The Tomahawk., 1917-03-08

SNOW, ] SAY WHAT ! tn
train for London, whence their ship
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 throw
their pursuers off the scent.
AT 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
a 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 if 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. It was incredible to her that he
would delay.
"Yet when at last the hands Of the
clock stood on the II 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 a sud
den sense of Barton's presence; she
almost fancied that she saw him stand
ing outside the door, looking at her;
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 it was five minutes
after the hour; now it was ten min
utes, and she began to be terribly
afraid. What if he did not come?
What if 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 it
would mean the end. Something told
her that unless he came they would
never meet again. And now it 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 ono of the porters, entering
the waiting-room, perceived her.
":What train did you want to take,
ma'am?' he asked, and, while she
sought desperately for reply, he con-
tinued:
"'That was a terrible accident in the
channel this early morning, ma'am.'
HE must have seen something in
her face that told him he was facing
a tragedy, for he went on hastily:
cts all right, though; they say
every one of the passengers was
saved, and the captain, too, though he
stood on the bridge until the last Of
the boats was launched. It's strange
how a little ship like the Bertha"
could have sunk one of them big cross
channel steamships
""The "Bertha?'" asked the Prin-
cess vaguely. What were you saying
about the "Bertha?"'
"T was saying, ma'am, that all the
passengers were saved on the "Ce-
cilia," but they say the Bertha" car
ried a few, and if that's the case I'm
afraid there's no chance of finding
them. She went down like a stone,
captain and all. He was a fine young
chap, ALI Barton|I knew him we'll:
Strength comes to those of whom