The Purple Parasol

t such a time and place and under such peculiar circumstances. He withdrew to the platform and his own reflections.

"He's an infernal cad for not meeting her," he found himself saying, her pretty, distressed face still before him. "I don't care a rap whether she's doing right or wrong--she's game. Still, she's a blamed little fool to be travelling up here on such an outlandish train. So he's visiting an uncle, eh? Then the chances are they're not going to Eagle Nest. Lucky I waited here--I'd have lost them entirely if I'd gone back to Albany. But where the deuce is she to sleep till morn--" He heard rapid footsteps behind him and turned to distinguish Mrs. Wharton as she approached dimly but gracefully. The air seemed full of her.

"Oh, Mr.--Mr.-" she was saying eagerly.

"Rollins."

"Isn't there a later train, Mr. Rollins?" "I'll ask the agent."

"There's the flyer at three-thirty A. M.," responded the sleepy agent a minute later.

"I'll just sit up and wait for it," she said coolly. "He has got