The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-10-29
ThOrnedale
Or an Inglori0us
Flight
BY EDITH V. ROSS


: baggage check-"get my trunk"
The gentleman seated himself In the
cab while the cabman went for the
trunk. The latter was new TO the
place and, not knowing any such hotel
as the ThorndaIe House, made inquiries
Of the station agent.
"Ee must mean Thornedale, the resi-
/ dence OF Mr. Edward Thorne. Ii Is up
the road about mile. You'll know II
when you come to II. for IL is fine
place between the road and the river"
The cabman luggcd the trunk TO the
auto, deposited 1t therein, then started
for Thornedale. On reaching 1t he
pulled up under a porte-cochere, near
which on the veranda sat young
lady reading a novel. The gentleman
stepped out Of the auto. The cabman
dumped the trunk on the veranda and
drove away. The stranger walked
past the young lady through the open
! front door into the house Seeing no
such place as hotel office or any one
to receive him, he went back on to the
veranda, raised his hat deferentially
to the young lady and said;
BEG pardon. Can you tell me where
I'll find the landlord
1.-THE landlordy
Eyes, or the clerk or anybody to re-
celve me. This Is the Thorndale hotel,
is 1t not?"
1.-THE Thornedalei Oh, yes, this Is
Thornedale" w. Vt fFf-'.--'7--,
II was recommended to come here by
9 lady. She Is here, is she not-Mrs.
0veraker?"
Mrs. Overaker is expected. She has
not yet arrived. You are
"Mr. Wingate-John Wingate."
"Oh, Mr.. Wingate. I've heard Mrs.
Overaker speak Of you. Be seated,
Mr.. Wingate. There's no one about
Just now but myself I'll get some one
to show you to your room and take
up your trunk"
please don't incommode yourself.
am in no hurry"
The young lady, who had half risen.
reseated herself.
"Quite likely" said the young man,
fishing for the young lady's name, II
have heard of you through Mrs. Over
aker."
IL am Luella Humphrey
Humphrey" meditatively. II don't |
know that | have heard her mention
any one of that name"
Have you known Mrs. Overaker |
long?'
''Only few months. She came east |
last spring and visited some friends
of mine--the Grosvenors.
II was quite surprised to hear that
Mrs. OverakSr was coming back this
season. It's long journey for her to
take"
Its an equally long journey from
here to her home"
An imperceptibe smile fitted across
the young ladys lips. She knew why
Mr.. Wingate was there and why Mrs.
Overaker was coming there. The for
mer was a bachelor, the latter wild
ow. A courtship between them had
been made easy by the lady, and an
engagement was to be expected. But
since it was difficult for Mr. Win
gate to go to the widow, the widow
had made an excuse to go to Mr.. Win
gate. She had written him that she
would be at Thornedale early in Octo.
Der The lady wrote an ilegible
hand and Mr.. Wingate read 'the
ThorndaIe." Supposing the place to be
a hotel. he had gone there to make
her proposal.
Mr.. Wingate was good catch. The
widow was ten years older than he and
had set her cap for him. Miss Hum
phrey was niece of Mr.. and Mrs
Thorne and of an age when young
ladies are usually on the lookout for
husbands. Here was an opportunity
an opportunity that had been enhanced
by the widows bad handwriting in an
other way than in leading Mr.. Wingate
to think she was to stay at hotel ,
She had written him and the Thornes ,
as well that she would arrive on the
10th Of October. He had read it the 1st
Miss Humphrey, if she played her I
cards we'll might have ten days to get !
/ matrimonial hook into Mr.. Wingate's Z
.
After Mr.. Wingate's remark that II 4
was an equally long journey TO the +,
widows home Miss Humphrey sat q
listening to what he said further, but
intent on what immediate action she ,
would take. Presently she excused her =
'elf, and maid came and showed Mr.
Ningate TO his room. His trunk fol
owed later. While he was making his ~
oilet an automobile pulled up under ;,
he porte-cochere and a gentleman and ;,
ady alighted. They were Mr. and Mrs
fhorne Miss Humphrey told them Of
he guest who had arrived and the
mistake he had made. suggesting that
would be amusing 10 permit him 70
ontinue 10 be deceived Thorne. who a,
vas ready for anything whereby 10
make his stay In the country endura.
Die. fell In with the plan enthusiast. y
ally.
When the guest came down just be- y
ore luncheon be was received By Mr.. "
-h.rpa xvhn aafi N hin, oh III