Louise Lovely’s Travelling Case
But the glad flush faded from her cheeks as she read the brief words:
‘Sorry delayed for a week.
‘SALARNO.’
Not coming back for a whole week! Another week of loneliness and desolation! Another week in which traps might be laid for her—new traps she would not have wisdom to detect. No! She could not endure to be left there so long without him! She had counted on his speedy return. Her nerves were still unstrung after her ghastly experience. She needed his presence to tone her up. She did not feel safe without him—what new horrors might not another week bring her?
Should she wire and ask him to come back at once? No, that did not seem fair to him. Apparently his business had not been settled and if she made him leave the city now, it would mean the big loss he had mentioned. No, she could not be so selfish, especially after his marvellous goodness to her. Then, as she lay thinking, another idea came to her. Why shouldn’t she go to Hobart?
Why not? They were such friends and he wanted her there. She could not bear to be left alone at Waratah any longer. It was selfish to send for him, so it seemed the best thing she could do was to go to him. The idea took root. Yes, she would go to Hobart, start that day, leave by the afternoon train!
Then suddenly she thought of the dilapidated state of her clothes. And the rest of Dick’s outfit was at Burnt Spur! However, there was a large trunk of Elaine’s things at Waratah. She had brought it with her from Melbourne in case of emergency and it was stored at the hotel.
What a surprise it would give Larry if she went to Hobart as Elaine!
She flushed with excitement. Why shouldn’t he see her as Elaine just for once—in her own beautiful clothes? He saw Miss Foster in her pretty dresses; but he had never seen her, Elaine, in anything but a boy’s ungraceful garments. Now, why should he not see her in her dainty gowns? Yes, she would be Elaine for a few days—just for one short little week! There could surely be no harm in that. And she would give Larry such a tremendous surprise! It would be lovely to see his astonishment when he first caught sight of her as Elaine! Eagerly, she began to work out the details of her delightful plan…
It was late the following afternoon when Elaine neared Hobart. No detail of her plan had miscarried, everything had worked out most successfully.
She had been able to effect the change from Dick to Elaine in the train and arrived in Burnie as Miss Fleetwood. She had not seen anyone from the Coast who knew her—there had not been a single hitch in her arrangements anywhere.
Elaine had never been to Hobart before. Her summer holidays had generally been spent on her father’s stations, or at one of the seaside places in Victoria.
Now she sat by the window of the hurrying train watching for the Naples of the Southern Hemisphere. The express had just thundered over the bridge stretching across the wide expanse of the Derwent River—the river which like some royal procession makes its way slowly, majestically towards the capital city. Every inch of its triumphant journey is lined with crowds of adoring hills and worshipful mountains which robe themselves in garments of gorgeous blues, lilac, and rose.
The girl watched in breathless wonder.
She was in that colorous pageant, moving towards the city of dreams! She felt curiously elated. What would that city be like—the city of her throbbing anticipation? What royal gift would it bring to her life? Then as the train sped on, she caught sight of Hobart at last.
It lay flashing and scintillating in the sunlight like millions of diamonds scattered at the foot of a big mountain which rose high and brooding above it, a gaunt sentinel guarding an invaluable treasure. Beside the city flowed the majestic river which had now widened, forming itself into a great liquid body-guard, protecting the jewel-city and firing it a colorous salute.
Elaine’s eyes shone as she sat motionless looking out of the window.
So this was Hobart! This city, cradled in loveliness, watched over by mountains, saluted by the river, kissed by sunbeams, blest by heaven, and purged to crystal clarity by the snow and ice of the Antarctic!
And this was the place in which she was to meet Salarno. He was in the jewel-city—what an appropriate setting for him! It seemed to her as if he were the prince of that town—that all the loveliness merely existed as a suitable background for him. It could only be a background. He was the central figure, the great theme of the gorgeous picture. And soon, soon, she would be with him.
