The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-12-21

II Celia could 60 on with their sud-
denly interrupted conversation. Pres
ently the duc came to him n
said he had found a gentleman who
would give the lady his lower berth n
take her upper one. 1t was already
made up. and the lady might take pos
session at once.
Gordon made the exchange OF tickets.
and Immediately escorted Celia to II.
He found her most glad to go for she
was now unutterably weary, n was
longing to get away from the light and
noise about her.
He led the way with the suit cases,
hoping that in the other car there would
be some spot where they could talk
for n few minutes. But he was disap-
pointe. 1t was even fuller thar In the
first car. He arranged everything for
her comfort as far as possible, disposed
OF her hat n fixed her suitcase so
hat she could open it, but even while
he was doing it there were people
crowding by, and no private CONVERSE
ton could be had. He stepped back
when all was arranged and held the
curtain aside that she might sit on the
edge of her berth. Then STOPPING over
he whispered:
TRY to trust me until morn
ing. I'll explain 1t all to you
then, SO that you will understand how 7
have had nothing to do with these let
tiers. Forget it, and try to rest. VIII
you?"
His tone was wistful, He had never
wanted to do anything so much in all
his life as to stoop and kiss those sweet
lips, and the lovely eyes that looked
up at him out Of the dusky shadows
OF the berth, filled with fear and long
ing. They o more than aver like
the blue tired flowers that dropped
from her gown YEARLY. But he held
himself with a firm land. She was not
his to kiss. When she knew how he
had deceived her, she would probably
never give him the right to kiss her.
Il will try" she m in an
swer 60 MS question, and then added
But i~hsrs will you be? Is your beIth
neal bIr~
NO. tar away-that is, I had to take
a place In another car. they are SO
/, crowded"
OIL" she said a little a~nxiously.
Are yos sure you have q good COM
Portable place."
"Oh, yes, l shall he all right" he
answered joyously. 1t was so Won
| derful to have her care whether he was
comfortable or not.
The porter was making up the op-
posite berth, and there was no room
to stand longer, 81 he bade her good
night, h putting out her hand for a
farewell. For an instant he held 1t close.
/ 's'f 1879 80 -
her, then he went away to the day
coach, and settled down into a hard
corner at the very back Of the car,
drawing his travelling cap over his
| eyes, n letting his heart beat out
wild joy over that little touch of her
dear hand. Wave after ave OF sweet
ness went over him, thrilling his very
soul with a JOY he had never known
before.
And this was love-! And what kind
OF q wretch was he, presuming to owe
like this a woman who was the prom
Used bride OF another man! All, but
such a man! A villain! A brute, who
had used his power over her to make
her suffer tortures! Had q la like
that a right to claim her? His whole
being answered no"
Then the memory Of the look in her
| eyes, the turn Of her head, the soft
touch OF her fingers as they lay for
that instant in his, the infection Of
her voice, would send that wave of
sweetness over his Senses, his heart
would thrill anew, and he would forget
the wretch who stood between him and
this lovely girl whom he knew, now
he loved as he had never dreamed a
man could love.
Gradually his mind steadied itself
dnder the sweet ~intoxication, and he
began to wonder just what he should
say to her in the morning. 1t was q
good thing he had not had further OPP
| portunity to talk with her that night,
| for he could not nave told her every
thing; and now if all went well they
would be in Washington in the morn
ing, and he might make some reuse
till after he had delivered his message.
Then he would be free to tell the whole
| story, and lay his case before her for
| decision. His heart throbbed with
| ecstasy as he thought of the possibility
of her forgiving him, and yet It seemed
most unlikely. Sometimes he would
let his wild longings fancy for just an
instant what JOY it would be If she
could be induced to let the marriage
stand. But he told himself at the same
time that that could never be. 1t was
very likely that there was someone else
in New York to whom her would
turn IL she were free from the scoun-
| drel who had threatened her into O.
compulsory marriage. He would prom
Use to help her, protect her. defend her
from the man who was evidently US
| ing blackmailN to get her into his power
| for some purpose; most likely for the
| sake of having control OF her property.
At least it would be some comfort to
! be able to help her out OF her trouble
! And yet, would she ever trust a man
to be bound by the sacred tie OF mar
riage to an utter stranger?
And thus, amid hope and fear, tho
night whirled itself away. Forward in
the sleeper the girl lay wide awake for
a long time. In the middle OF h night
a thought suddenly evolved itself out
of the blackness Of her curtained
couch. She sat upright alertly and
stared into the darkness. as If it were
a thing that she could catch and han
die and examine. The thought was
born out of dreamy vision OF the crisp
brown waves, almost curls II they had
not been so short and thick, that COW
cred the head OF the man who had lain
| sleeping outside her curtains In the
early morning. 1t came to her with
sudden force that not so had been the
hair of the boy George Hayne, who
used to trouble her girlish days. His
was thin and black n oily, collecting
naturally into little isolated strings
with the least warmth, and giving him
the appearance Of q kitten who had
been out in the rain. One lock, how
we'll she remembered that lock!-one
lock on the very crown Of his head had
always refused to lie down, no matter