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

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her, and she took refuge in a car
rage with three other women, and
slept away some Of her exhaustion on
the way 10 Waterford. There she had
/ TO change, and on the platform the
! first person she saw was Meredith.
| He came up 10 her at once
Why did you run away last night?'
, he said.
| II
q don't want 70 worry you. but you
must let me look after you You
look half dead. Have you had any
breakfast 2'
Yes"
She had had tea and bread and
butter In the train, and the cool
morning air had whipped a faint col
or 10 her white cheeks
Slowly they crept away into the
| thick mist nothing 10 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
mo, 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
tiny station, a 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
81
Were left behind"
LEFT behind" cried Mary aghast
What do you mean 2"
They've run us into siding, and
the train has gone on without us The
fact is, ! was asleep ! only woke up
to find ourselves dumped down here
They let as get into the coach they
were leaving behind idiots! But
Wen get on somehow. Mary. After
all, 1t only means a little delay"
He said her name involuntarily
and Mary's heart jumped Then
feeling Of dismay swept over her.
But we may not arrive tin night"
she said. = suppose the only thing
we can do is to drive, If a vehicle rs
TO be had We must be twenty miles
from our destination. at least"
II suppose so, but what does IL mat
ter? They'll understand"
1T may not matter for you said
Mary, in a low harsh voice. They
will excuse in guest what they may
not pardon in the govcrness."
Meredith stared at her as If she hal
suddenly gone mad.
The what he said.
THE governess. That is what /
am"
You're mad"
I'm not, It's a fact"
you a governess2 What does n
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
to do it," said Meredith. dazedly
Yes. Everything went In big
smash on the Stock Exchange more
than year ago. | have to do some
thing. and the Wintons wanted "a
governess for their two little ncphoWs
who are living with them, that's all"
AN" said Meredith. violently
And / knew nothing of It. I 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 ! was afraid to
stay. | loved you so much, and I
could not speak | was only a poor
soldier OF fortune-you We're a
wealthy heiress. / had already been
called a fortune hunter by those who
must have seen how l fingered at
your side ! didn't think you cared,
so | went away. Now, Mary darling,
I'm free TO 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 nttle2 Try to,
Mary, when l care so much. ! be
neve Fate brought us together on
purpose"
And let us in a 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 il going to
be Yes? %"
"Nes-yes" murmured Mary.