The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-11-16

her surrender had turned his selfish
love into a hate with contemplations OF
revenge.
But now her eyes glowed scornfully,
wreathed round with bridal white, and
seemed to taunt him with his foolish
defeat at this the last minute before he
final triumph.
Undoubtedly the brandy he had ia
ken had gone to his head. Was he
going mad that he could not get away
from all these terrible eyes?
He felt sure he was dying when at
last the janitor came up to the fourth
floor on his round Of inspection, noticed
the light flaring from the transom over
the door occupied by the stranger, who
had said he was going to leave on a
trip almost Immediately, and went in
to investigate. The eyes vanished at
his step. The man In the closet lost no
time in making his presence known,
and the janitor, cautiously, and with
great deliberation, made careful inves-
tigation Of the cause n reason for
the disturbance, and finally let him out
after having received promise of re-
ward, which neyer materialized.
The stranger flew to the telephone in
frantic haste, called up the house Of
his affianced bride. shouting wildly at
the operator for all undue delays, and,
when finally he succeeded in getting
some n to the phone, 1t was only to
be told that neither Mrs. Hathaway nor
her son were there. Were they at the
church? "Oh, no." the servant an
swered, they came back from the
church long ago. There is a wedding
in the house, and a great many people.
They are making SO much noise i can't
hear. Speak louder, pleased"
He shouted and raved at the servant,
asking futile questions and demanding
information, but the louder he raved
the less the servant understood and
finally he hung up the receiver and
dashed about the room like an insane
grabbing at another, jerking on his fine
coat, searching vainly for his cuffs.
snatching his hat n overcoat, and
making off down the stairs; breathless-
ly. regardless of the demand Of the jan
itor for the fee of freedom he had been
promised.
Out in the street he rushed hitner
and thitheT blindly in search Of some
conveyance, found q taxicab at last,
and, plunging in, ordered 1t to go at
once to the Hathaway address.
Arrived there, he presented an en-
livening spectacle to the guests, who
were still making merry. His trousers
were covered with French chalk, his
collar had slipped from Its combining
button in front n curved gracefully
about n fat cheek, his high hat was
a crush, indeed, having been rammed
down to hts head In his excitement. He
talked so fast and SO loud that they
thought he was. crazy n tried to put
him out, but he shook his fist angrily
in the face Of the footman and de-
manded to know where Miss Hathaway
was? When they told him she was
married N gone, he turned livid with
wrath and told them that that was i'm
possible, as he was the bridegroom.
BY this time the guests had gathered
in curious groups in the hall and on the
stairs, listening, and when he claimed
to be the bridegroom they shouted with
laughter, thinking this must be some
practical joke or else that the man was
insane. But one older gentleman, a
friend of the family, stepped up to the
excited visitor n said in q quieting
voice:
my friend, you have made a mis-
take! Miss Hathaway has this evening
been married to Mr.. George Hayne, Just
arrived from abroad, and they are at
this moment on their way to take the
train. You have come to late to see
her, or else you have the wrong adj
dress and are speaking of some other
Miss Hathaway, That is very likely
the explanation" '. -
pany with helpless rage, then rushed
to his taxicab and gave the order for
the station.
Arriving at the station, he saw II was
within half a minute Of the departure
Of the Chicago train, and o n knew
better than he what time that train
had been sgoing to depart. Had he not
given minute directions regarding the
arrangements to his future %brotherin-
law? What did II all mean anyway?
Had Celia managed somehow to carry
out the wedding without him to hide
her modification at his nonappearance?
Or had she run away? He was too
avntfa6 IN fIca hfo roa Qnn f. He rnatlA
merely arg his heavy bulk onward to-
ward the fast fleeing train; and dashed
up the platform, overcoat streaming
from his arm, coat tails flying,
hat crushed down upon his head,
his fat, bechalked legs rumbling heav-
his mother: watching tearfully, linger-
ingly, the retreating train. Jefferson
laughed at the funny spectacle, but the
mother did not notice and only said
absently: II think he'll be good to
her, don't you, Jeff? He has nice eyes.
I don't remember that his eyes used to
seem so pleasant, and so-deferential."
Then they turned to go back to their
car, and the train moves faster and
faster out Of the station. 1t would
presently rush away out into he night.
leaving the two pursuers to face each
other, baffled.
Both realized this at the same instant
and the short, thick set man with sud
den decision turned again I'M plung-
ing along with the train caught at the
rail and swung himself with dangerous
precipitation to the last platform of the
last car with q half frightened triumph.
Looking back he saw the other man
4 with q frantic effort sprint forward,
trying to do the same thins, n failing
in the attempt, sprawl fla on the plat
form, to the intense amusement OF a
couple of trainmen standing near.
George Hayne, having thus come to
a full stop in his headlong career, lay
PROSTATE for a moment, n and
shaken; then gathered himself up
slowly and stood gazing after h de-
parting train. After all, II he had
caught 1t what could he have done? II
was incredible that Celia could have
got herself married and gone on her
|, wedding trip without him. IL she had
eloped with some n else n they
were on, that train what would he have
!, done? XIII the bridegroom and force
the bride ~ return with him and be
, married over again? Yes, but that
a