith put down the window and
looked out into the mist. He saw a
row Of low sheds the outline Of "A
tiny station, branch line, and nothing
beyond them but a couple Of other
compartments. The rest Of the train
had gone.
She Confesses.
There they were, left behind-in a
siding.
What has happened" asked Mary
Meredith turned and looked at her
with a rueful sort Of smile.
We're left behind"
Left behind" cried Mary aghast
What do you mean"
They've run us into a siding, and
the train has gone on without us. The
fact is, / was asleep. / only woke up
10 find ourselves dumped down here.
They let us get into the coach they
were leaving behind-idiots! But
Wen get on somehow. Mary. After
all. it only means a little delay"
He said her name Involuntary,
and Mary's heart jumped. Then
feeling Of dismay swept over her.
But we may not arrive till night"
she said. 81 suppose the only thing
we can do Is TO drive. n 4 vehicle Is
TO be had We must be twenty miles
from our destination. a least"
Il suppose so. but what does II mat
teri They'll understand"
1T may not matter for you" said
Mary, In a low, harsh voice. They
will excuse IN a guest what they may
not pardon in the governess.
Meredith stared at her as II she hal
suddenly gone mad.
THE WHAT" he said.
The governess. That is what l
am"
You're mad"
I'm not; it's fact"
You governess? What does u
mean? What are you masquerading
for?"
IT'S no masquerade I'm a govern
ess because can not dig and to beg
! am ashamed" said Mary with "A
miserable little laugh. That's all"
but do you mean to say you've got
I to do Il ?" said Meredith, dazedly.
! Yes Everything went In a big
smash on the Stock Exchange more
| than year ago. l have to do some
! thing, and the Wintons wanted "A
governess for their two little nephewH
who are living with them, that's all"
AM" said Meredith. violently
And I knew nothing of IT, | never
heard a word of this before. When
we met last do YOU know what sent
me away in such haste? Can you
guess"
No"
1T was because I was afraid TO
stay. / loved you so much, and l
could not speak | was only a poor
soldier Of fortune-you were a
wealthy heiress. ! had already been
| called a fortune hunter by those who
/ must have seen how / fingered at
your side ] didn't think you cared,
so | went away Now, Mary darling,
! I'm free 20 speak | can't give you
| the riches that are gone. but | can
! give you a good home and lots of
! love. DO YOU care a little? Try to,
! Mary when | care so much, I be
lieye Fate brought us together on
purpose"
And let us In siding said Mary,
with smile breaking over her face
like sunshine through mist.
1T might have left us in a worse
place" cried Meredith. his arm about
her shoulders Mary. is it going to
be Yes?'"
"Yes-yes," murmured Mary.