“Well, I gained the hours, and I shall catch the train!” exclaimed the young man, as the sleigh suddenly pulled up before the ticket office at the same instant that the train ran into the station.
“Don’t get out! there’s no time!” exclaimed Le, as he suddenly strained Odalite to his bosom, kissed her passionately and started from his seat. A hasty handshake with his uncle and then with Jake, both of whom called blessings down on him; a hasty kiss to Wynnette and Elva, both of whom burst out crying and bellowed lustily; then a last long kiss again to his dear Odalite, who received it in a suffocating silence; and the next moment the young man had jumped from the sleigh and disappeared in the station, and almost immediately the train went on.
The party in the sleigh waited in total silence but for the sobs of Wynnette and Elva, until the train had passed out of sight and hearing.
“I thought he might have missed it, but he has not,” said Mr. Force.
“Oh, I wish, I wish he had!” sobbed Elva.
“But what would have become of his honor, my dear?” questioned her father.
“Oh, I don’t care a pin for that sort of honor, any more than Mrs. Anglesea does! I wanted him—I loved him!” sobbed Elva.
“I don’t see why people should part when they don’t want to and are not obliged to, just for a notion!” cried Wynnette.
“Drive home, Jacob. But not too fast. We can spare the horses now,” said Mr. Force.
And the coachman turned the horses’ heads and took the homeward road.