Capably and quickly she straightened her hat, put on her gloves, buttoned her coat, gathered her hand bag, brief case, and suit case, and was ready at the door of the car when the train came to a halt. But a glance at the track on the other side of the station showed that the train had not waited! The station looked deserted and dirty in the dim midnight, and her heart sank. Now, why had this had to happen? Mrs. Dunlap paused for a moment in the doorway of the station as the disappointed crowds surged from the belated train. They had all more or less of a discouraged look and she sympathized with them. It was a new experience to her to be stranded unexpectedly at midnight in a strange place. Her delay would undoubtedly disappoint many people; but it certainly was not her fault. She had planned carefully as usual, and now must send telegrams in various directions to explain her non-appearance; her first disappointment as a platform speaker after years of service. She could not possibly reach her first appointment now in time and the whole schedule would be thrown out. Too bad, but she must make the best of it. As she made her way to the telegraph office the man, who had for several hours occupied the seat in front of her, brushed past her. He too had probably missed connections and must telegraph. She wondered where he had left his young wife and wished she might have had a chance to show her some little kindness. She felt strangely drawn to the girl, who looked too young to be a wife and seemed so utterly troubled. "I wonder if they are as much disappointed as I am over the upset of plans, and if they are disappointing as many people as I am?" she said to herself, and again a question came to her mind; "I wonder why it was allowed to happen? I certainly thought I was needed at that meeting to-morrow morning! They have been planning for it so long! It is so embarrassing to have to disappoint them this way!" It very soon became necessary however to give undivided attention to the question of where she was to spend the remainder of the night. The Kennard House to which she had been recommended by the ticket agent proved to be crowded and the gentlemanly and sympathetic clerk could give her no encouragement. He shook his head in response to her question: "The Albemarle? No, they are as badly off as we are. A car just drove away from here with people who had tried the Albemarle first. It is certainly an unfortunate night for that express train to be late! The city is overcrowded on account of the Convention. You are alone, madam? I hardly know what to suggest to you. We let our very last room go, about three minutes before you came in, to a couple who were your fellow passengers."