The Washington herald., 1913-11-23


Element work; he will be back in about
ten days. he says"
"Hum," said Mr.. Blanchard, and he
hdgeted for just few minutes longer.
Say, Adam, there is a train due to
leave within FIVE minutes. Suppose we
hurry down to the depot II scarcely
like TO have her come home alone"
In the meantime Mr.. Hatred Joyce
Gilman had telephoned for a cab to
be at his door and had hurried over
home to get his suit case. He threw
it in the cab and was just about TO
follow it, when figure flew down the
Blanchard path and voice called out
to him to wait. 1t was Alice. He
gripped her hand tensely when she
came running up to him.
you didn't come over here to say
good-by again." he asked.
mo, am going along" she half
laughed and half -sobbed. Ell tell you
in the cab"
He noticed for the first time that
she carried a suit case. Time, how
ever, was pressing. He handed her in
and sat beside her.
Now, tell me about it," he said, be-
wildered. but she had changed her
mind. She could not tell him now. She
only clung to his arm, herself gasping
at the audacity of what she was doing.
At the depot he tried to persuade her
to go back home, knowing that some
thing must be wrong. She imnedi-
ately became the sad, fair young
friendless girl.
you are my only friend and you
must do as | say. This is the crisis of
my life. Brother Hal. and | must meet
it like brave woman
He shook his head, but she had al
ready picked up her suit case .briskly
and was walking on with determined
step. All he could do was to take her
suit case from her and carry both.
The train had Just pulled out when
Grandfather Gilman and Mr.. Blanch-
ard arrived at the depot. They had
no difficulty in finding out that Hal,
who was known, and Alice, whom they
could easily describe, had purchased
tickets for New York Grandfather
Gilman and MIR. Blanchard turned as
BY one impulse and shook hands until
their eyes watered. Nothing could
have pleased them better.
Let's go telegraph Them said
Grandfather Gilman. Il know Halls
hotel The young rascals!'
In the meantime Mr.. Halfred Joyce
Gilman was compelling his sister 10
tell him things, insisting on brothers
rights in the matter.
She was eloping!
Mr.. Hatred Joyce Gilman moistened
his lips He had peculiar grip at his
throat, and he felt very lonesome all
at once. A profound distaste for set
tlement work, even, settled upon him.
Nevertheless. he stiffened himself. II
his sister Alice was 50 deeply and ir-
revocably attached as this it was his
duty to see that She attained happi-
ness, and he would do/it like man.
He told her SO.
They chatted very practically now.
They discussed the deep AND solemn
sacrifice that a woman must make
when she gives up her girlhood home
to make a new home for a noble man.
His ncarness was such a support to
her She would never have had the
courage to take the step if he had not
been coming on this train. Never !
She snuggled closer to him and wanted
to Cry. She didn't know why.
1t was only about three hours ride
to the city, and she grew more and
more nervous as they approached it.
When they had alighted from the train
a young man, though considerably
older than Hal, came toward them. He
was not a very prepossessing young
man. There were pouches beneath his
eyes and his lips were thick and wide.
He wore a loud tie, and a suit and
overcoat of wondrOusly checked pat
terms. Alice saw him first and she
eripped Halls arm more tightly. She
did not experience the bounding JOY
to which she had so long looked for
ward when she should greet this
Prince of the World. She had it upon
the tip of her tongue to cry out to Hal
that she did not want to elope, that
she wanted to go back home, but the
pride. which had made her keep up the
romance she had buiIded, even after
it had lost its interest to her, and
which had made her plunge into this
daring escapade in spite of both her
Judgment and her inclination, now held
her silent to meet her devouring fate.
She glanced half in terror from the
approaching young man to Hal She
was startled at the change in her
quasi-brother. He had stiffened HIM
self to his full fve-iOot-eleven of ath-
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