Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-03-31
THE DRUMMER.

Ross Weeks, travelling agent for Cut
ter & Slasher, wholesale dealers in sur
gical instruments End cutlery, swung
himself aboard the outward bound train
Just as it moved out of the depot.
Now Ross was not made up after the
pattern of the conventional drummer, he
was quiet, gentlemanly young fellow,
with good deal of self-respect, which
led him to treat others courteously.
Ross had dear mother and two charm
ing sisters, and his home breeding had
sent him into the world noble speci-
men of manhood.
As he moved slowly down the aisle
his glance tell upon an unoccupied scat
beside lady-a slender figure robed in
soft gray. Her profile was turned to-
ward Ross as she bent over magazine.
He hesitated, and she looked up. Ross
lifted his hat with the inquiry
as this seat occupied?"
The girl-for she was not more than
eighteen or nineteen-took her satchel,
which was exactly like Ross little sam
pie valise, and deposited it on the floor.
mo, indeed she said, with the sweet
est smile in the world; and Ross made
the mental comment that she was the
prettiest girl be had ever seen.
Ross. himself was a big, long-limbed
fellow, and by the law of contrast she
attracted him. She was slender and
nlaor oltxvo obsr or1 a >,
oval-shaped face, in which the only col
or was the vivid carmine of her lips.
Her eyes were of dark gray, with long
lsshes. Her hair was looped into one
dark braid behind; and the curling end
of the gray plume in her hat swept the
tip of an ear tinted like the sea-shell.
Beyond the first smile, Ross received
no further notice. She was evidently
deeply interested in her magazine; and
Ross amused himself by staring straight
into the little mirror which hung at the
end of the car and reflected his faiI
neighbor's lovely features.
Outside, some vagrant snowfiakes were
lettering about in an aimless fashion
but presently they began to wake up tC
their business, until at last there was d
mad whirl of them.
1t was getting too dark to read, and
50, with long-drawn breath, the young
lady in gray closed her book.
The lamps were lighted presently
The storm still increased, and by seven
o'clock the train began to move as il
clogged by the snow.
will you be good enough to give me
the time, sir?" queried the lady.
Ross complied, and then ventured tC
remark upon the weather.
After that they got on famOusly, and
were chatting away like old acquaintan'
ces, when the train nearly came to a halt
Ross had learned by this time that his
new acquaintance had been visiting in
l,oston, and was on her way home, in
the rortheril part of Vermont.
She looked anxious when it was as
certained that they would be delayed
some hours, but was evidently of q
philosophic disposition, determined tC
make the best of the inevitable.
She proved herself a charming travel
ing companion by meeting Ross cOur
teous advances in the same spirit in
which they were rendered. She was moi
at all prudish; neither was she in the
least Dold or unladylike.
Ross perceived that she was well read
and possessed of fine appreciation OF
the beautiful as well as the ludicrous
side of life.
He felt pang of regret when at last
the brakeman shouted the name OF his
station.
81 am sorry to say goodbye" he said
taking his valise, ''and and yet L do moi
even know your name" And he drop
ped one Of his cards on the seat beside
her.
She looked up with the frank smile
with which he had become familiar il
the last few hours.
my name is"
Ross bent little lower. A family OF
French Canadians were crowding pas1