The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-12-07

One man allowed that there might
nave passed such people that day. He
hardly seemed willing to commit HIM
self, but another vouchEafed the infor-
nation that Joe here driv two parties
OF tibet description to Milton this morn
in'--jes' got back. Mebbe he could n
swer fer en-
Joe frowned. He did not like the
looks OF the thick set He still
remembered the forget me not eyes.
But the stranger made, instant re
quest to be driven to Milton, offering
$40 for the same when he found that
his driver was reluctant, and that Mil
ton was a railroad center. A Few keen
questions had made him sure that his
man had gone to Milton.
Joe haggled, allowed his horse was
tired, n he didn't care about the trip
take the mar for $15, and sauntered
off to get a fresh horse. He had no
mind to be in a hurry. He had his own
opinion about letting those two par
ties" get out of the way before the
third put in an appearance, but he had
no mind to lose the $40. II would help
to buy the ring he coveted for his girl
In due time Joe rode ~leisurely up
n the impatient traveller climbed into
the high spring wagon and was driven
away from the apathetic gaze Of the
country loungers, who u~nblinkingly
took In the fact that Joe was headed
toward Ashville, and evidently intend
ed taking his fare TO Milton by way
OF that village, a 30-mile drive at least.
The man would get the worth OF his
money In ride. A grim twinkle sat In
their several eyes as the spring wagon
turned the curve in the road n was
lost to sight. and after due silence an
old stager spoke:
"Do you reckon that there was the
sho-fur2" he requested ~languidly,
"Nawl" replied a farmers son Wig
orously. He wouldn't try to showf
all doiled up like that He's the rich
dad comm after the runaways. o
don't intend he shell get 'em yet awhile.
IL rs steps ' IN to interfere. p c This iE lad
went twice a month to Milton to h
movies" and was regarded as an au-
thority on matters OF A
pause showed that his theory had talk
en- root in the minds OF his auditors.
Wal. l reckon Joe thinks the long,
est way round iB the shortest way
home" declared the old stager. Joe
never did like them Goldfish swells-but
how do you count fer the style o. that
gal? She want like her dad one little
"oh. shes ben to coolidge. / 'spose."
declared n youth. They yet all that
Serves the old man right fer sendin'
his gal 10 fool coolidge when she
ought to a ben home learnin' to house
keep. I hope she gifts OFF with her
young man all right" said a grim old
lounger. and a cackle OF laughter went
round the group which presently broke
up, for this had been a strenuous day
and all felt their need OF rest; besides
they wanted to get home and tell the
news before some neighbor got ahead
OF them.
All this time Celia and Gordon were
touring Milton, serenely unconscious OF
danger near. or guardian angel Of h
name Of Joe.
investigation disclosed the fact that
there was a train for Pittsburgh about
3 in the afternoon. Gordon sent n
code telegram to his chief, assuring
him OF the safety OF the message, and
Of his own intention to proceed to
Washington as fast as steam could
carry him. Then he took the girl to
a restaurant, where they mounted two
high stools and partook with an un-
usually ravenous appetite OF nearly
everything pm the menu-corn soup,
roast beef, baked trout, stewed toma-
toes, cold slaw, custard, apple and
mince pies, with a cup OF good country
coffee and real cream--all for rs cents
apiece.
1t was a very merry meal. Celia felt
somehow as iAfor the time all memory
OF the past HAD been taken from her,
and she were free to think and act
happily in the present, without any
great problems to solve or decisions TO
make. lust two/young people off hav-
ing a good time, they were, at least
until that afternoon train came.
After their dinner. they took a short
walk to a tiny park where two white
pond, spanned by q rustic bridge where
lovers had cut their initials. Gordon
took out his knife and idly cut c. H.
in the rought bark OF the upper rail,
while his companion sat on the little
board seat n watched him. She was
bordering over the fact that he had
cut her initials. and not his own. II
would have been like the George OF old
to cut his own and lever think once
OF hers. And he had put but one Il.
Probably he thought Of her now as
Celia Hayne, without the Hathaway, or
else he was so used to writing her
name Celia Hathaway that he wal
not thinking at all
Those lettersl How they haunted
her and clouded every bright expert
ence that she fain would have grasped
and held for q little hour. They were
silent nov, while he worked and
she thought. He had finished the @.
H., and was cutting another c.; but.
instead Of making another II, he care
$500 &0NA wv NAh0 ASNNOA NsF hApSN
was that for? G, c.? Who was @.
CT oh, how stupidl George, OF course.
He had started a C by mistake. But
he did not add the expected H. In
stead he snapped his knife shut, laid
his hand over the carving, and leaned
over the rail.
''Some time, perhaps, well come here
again, and remember" he said, and
then ~bethought he a no right to hope
for any such anniversary.
"Ohis She looked up into his eyes,
startled. troubled, the haunting OF her
fears in the shadows OF the blue.
He looked down into them and read
her trouble, read and understood. and
looked back his great desire to comfort
her.
His look carried further than he
meant 1t should. For the third time
that day a thrill OF wonder and delight
passed over her and left her fearful
with a strange joy that she felt she
should put from her.
1t was only an instant, that look, but
IT brought the bright color t both
faces. and made Gordon feel the Ina