Sioux County pioneer., 1922-04-06
PART ,il-continued.,

found one. The old man who operated
1t must have been philanthropist, for
Noble was so fortunate as to secure a
aoan of nine dollars upon his watch.
Surprised at this, he returned to the
station, and went back to the same old
bench. u f,4l siff
X, a little after six o'clock 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 1t 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 a new
clerk, who had just relieved the. other.
well! Well I" he said at last.
..I'll take 1t now," Noble responded,
gently.
"What'n you take now7' ,s s
'sThat ticket !" ST
What ticket?''
The same one I wanted BEFORE"
z ? 1..F7I I = d
Noble 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
sciamorous 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 a youthful fine lady noticeably
-enlivening to the dullest eye. She was
preceded by q brisk porter who car
ried two travelling bags Of a rich sort,
las well as assack of implements for
the game Of golf; and she was warm
in dark furs, against which the vasty
clump3 Of violets she wore showed
,a1ewy gleamings of blue.
At sight Of Noble Dill, more than
pensiye at. the ticket-window, she hesi-
thted, then stopped and observed him.
Here was coincidence, in a mild
way, for, as 1t happened, she was her
self the most observed person in all
that place. She was veifed in two
.teils, but she had been seen In the
train without these, and some Of her
;fellOw-traye yelers, though strangers tS
her, were walking near her in a hypG
critical way, hoping still not to lose
sight Of her, even veiled. And although
the shroudings permitted the most
neager informatio Of her features,
what they did reveal was. harmfully
piquant; moreover, there was a sweet
ness to the figure. a disturbing grace;
:and nothing disguises such an air Of
wearing that many violets as a daily
perquisite and matter Of course.
4 It was Julia's fortune (though her
father had other ideas concerning the
matter) to be the possessor Of. q 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. y u n.
So the coincidence came about that
this observed lady stopped and OBJ
served Noble, who In return observed
her not at all being but semic conscious.
Noble e she said. III 5s's
He stared at her. His elbow saggeds
away from the, window Il 81 the whole.
person Of Noble Dill seemed near coll
lapse. He shook and had no voice. es5s B
# II just this minute got Oh the
i train,' Julia said. ..Are you going
away somewhe e7'' Il
54s NO, /" he whispered !; then obtained
command Of ID husklness somewhat
greater In volume. m just standing.
here ;. 1. sSsi3j
told the porter to get me taxi
cal. y q she said. ..If you're going home
for dinner I'll drop you at your house,. = :
;sss ~ - His articulation
encountered unsur ountable difhcul-s
ties, but Jnlta had been with him
{ through many such trials aforetime..
She said brtskly SIN awfully hungry.
and 4 want to.get home. Come on iff
you like K.
He walked saveringly at her side
through the sta tion, and followed her
1nto the dim ainteltor of thslcab, which
i became fragrant of violets an ema-