Grand Forks herald., 1919-07-12
sprawl nat on the platform, to the In
tense amusement of a couple Of train
men standing near

80
tense amusement of couple Of train
men standing near.
George Hayne,. having thus come to
full stop inihie headlong career, lay
PROSTATE for a moment, stunned and
shaken; then gathered himself u4
slowly and stood gazing after the de-
parting train. After all, If he had
caught it what could he have done?
1t was Incredible that Celia could
have got herself married and gone on
her wedding trip without him. IT she
had eloped with some one else and
they were on that train<what could he
have done? Kill the bridegroom and
force the bride to return with him and
be married over again? Yes but that
might have been 'trifle awkward ait.
er all, and he had enough awkward
situations to his account already. Be
sides it wasn't in the least likely that
Celia was married yet. Those people
at the house had been fooled some-
her mother and brother We're 4one
with her. The same threats that had
made her bend to him once should
follow her wherever she had gone.
She would marry him yet and pay for
this folly hundred fold. He lifted
shaking hand of execration toward
the train which by this time was
vanishing into the dark opening at the
end Of the station. where signal lights
in All arch against the blackness, and
the lights of the last car paled and
vanished like forgotten dream.
Then he turned and hobbled slowly
back to the gates regardless of the
rnerriment he was arousing in the
genial trainmen; for he was spent and
bruised, and his appearance was any
thing but dignif1ed. No member of
the wedding company had they seen
him at this juncture would have rec
ognized in him any resemblance to the
handsome gentleman who had played
his part in the wedding ceremony. No
one would have thought it possible
that he could be Celia Hathaway's
bridegroom.
Slowly back to the gate he crept.
haggard, dishevelled, crestfallen; his
hair in its several isolated locks down.
fallen over his forehead, his collar
wilted, his clothes smeared with chalk
and dust, his overcoat dragging for
lornly behind him. He was trying to
decide what to do next, and realizing
the torment of perpetual thirst,
when a hand was laid suddenly upon
him and voice that somehow had a
familiar twang, said "You will come
with me, sir"
He looked up and there before him
in the flesh were the eyes of the man
who had haunted him for years, the
very eyes grown younger. and filed
with more than reproach. They were
piercing him with the keenness Of re-
tribution. They said. as plainly as
those eyes In the closet had spoken
but brief hour before: Your time
is over. My time has come. You
hauh sinra6 g11ffnr Come
now and meet your reward"
He started back in horror. His
hands, trcmbled and his brain reeled.
He wished for another cocktail to
help him to meet this most extraor-
dinary emergency. Surely, something
had happened to his nerves that he
was seeing these eyes in reality. and
hearing the voice, that old mans
voice made young. bidding him come
He was unnerved with all he Had been,
through. The man had mistaken him
for some oneAor perhaps it was not
a man after all. He glanced quickly
around to see II others saw him, and
at once became aware that a crowd
was collecting about; them.
The man with the strange eyes and
the familiar voice was dressed in
plain clothes, but he seemed to have
1ulb assurance Lnat nc was real i've
man and had right ITO dictate.
George Hayne could not shake away
his grasp. There was determine
tion about it that struck terror to his
soul, and he had weak desire to
scream and hide his eyes. Could he
be coming down with delirium trem-
ems That brandy must have been
unusually strong to have lasted so
long in its effects. Then he made a
weak effort to speak, but his voice
sounded small and frightened. The
eyes took his assurance from him.
"Who are you " he asked. and
meant to add, What right have you
to, dictate to me but the words died
away in his throat, for the plain
clothes man had opened his coat and