Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-12-20

1nent and fright and hurry. He added
that he had made a great blunder in
was no chance to get off for several
hours. perhaps, n probably no supper
to be had.
oh. it doesn't matter in the least"
said Celia wearily. I'm not at all
hungry" She almost smiled when she
said it. He knew that what she wanted
was to have her mind relieved about
the letters. But she really saw that
there was no opportunity now.
She even seemed sorry at his trou-
bled look. and tried to smile again
through the settled sadness in her eyes.
He could see she was very weary. and
he felt like a great brute in care of
a child, and mentally berated himself
for his own thoughtlessness.
Gordon started off to search for some
thing to eat for her. and was more suc-
cessful thar he had dared hope. The
newsboy had two chicken sandwiches
left, and these. with the addition OF a
fine range. a box Of chocolates. and
a glass of ice water. he presently
brought to her. and was rewarded by a
smile this time. almost as warm and
intimate as those she had given him
during their beautiful day.
But he could not sit beside her, for
the places We're all taken. and he could
not stand in the aisle and talk, for
the porter was constantly running back
and forth making up the berths. There
seemed to be q congested state of things
in the whole train. every seat being full
and men standing in the aisles. He
noticed now that they all wore badges
OF some fraternal order. 1t was doubt
less a delegation to some great "
ton, upon which they a intruded.
They We're a g~ood-natured, noisy, happy
crowd, but not anywhere among them
was to be oun a quiet spot where he
and Celia could &c on with their sud
denly interrupted conversation Pres
emily the conductor calne to him and
said he had found a gentleman who
would give the lady his lower berth and
a her upper one. 1t was already
made up. and the lady might take pos
session at once.
Gordon made the exchange of ticketa.
and Immediately escorted Celia to it.
He found her most glad to go for she
longing to get ava 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 a few minutes. But he was disap-
pointe. 1t was even fuller h In the
first car. He arranged everything for
her comfort as far as possible. disposed
OF her hat and fixed her suitcase so
that she could open 1t, u ven While
ne was doing 1t there were people
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. IN explain 1t all to you
then. so that you will understand how 1
have had nothing to do with these let
tiers. Forget it, n try to rest. Will
you?"
His tone was wistful. He had never
wanted to do anything so much in all
his life as to stoop n 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
the blue tired flowers that dropped
from her gown YEARLY. But he held
himself with a firm hand. She was not
his to kiss. When she knew how he
a deceived her. h would probably
never give him the right to kiss her.
swer to his question, and then added:
But where will you be? Is your berth
near by?'
Not far away-that is, I had to take
a place in another car, they are SO
crowded"
"oh!" she said a little anxiously.
Are you sure o have a good COM
Portable place."
"oh, yes. 1 shall be all right" he
answered j%oyously. 1t was so won-
oeTluI 10 nave ner care whether he was
comfortable or not.
The porter was making up the OBJ
posite berth. and there was no room
to stand longer, SO he bade her good
night, she putting out her hand for q
farewell. For an instant he held it close,
with gentle pressure, as If to reassure
her. then he went away to the day
coach. and settled down into a hard
corner at the very back of the car,
rawln his travelling cap over his
eyes, and letting his heart beat out
wild joy over that little touch Of her
dear hand. Wave after wave 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 a wretch was he, presuming to love
IKE 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 t%ortures! Had a man like
that a right to claim her? His Who
being answered mo"
Then the memory of the look in her
eyes. the u 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 az he had never dreamed a
man could love. /,
Gradually his mind steadied itself
under the sweet fntoxication, and he
began to wonder just what he should
to her in the morning. 1t was q
; good thing he had not had further op-
portunity to tai with her that night,
for he could not have told her every
thing; and now II all went well they