The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-03-24

| VI dAu 1OT AOuuOu, Wueuc0 Iu0lT Sulp
sailed early the next morning. Their
point of objective was Baltimore; but
Barton had thrown out hints that he
meant to sail for New York; thus he
was satisfied that he would threw
their pursuers off the scent LtaAsa
cat 7:45 the princess was >at the
railway station. She went into, the
waiting-room and sat down upon a
bench, her bag beside her. She
glanced constantly at the clock. 1t
seemed incredible that in five and
| twenty minutes her lover would actu-
ally be with her, that they would be
together again, never to be parted!
The hands seemed weighted with lead.
After an enormous interval it was only
quarter before the hour.
"She went out upon the platform
and paced to and fro impatiently. She
knew that her maid would not return
till eight; then even il she were
missed. no suspicion would be aroused
until nearly midnight, for she might
have been with the queen, and none
would break into that august presence
unless sent for. Probably they would
be on the mainland before anyone sus-
pected. So she had no fear in pacing
the Cowes platform. Nevertheless
she shrank from observation, in case
some one she knew might happen to
be there. For that reason she kept
we'll back in the shadows. At the
other end of the platform she saw
a group of men, constantly increasing
in number, who seemed to be talking
excitedly. She saw the railroad off,
Gals in the center of this throng; she
heard newsboys shouting; but all this
did not interest her at all, for in ten
minutes more her lover would join
her. 1t was incredible to her that he
would delay.
"Yet when at last the hands of the
clock stood on the IL and eight, he
was not there. And one minute
passed. and then another, and now she
began to grow impatient and little
Gliding thoughts came into her mind;
but still her trust was infinite. Once.
as she paced to and fro, she felt sud- |
den sense of Barton's presence; she
almost fancied that she saw him stand |
ing outside the door, looking at herS
but when she hurried toward him he |
was not there, and the group at the
end OF the platform had dispersed |
also, and the station was dark and |
empty. And now 1t was five minutes |
after the hour; now it was ten min
utes, and she began to be terribly
afraid. What il he did not come?
What IL something which could not
have been avoided had hindered him?
What If some accident had befallen
him? She might go back, might re-
gain her room undetected-but 1t
would mean the end. Something told
her that unless he came they would
never meet again. And now 1t was
quarter past. She would wait five
minutes longer; but at 20 past she
waited still, and at last the hands
showed that it was half-past eight, and
still she fingered.
Then one of the porters, entering
he waiting-room, perceived her.
"'What train did you want to take,
he asked, and, while she
sought desperately for a reply, he con-
inued:
"That was terrible accident in the
'hannel this early morning, ma'am.'
"He must have seen something in
Ter face that told him he was facing
J tragedy, for he went on hastily:
It's all right, though; they say
very one Of the passengers was
aved, and the captain, too. though he
TODD on the bridge until the last of
he boats was launched. It's strange
ow a little ship like the Bertha"
ould have sunk one of them big cross
hannel steamships
"'The "Bertha?" asked the Prin- I
ess vaguely. What were you saying I
bout the "Bertha?"'
I was saying. ma'am, that all the
assengers were saved on the Gee
ilia," but they say the Bertha" car
led few, and IL that's the case I'm
fraid there's no chance of finding
hem. She went down like stone, 9
aptain and all He was a fine young
hap, ALI Barton--I knew kim we'll. !
Strength comes to those Of whom d