Grand Forks herald., 1919-11-29

AA6s 1SnASAA0 A4Ck oCA0N0 6nS .SCI oIli
bled to her feet, the conductor help
ing her, and scolding her soundly in
terms she did not even. hear. nj 80.
anxious was she to show him she was
fall right and he might 60 on his way.
She was too far spent to speak, but
she smiled bravely up into his face,
utterly unnerving him, and stopping
the flow Of invectives he was heapin9
upon her unconscious head. He
looked at her hard, thought how her
sweet little flower face would have
looked beneath tho cruel wheels,
brushed his big hand across his eyes
and reached for the bell cord, giving
1T a mighty pull. The whistle sound
led, the wheels turned again and the,
strain started ), on Its intArrupted,
course. Nobody had noticed the
Schwarz was almost to the station,
putting like<a porpoise and swearing
as only schwarz could swear when he
really tried. When the passengers
had assured themselves that the girl
was safe, they turned for a belated
vision Of the men and saw. Schwars
shaking an angry fist in the distance,
and the other three men still wildly
waving. respectively, hoe. . rake
Einteresting moving -picture for farief
moment and the train with Hilda
passed quickly out Of harms way and
they were forgotten.
Hilda, still putting and painting, but
smiling brayely, dropped into the lit
tie end seat at the back, of the car,
Utterly unaware of the interest she
was exciting among the passengers,
who stosd up. craned their necks, and
spoke their commentator OF her feat
In no hushed tones. She was only
aware Of the conductors cross, kind
eyes upon her, and his gently sruff
tones when he tried once. more. to
tell her that she must never do such
T. thing again, that she might have
been killed. She wanted to tell him
that she wouldn't, no never, as long
as she lived If she could help it; that
ishe was fully as frightened as he at
what she had done; but her breath
wouldn't let her, and SO she only
smiled; and he. still scolding. made
his way up the aisle taking tickets.
II was some time before he came
back to her and Hilda had quite re-
covered her breath and her self-pos-
session, although she was still trenn-
bling all over. She had become
aware Of the interest she was excite
ing and 1t made her uncomfortable.
She looked down at herself. No,won.
aer' they stared. She was still wear
..setS. AsOe ~AO"h NSh1al dHEOu, ana 8Q9
had no hat nor coat nor cloves! n
was her first realization that her hat
and coat were gone. The little purse.
With Its dollar and few cents ii
cnange, too, was gone with the coat.
tucked safely into the pocket! Tho
little purse that her mother had s1vsn
her at parting! 1t is strange how at
g time IKE that tho loss nf 4 small
thing that 10 dear Will stand out with
q sharp pain.
She set about making herssif tidy.
sne could see in the Elasssof tho win
Gow that her haid Was rumpled. and
abe moothed the braids and bound
them trinity about her wsll-shaned
/ hexd again. She leaned down IND
rubbed the thick mud from her shoe.
with newspAper someone had left
on the moor. She set the suitcase
the end that bore the lettering 60 no
one could see 1t, and spread her scant
glngham skirts protectingly over II.
Then she looked down; at her. anrnl,
ana decided to remove It. She rolled
up neatly, pinnthg the ends OF the
bolt about the, bundle. and realised
that she had done all thatawas poeet-
De toward bettering her appearance.
window glass troubled nor. IIf she
only had hat! It looked so queer
70 20 travelling bareheaded. Of
ooutse, some people did have their
hats on now, but when shA Sreached
her dsetination how noticeable ehe.
would be! She lccked wistfuily down
the aisle Ct = sifl with 4ssiohs black
pEaid ol hair hanEinf down her back:
Gap tilted on ons stds of' hsrs. heSd ia
ghat was q simple little Kat. 81 sIf ssiss
oNsY had 6om0thlnE alan rfSiiid ~ ~.