Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-31
What Made the Altoona Train Late
IPitts I'm rlrT IL ,rranh

Coming over on the fast line on the Pennsyl-
vania railroad last night was the usual CON-
plement OF passengers and many types of char
acter One of the coaches was fine prospecting
ground for the student of human nature. All
the old friends we read about In the comic
papers were there. The young lady with
poodle, attended by two or three gentlemen
who assiduously disputed the dogs right to
attentions, occupied a seat near one end, and
became conspicuous at once. Nearly opposit.
was another young lady, who evidently secretly
disputed the belleship OF the other, for she
was tossing her pretty head IN affected disgust
at all the formers proceedings, but was not
account by young gentlemen in neighboring
seats. Then there were the ancient lady trav-
cling alone in the severe dignity OF years,
one or two ladies evidently married, who took
the journey as matter OF fact, quiet young
lady with sparkling black eyes, who saw all that
was going on in demure, Intelligent Way that
newly-married couple, very conscious of the fact
and ready to be sympathized with by every one
else In the car. Then there were the ordinary
filling up OF men and children and the play
began. The newly-married pair were Sc lted
close to the front end of the car, where, as they
could see no one themselves, they affected to
believe no one could see them. Johns loving
arm closely encircled ANA nda's neck, and from
time to time, as the CHATTER OF the train in
creased, the two faces would bend closer and
closer together, and to watchful ears behind
would come the sound Of faint running eXplo-
sions, like the gurgling of honey out of some
confined vessel. At Harrisburg John escaped a
While to the platform probably toregaln breath,
but on the first movement OF the train returned
to his seat with prOmptneSS most creditable.
"John," said Amanda, as some one suggested
that this might be the wrong train, 'John, we
are going to ST. Louis, and that Is the last time
l shall let you out OF sight until we get there.
What if you had got the wrong train just now?'
John began, ~ will never, never" and the
demure young lady seated just behind them, set
tied down in her seat murmurlng hardly"
with an expression on her lace from which an
artist might catch Inspiration for picture of
will never be known, for it was smothered at
its first inception Then the book agent came
along, and, perfect master OF the situation,
displayed his stock TO its best advantage.
entitled 49,, "courtship and IN, Matrimony," was
while the passengers behind waited for re-
suits. John reused up, glanced at the title, and
murmurng, ''You're too late" sank back into
the old position with the air of a man who felt
there was nothing more In the world to ask for.
But as the shadows deepened in the valleys,
through which the train was whirling along,
and it began to grow little dark in the car not
withstanding the lights of the four lonely gas
jets, John and Amanda'S happiness began to
grow contagious The young lady with the
poodle shook it from the seat beside her and
made room for one Of the attendant young gen.
tlemen, though there did not seem really to be
much room. The other, nearly opposite, how
ever much she might affectedly sheer at such
goingS on In broad daylight soon found she
could talk more contentedly with a pleasant
and there was soon another change IN seats.
The faces of John and Amanda seemed to
come even closer to each other than before, but
there were no amused gi9gles from behind;
other faces seemed getting closer and closer,
too Only the demure young lady with the
bright eyes seemed to rise to the occasion, and
she, with merry face began to recount in subdued
whispers to two ladies behind her parts of the
conversation that had filtered to her from John
and Amanda. But it still grew darker outside,
and the quiet OF the early evening -permeated
the car, for the conductor had said ''ticketS"
on his last round, the news agent had
had made his last way through the train
to fix the fires, carrying lighted lantern,
no doubt to show him how. Then even the de-
mure young lady became reposed in her lonely
seat, and the only sounds were from the flying
wheels, and one other which rose now and again
from different parts of the coach, the greatest
volume of which came from John and Amanda's
end Of It, And so it went on and on. The kiss
ing was continuous in counter direction to the
speed of the train, which, when it suddenly
dashed into the Altoona depot and came to a
STOP was fully fifteen minutes behind time.
At supper at the Logan House, the conductor,
with a puzzled air, remalked 1--WE seemed to
be running all right. don't know what CO lid
have made us late"