The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-04-30
in its fringes

i1OW easy IL WOuiu DC 10 bliut
down that embankment, and walk
out that road to the village,
where of course a conveyance
could be hired to bear him to an
other railroad town and thence to
Pittsburgh, perhaps, where he
could easily get train to Wash
ington. How easy II only he
were not held by some invisible
hands to care for the sweet Sleep
er inside the car. And yet, for
her sake as we'll as his own, he
must do something, and that
right speedily.
He was standing thus in deep
meditation, when he was pervad-
ed with that srtangee sense of
some one near. browning at his
own nervousness. he turned.
Celia stood on the steps of the
car just above him in all the
beauty of her young girlhood, a
delicate pallor on her cheeks, and
deep sadness in her great dark
eyes, which were fixed upon him
intently, in sort of puzzled
study. She was fully dressed,
even to her hat and gloves.
She had sprung from her berth
the instant he closed the door
upon her, and fastened the little
catch to bar him out. Then she
had fastened her garments hur-
riedly, and putting on her hat,
coat, and gloves, had followed
him into the outer air.
She had a feeling that she must
have air to breathe or she would
suffocate. Oh, If she but dared
to run away from him! But that
she might not do, for all his
threats would then probably be
made good by him upon her dear
mother and brother.
But she. would get out and
breathe a little before he return
ed. He had very likely gone into
the smoker. She remembered that
the George of old had been an in
veterate smoker of cigarettes.
She never thought to come up
on him standing thus alone, look
ing off at the beauty of the
morning as If he enjoyed it. The
sight of him held her still, watch
ing, as his sleeping face had held
her gaze earlier in the morning.
How the ten years had changed
him! One could almost fancy it
might have changed his spirit
also-but for those letters-those
terrible letters! @tt
And yet 1t was most astonish-
ing. He had lost that baggy
look under his eyes, and the
weak, selfish, cruel pOut of lip
she remembered so keenly.
Then he turned, and smile of
delight and welcome lit up his
handsome face. In spite of her.
SELF she could not keep an an
swering smile from glimmering
family in her own.
What! You up and out
here?" he said. Fastening closer
to the step. How are you feel
ing this morning? Better, I'm
sure, or you would not be here SO
early
"Oh, l had to get out to the
air." she said. 81 couldn't stand
the car another minute. l wish
we could walk the rest of the
way"
DO your" he said, apprecia-
ton in his voice. Il was just
wishing something like that my
self. Do you see that beautiful
road down there? was longing
to slide down this bank and walk
over to that little village for
breakfast. Then We could get an
auto, perhaps, or carriage, to
take us on to another train. If
you hadn't been so i'll last night,
! might have proposed it,"
Gould WEI" she asked earn
estly. II should like It so much"
and there was eagerness in her
voice.
"Of course we could" he said,
"if you were only able"
"Oh, I'm able enough. l should
much rather do that than to go
back into the stuffy car. But
wouldn't they think it awfully
queer of us to run away from the
train this way?"
They needn't know anything
about it," he declared, like boy
about to play truant. "I'll slip
back into the car and get our
suit-cases."
She turned away listlessly, as
though she had already lost her
desire to go.
Pm afraid you are not able"
he said, pausing solicitously as he
scaled the steps.
She was surprised at his in.
900 49, vAy