Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1922-03-02
PART mI-cOntinued.


ne went in search Of a pawn-shOp, and
found one. The old man who operated
1t must have been philanthropist, for
Noble was so fortunate as to secure
= loan Of nine dollars upon his watch.
Surprised at this, he returned to the
station, and went back to the same old
ksNch.
"a little after six o'clock a changing
and cOmmOtiOn in the train-shed out
side, attending the arrival of a
Through express" stirred him from
his torpOr. He walked heavily across
the room to the same ticket-windOw
he had blocked before, but there was
no queue attached to it now. He
rested his 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 new
clerk, who had just relieved the other
"Well! Well" he said at last.
"rll take it now" Noble responded,
gently.
"What'll you take nOwH
'That ticket !"
''What ticket?"
"The same one I wanted before"
Noble sighed.
The clerk gave him a 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
1fSrfends who came to greet them; and
z mOng these moving groups there
WALKED a youthful fine lady noticeably
enlivening to the dullest eye. She was
preceded by brisk porter who car
ried two travelling bags of a rich sort,
as we'll 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
dewy gleamings of blue.
At sight of Noble Dill, more than
pensive at the ticket-window, she hest
tated, then stopped and observed him.
Here was a coincidence in a mild
way, for, as it happened she was her
self the most observed person in all
that place. She was yelled in two
wells, but she had been seen in the
train without these, and some of her
fellow travellers, though strangers to
her, were walking near her in a hypO-
critical way, hoping still not to lose
sight of her, even yelled. And although
the Surroundings permitted the most
meager information of her features,
what they did reveal was harmfully
piquant; moreover, there was a sweet
ness to the figure, a disturbing grace !;
and nothing DISCUSSES such an air of
wearing that many violets as a daily
perquisite and matter of course.
It was Julia's fortune Though her
father had other ideas concerning the
matter) to he the pOssessor Of per-
sOnality distinctly pleasing to the
masculine eye. and of this the fair
Julia 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.
mobile !" 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.
II just this minute got off the
train" Julia said "Are you going
away somewhere"
"NO" he whispered; then obtained
command of a huskiness somewhat
greater in volume. "I'm just standing
here"
81 told the porter to get me a taxi
cab" she said. "If you're going home
for dinner I'll drop you at your house"
a. I'm T." 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
into the dim interior of the cab, which
became fragrant Of viOlets-an ema-
nation at once ineffabIe and poisonous.
ann so glad | happened to run
across you" she said as they began
TO vibrnte 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