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

] she saw ms tAl4 inquire once. ne " a.
| looking about him, but he did not see
her, and she took refuge In car
rage 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 20 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 I expect"
Meredith put down the window and
! looked out into the mist He saw a
row Of low sheds. the outline OF
| tiny station, branch line, and nothing
| beyond them but a couple Of other
mpartments. The rest OF the train
| had gone.
She Confesses.
There they we're, left behind-in
siding.
What has happened ?" asked Mary.
Meredith turned and looked at her
with rueful sort Of smile.
We're left behind"
Left behind" cried Mary aghas'.
What do you mean"
They've run US into a siding. and
the train has gone Oh without us. The
| fact is, I was asleep. ! only woke up
to 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 lnvoluntarily,
and Mary's heart jumped. Then a
feeling Of dismay swept over her.
But we may not arrive till night"
she said u suppose the only thing
we can do is to drive. II a vehicle Is
| TO be had We must be twenty miles
| from our destination, at least"
Il suppose so. but what does II mat
! ter? 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 had
suddenly gone mad.
"The what2" he said
The governess. That is what
am"
You're mad"
I'm not; it's a fact"
you governess? What does u
mean? What are you masquerading
| for?"
IT'S no masquerade. I'm 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 a big
/ smash on the stock Exchange more
/ than year ago. I have to do some
! thing. and the WintOns wanted A
/ governess for their two little nephews
! who are living with them, that's all"
AM" said Meredith, violently.
| And | knew nothing OF II. i never
! heard a word of this before. When
we met last do you know what sent
me away i'm such haste? Can you
guess
| mo"
1T was because I was afraid to
| stay I loved you so much, and l
could not speak. l was only a poor
| soldier OF fortune-you were a
| wealthy beiress. / had already been
called 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. l can't give you
the riches that are gone. but | can
give you a good home and lots Of
love DO you care n little? Try to,
Mary, when l care so much. ] be-
lieve Fate brought us together on
purpose"
And let us in a siding" said Mary.
with a smile breaking over her face
like sunshine through mist.
1T might have left us in worse
place" cried Meredith his arm about
her shoulders. Mary, is It going to
be Yes p "
| 'Nes-yes." murmured Mary.