Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-12-07
| his mouth.

Saw anything of . couple Of young
folks walking down this way?' he in
CURED casually, pausing to light q cigar
with which he was reinforcing himself
for further travel.
One man allowed that there might
have passed such people that day. He
hardly seemed willing to commit him.
self. but another vouchsafed h infor-
nation that Joe here driv two parties
Of thet description to Milton this morn
swer fer EN-"
Joe frowned. He did not like the
looks OF the thick set man. He still
remembered the forget me not eyes.
But the stranger mad instant re-
quest to be driven to Milton, offering
$40 for the same when he found that
MS 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. and he didn't care about the trip
twice in one day, out finally agreed to
take the man for SIS, 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 SIS. 1t would help
to buy the ring he coveted for his girl.
~ " AZ oOC AooS 1SASdlOlS ny
n the impatient traveller climbed into
the high spring wagon and was driven
away from the apathetic gaze of the
country loungers, who unblinkingly
took in the fac that Joe was headed
toward Ashville, and evidently intend
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 and was
lost to sight, and after due silence an
old stager spoke:
D Q reckon that there was their
sho-fur?" he requested languidly.
Nav" replied a hhmer's son Wig
orously. He wouldn't try to showf
all dolled up like that. He's the rich
dad comm after the runaways. Joe
/ reckon the ceremony'l be over fore
he steps in to interfere" This lad
went twice a month to Milton to the
movies" and was regarded as an au-
thority on matters of A
pause showed that his theory had TAX
en- root in the minds of his auditors.
Wal. I reckon Joe thinks the long
est way round is the shortest way
home" declared the old stager. Joe
did like them Goldfish swells-but
how do you 'count fer the style O. that
sals She want like her dad one little
"oh, she's ben to collidge. I 'spose."
declared the youth. They get ali that
off'n collidge."
Serves the Did man right fer sendin'
his gal to a fool coolidge when she
ought to a ben home learnin' to house
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 q 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 n Gordon were
touring Milton, serenely unconscious Of
danger near. or guardian angel Of the
name Of Zoe
Investigation disclosed the fact tina
there was a train for Pittsburgh about
8 in the afternoon. Gordon sent a
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
high stools and partook with an un-
usually ravenous appetite OF nearly
everything on the menu-corn soup,
roast beef, baked trout, stewed toma-
toes, cold slaw, custard. apple and
mince pies, with a cup Of good country
SSAlSo CLAAN GU Ola lOl ~ L.
apiece.
1t was a very merry meal. Celia felt
somehow as If for the time all
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. Just two young people off hav-
ing a good time, they We're, at least
until that afternoon train came.
After their dinner, they took a short
walk to a tiny park where two white
ducks d%ispoPted themselves on a 7xs
pond, spanned by a rustic bridge where
lovers had cut their initials. Gordon
took out his knife and idly cut c, H.
in the Fought bark OF the upper rail,
While his companion sat on the little
board seat and watched him. She was
bordering over the fact that he had
cut her Initials. and not his own. It
would ave been like the George Of old
to cut his own and never think once
of hers. And he had put but one b.
Probably he thought Of her now as
Celia Hayne. without the Hathaway, oil
else he was so used to writing her
name Celia Hathaway that he wa
not thinking at all.
Those letters! How they haunted
her and clouded every bright expert
ence that she fain would have grasped
and held for a little hour. They were
SS VI ~ 81 AAAlASAACu Iu0 -.
H.. and was cutting another C; but,
instead OF making another H. he care
fully carved out the letter g.. What
was that for? c. CT Who was c.
G.? Oh, how stupid! George, Of course.
He a started a c by mistake. But
he did not d the expected HI. In
stead he snapped his knife shut, aid
his hand over the carving, and leaned
over the rail.
Some. time, perhaps, we'll come here
again, and remember" he said, and
then bethought he had no right to hope
for n such anniversary. N
Obi" 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.
Els look carried further than he
meant 1t should. For the third time
that day q thrill OF wonder delight
PASSED over her and left her fearful
with q strange joy that she felt she
should put from here
II. was only an instant, that look. but
it brought the bright color to both
4 fares and madn Gardnn fnnys%h~ 49, e