As the big locomotive appeared round the curve, Dolly was quiet with suppressed excitement. Sardis was coming! Once more she would hear his loving voice! Every pulse in her frail little body thrilled with the thought of it. As the cars glided by, she peered eagerly from the automobile in the hope of seeing his familiar face at one of the windows. But she could recognize no one. With nerves at high tension, she watched the people as they filed out of the train. The little station-house hid the rear car, and her eyes wandered back and forth.
“I’ll go round in front,” said Polly, and her lithe figure disappeared on the other side of the building.
She did not come back.
Dolly sat alert and breathless, a sudden terror growing in her heart lest her watching were all in vain.
The train moved away, and still Polly was not in sight.
“I’m afraid—” began Dolly softly.
Then Polly appeared—alone!
“He hasn’t come!” the watchers heard her say. “Dear little girl, don’t feel bad!” For the child’s eyes were threatening an overflow. “Probably he missed his train. All we have to do is to wait for the next.”
The tone was heartening, and Dolly began to smile.