The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-02-04

that she had left; If she went back
be would forgive her, but things
would never be the same.
She was crying Historically. Bur-
tor let her hand fall and stared at
the cushions of the seat opposite. He
had urged her 10 go back, but what
about himself? He, too, must be back
by Monday morning or become fugi-
| tive. Fate seemed to have lain in
wait for him. Two people had recog-
nized him in the same car, and he had
thought never to be recognized again.
| When Hilda married Will Mercer it
seemed that all the goodness had
gone out of his life; he had plunged
into dissipation and changed com.
pletely; now, after seeing Hilda,
every point of vision was as it had
always been. and he looked upon his
crime as something unbelievable.
He swung round in his seat sud-
denly. "Ililda," he said, I'm running
away too. I have six thousand dol.
lars in my pocket that doesn't belong
to me-"
She looked at him in bewilderment.
There isn't any train" she gasped,
and Burton felt that he was no GRIM
inal ia her eyes, but only a man
caught in the same fatal net as her.
self. The train from Brattleboro
would not reach New York until nine
on the Monday morning. Will would
be home before she got there, and his
bank open.
A jar shook them in their seats, a
whistle shrilled, and the train ground
its way to standstill. Outside peo-
pie were shouting and the darkness
began to be lit up by a fare Of fire.
Jim Washington's frightened face ap-
reared at the door, and instantly
people were pushing toward the en-
trance.
, They heard the cries. 1.-THE down
train wrecked! She's catching fire!
Saved ourselves by six inches!" Bur
ton was outside, one Of the crowd
that surged about line Of halted
cars. two of which lay on their sides
amid debris Of wreckage. In front
! the engine puffed and screamed, like
the heed Of dismembered centipede
in aspect The passengers in the two
cars seemed to have escaped by a
! miracle. Nobody was hurt-and the
lire was strewn with fragments from
the wreck.
Hours seemed to pass. The passen.
gers on both trains waited, their mum.
bers augmented by gathering country.
men. It was evident that the line
would have to be cleared before the
up-train could move. As for the
! down-train, lacking crew would
have to place her on the metals again.
At intervals rumors Of help arrived,
but these proved vain.
Burton had not spoken to Hlda
Mercer. He was paralyzed by this
slow flight of the hours that brought
each nearer to the catastrophe of the
morning He did not even notice the
arrival Of the wrecking train till
somebody tuched his shoulder Then
he looked up to see Jim standing
over him.
Were going on in five minutes.
boss" said the darkey.
|
Burton got up unsteadily. I'm not
going on" he muttered.
"It's ell right, boss" replied the
porter "The lines clear and the
down-tra;n's getting ready to start.
She'll reach New York by midnight.
| Well both have to make up time"
New York; cried Burton, and
sud denly the miracle was made clear
to him. He ran into the car. Hilda
Mercer was seated in her section;
her head dropped as though she were
doing. Burton snatched up her suit
case.
"Hilda!' he cried, we're going
back-going home. That trains go.
ing to make New York by midnight.
Hurry! We've both got our chance
to make amendment"
She saw the vision that he saw,
and her heart leaped in measureless
contentment. A chance to try again!
II they had not met, if they, had not
been tempted they would never have
known the happiness that comes from
accepting life.
Burton helped her aboard the down.
train. He took her suitcase and
placed it upon a seat, and they sat
down together As they did so Bur.
ton saw the man in the up.train star.
ing out of the window. He turned to
Hilda
Were going to make the most of
life now," he whispered "And I'm
gc.ng to call on you and Will some
day"
She leaned back happily; and then
1t was he realized that his love had
not proved vain, even though it had
failed.
Copyright, 1918, by W. G. Chapman)
codys Quick Comeback.