El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-08-04


4 was so hard for her to give her
mind to her studies during the evening
on which she received Craig pansies.
If she appreciated that the sender Of
the flowers was in her consciousness
more than was the book Of civics ~
ing open in the glow Of her students
lamp, she did not admit it even in her
innermost thoughts She tried to con
centrate," but her wits wandered, and,
time and again, she found, with a gull
ty start, that for some minutes she had
been gazing abstractedly at nothing.
It was late when at last she put out
her light, urged to this course by her
mother, who insisted that she was
wearing herself out studying so hard,
and that she would be good for moth
ing in the morning.
When Mary awOke on the morrow
she was forced to confess the ac-
curacy of the final part of her mothers
prediction, for she, did feel good for
nothing" Her eyes smarted and her
limbs ached as she busted herself with
her toilette A vague feeling of dis
appointment possessed her, depressing,
and, at the same time, irritating her.
and she went to breakfast with her
nerves and temper on edge, She had
difficulty in controlling her feelings
when Mrs DanfOrth, in her desire to
promote table talk innOcently intro
duced the subject Of Oraig-feeling
that he would be an interesting topic
Of conversation
4 declare announced the kind
hearted matrOn amiaDly, Z have al
most fallen in love myself with that
tall Texan He has such beautiful
manners and is so cOnsiderate of elder
" people Don't you think he is de-
AS this remark was addressed to the
table at large, Mary, vexed at the
blush which she felt creeping to her
forehead, busted herself with her
grapefruit and made no reply.
Don't you like him, daUghter2' per-
sisted her mother.
Il think that he's a presentabIe
man, mother, Of that's what you mean"
responded the girl tartly and with
tightening of lips. You can hardly
expect me to say, as you just said.
that am almost in love with him my
self, can yOU2.
The words were sharp and the tone
harsh. The speaker suddenly appre-
ciated that this was was the second
time within a few days that she had
been impatient with her mother. As
before, she regretted her show of tenn
per and when she saw the wounded
expression in her mothers eyes She
noteds also that her father was look
ing at her in amazement
I did not mean to speak like that
mother, she said quick and pertitent-
". She pushed her chair back from
the table and, going around to the
elderly woman, laid her own flushed
cheek against the Wrinkled one. II
had no business to be so cross, and
am very sorry. am as nervous as q
cat this morning Please forgive me"
Mrs. DanfOrth patted her daughters
hand, her face all smiles in an instant
Ihats all right, my darling" she
soOthed- I'VE all have our cranky
spells Now eat your breakfast. for Il
is getting late. I shall be glad when
this dreadful grind is over and you
have graduated" she added, with a
sigh. You are not like your dear self
these days and it is because you are
overwrought and overtired."
Mary made no protest She wondered
secretly If the strain of work was
entirely responsible for her vague
sense Of discomfort and uncertainty
Breakfast over she hurried TO her
room to collect her books, and as she
returned to the hall, ready to leave the
house, she came upon her father. He
was leaning against the wall, his hand
to his head. His face was pale and his
brow contracted as if he were suffer-
ing.
Father" exclaimed the girl in alarm,
what is the matter2'
He looked at he dazedly for an in
slant Then he stood up straight and
tried to laugh.
Nothing to worry about pet" he
insisted. Il was lust q little dizzy
and headachy for minute. Pm better
now. Don't look so frightened"
Dad said Mary, anxiously. you're
not well You've been overworking"
"Oh, 1 guess not" he replied with an
attempt at raillery. IAN old codger
like me must expect such feelings this
warm weather, that's alI-but find It
hard to remember that I'm gettinS
old"
Won't you see a doctor?' urged
Mary.
'Pshawl" ne laughed. I'm all right.
I tell you! Don't mention this little
turn to your mother, for she makes a
mountain Of a mOlehill when I don't
feel up to the scratch"
On the way to school Mary thought
Of her father with some perturbation.
but the hurry and hustle of the days
work drove all other worries from
her brain, and she had forgotten the
little episode by the time she boarded
the subway train in the evening. She
watched the express on which she rode
draw away from local train As the
lighted windows slid slowly backward
she thought of how she had first seen
Gordon Craig under circumstances like /
these 1t was like a story book rO-
nance, and he looked not un-
like a book hero, she said to herself
with contemputous smile at her own
Stiffness.
Her thoughts were still busy with
him as she walked along toward her
home. When she turned into her own
street several leather lunged men car
TyluS ouuuleS OF papers were SlOuE-
ing extra" at the other end of the
block. in the hollow, reverberaCine
tones of the New York disaster haT-
binger. Still dreaming, she paid little
heed to them, but went up to her
apartment. her mind on the man she
had known for such a little while.
Strange, she unused, that he should
have impressed her so strongly. Her
father was standing in the drawing
room as she entered her home. A
glance at his face brought her to a
comprehension Of the news vendors
cries as they were borne now to her
ears through the open windows.
Terrible accident on the Boston Ex-
press" they were shouting.
Blindly the girl stretched her hands
to her father as he came toward her.
Dad" she asked hOarsely, was
that
She got no further, for her father
put his arm quickly about her and
drew her to him.
Eyes, little girl" he said tremulous-
", the Boston express-Craig's train
has been wrecked, and. God help u.s.
most of the Pullman passengers are I
deadi'
Continued in Next Issue)