Part 23 (2/2)

The young man sprang into the seat, and gasped: ”West Philadelphia station, Chicago Limited! Hurry! Train leaves Broad Street station at nine-fifty. Get me there if you can, Billy. I'll be your friend forever.”

By this time they were speeding fast. Neither of the two had time to consider which station was the easier to make; and, as the machine was headed toward West Philadelphia, on they went, regardless of laws or vainly shouting policemen.

George Benedict sprang from the car before it had stopped, and nearly fell again. His nerves were not steady from his other fall yet. He tore into the station and out through the pa.s.sageway past the beckoning hand of the ticket-man who sat in the booth at the staircase, and strode up three steps at a time. The guard shouted: ”Hurry! You may get it; she's just starting!” and a friendly hand reached out, and hauled him up on the platform of the last car.

For an instant after he was safely in the car he was too dazed to think.

It seemed as if he must keep on blindly rus.h.i.+ng through that train all the way to Chicago, or she would get away from him. He sat down in an empty seat for a minute to get his senses. He was actually on the train! It had not gone without him!

Now the next question was, Was she on it herself, or had she in some way slipped from his grasp even yet? The old butler might have caught her by telephone. He doubted it. He knew her stubborn determination, and all at once he began to suspect that she was with intention running away from him, and perhaps had been doing so before! It was an astonis.h.i.+ng thought and a grave one, yet, if it were true, what had meant that welcoming smile in her eyes that had been like dear suns.h.i.+ne to his heart?

But there was no time to consider such questions now. He had started on this quest, and he must continue it until he found her. Then she should be made to explain once and for all most fully. He would live through no more torturing agonies of separation without a full understanding of the matter. He got upon his shaking feet, and started to hunt for Elizabeth.

Then all at once he became aware that he was still carrying the box of flowers. Battered and out of shape it was, but he was holding it as if it held the very hope of life for him. He smiled grimly as he tottered shakily down the aisle, grasping his floral offering with determination.

This was not exactly the morning call he had planned, nor the way he had expected to present his flowers; but it seemed to be the best he could do.

Then, at last, in the very furthest car from the end, in the drawing-room he found her, sitting gray and sorrowful, looking at the fast-flying landscape.

”Elizabeth!” He stood in the open door and called to her; and she started as from a deep sleep, her face blazing into glad suns.h.i.+ne at sight of him.

She put her hand to her heart, and smiled.

”I have brought you some flowers,” he said grimly. ”I am afraid there isn't much left of them now; but, such as they are, they are here. I hope you will accept them.”

”Oh!” gasped Elizabeth, reaching out for the poor crushed roses as if they had been a little child in danger. She drew them from the battered box and to her arms with a delicious movement of caressing, as if she would make up to them for all they had come through. He watched her, half pleased, half savagely. Why should all that tenderness be wasted on mere fading flowers?

At last he spoke, interrupting her brooding over his roses.

”You are running away from me!” he charged.

”Well, and what if I am?” She looked at him with a loving defiance in her eyes.

”Don't you know I love you?” he asked, sitting down beside her and talking low and almost fiercely. ”Don't you know I've been torn away from you, or you from me, twice before now, and that I cannot stand it any more? Say, don't you know it? Answer, please,” The demand was kind, but peremptory.

”I was afraid so,” she murmured with drooping eyes, and cheeks from which all color had fled.

”Well, why do you do it? Why did you run away? Don't you care for me? Tell me that. If you can't ever love me, you are excusable; but I must know it all now.”

”Yes, I care as much as you,” she faltered, ”but----”

”But what?” sharply.

”But you are going to be married this week,” she said in desperation, raising her miserable eyes to his.

He looked at her in astonishment.

”Am I?” said he. ”Well, that's news to me; but it's the best news I've heard in a long time. When does the ceremony come off? I wish it was this morning. Make it this morning, will you? Let's stop this blessed old train and go back to the Doctor. He'll fix it so we can't ever run away from each other again. Elizabeth, look at me!”

But Elizabeth hid her eyes now. They were full of tears.

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