The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-12-09
PART III-continued.

ed, and, after dreary hesitation
rent in search of a pawn-shop, and
one. The old man who operated
ust have been philanthropist, for
e was SO fortunate as to secure a
of nine dollars upon his watch.
prised at this, he returned to the
tion, and went back to the same old
hch.
b little after six o'clock changing
commotion in the train-shed out
ie, attending the arrival of a
through express" stirred him from
lis torpor He walked heavily across
he room to the same ticket-window
he had blocked before, but there was
no queue attached to it now. He
2SestedShis elbow on the apron and his
chin, upon his hand, and for some mo-
ments the clerk waited until he should
state his wishes. This was a new
clerk, who had just relieved the other.
SWELL Welll' he said at last
9TH take it now Noble responded,
gently.
"What'n you take now?"
"That ticket"
"What ticket?"
1.-THE same one wanted before, "
Oble sighed.
The clerk gave him piercing look,
glanced out of the window and saw
that there were no other clients, then
went to a desk at the farther end of
his compartment, and took up some
clerical work he had in hand.
Noble leaned upon the apron of the
window, waiting; and if he thought
Anything, he thought the man was
serving him.
The high, resonant room became
clamorous with voices and with the
mingling echoes of footsteps on the
tiled floor; as passengers from the ex-
press hurried to the street, or more
,gaily struggled through, shouting to
= friends who came to greet them; and
among these moving groups there
walked youthful fine lady noticeably
enlivening to the dullest eye. She was
preceded by brisk porter who car
ried two travelling bags of rich sort,
as well as a sack of implements for
the game of golf; and she was warm
in dark furs, against which the vastly
clump of violets she wore showed
sdewy gleamings of blue.
At slightly Of Noble Dill, more than
1--WE at the ticket-window, she hest
then stopped and observed him.
was a coincidence, in a mild
41, 4 ho how.
the most observed person in all
place. She was yelled in two
but she had been seen in the
without these, and some of her
bw-travelers, though strangers to
were walking near her in hypo-
cal way, hoping still not to lose
1t of her, even yelled. And although
Surroundings permitted the most
hger information of her features,
at they did reveal was harmfully
uant; moreover, there was sweet
IS to the figure, a disturbing grace
d nothing DISCUSSES such an air of
Faring that many violets as daily
rquisite and matter of course.
It was Julia's fortune (though her
er had other ideas concerning the
Ier) to be the possessOr Of a per-
Eality distinctly pleasing to the
Masculine eye, and of this the fair
vJulia was probably aware. In any
event she was quite conscious Of the
stir which her passage through the
throng created.
So the coincidence came about that
this observed lady stopped and OBJ
served Noble, who in return observed
her not at all, being but semiconscious.
"Noblei" she said.
He stared at her. His elbow sagged
away from the window: the whole
person of Noble Dill seemed near col
lapse. He shook, and had no voice.
Il just this minute got off the
train" Julia said. "Are you going
away somewhere"
"No," he whispered; then obtained
command of huskiness somewhat
greater in volume. "Tm just standing
here"
81 told the porter to get me taxi
cab," she said. eff you're going home
for dinner I'll drop you at your house. "
e. Pm +" His articulation
encountered unsurmountable difficult
ties, but Julia had been with him
through many such trials aforetime.
She said briskly. I'm awfully hungry
and want to get home. Come on-if
you like"
He walked waveringly at her side
through the station, and followed her
10 the dim interior of the cab, which
Became fragrant of violets-an ema-
nation at once ineffable and poisonous.
"Pm so glad l happened to run
across you" she said, as they began
to vibrate TREMENDOUSLY in unison with
the fierce little engine that drove them.
81 want to hear all the news. Nobody
knows I'm home / didn't write or
telegraph to soul; and I'll be a