The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-02-07

stationed opposite Just a seat or two
ahead. He has met the porter, and the
enemy is his. Evidently he has trav-
eled before and knows his man, Miss
Kitty thinks; for after ne has donhed a
becoming traveling-cap, word TO the
attentive functiOnary and a pillow for
his head is. produceds against which lie
leans in lazy; comfortable fashion and
reads leisurely-to ell appearances, at
least, But III his secret heart he is
blessing the laws of natural philosophy,
and particularly The beneticent rules
that relate to the reflection from plane
mirrors; for from his easy position he
commands an unobstructed view of the
little girl who sits just back of him;
and whose dark blue traveling-dress
and natty little hat of ultramarine fur
nish such an admirable setting for her
bright, clear complexion and heavy
brown braids.
At Pittsburgh she he's sent a telegram
to Edgar, and at Rochester the reply is
brought to her. AS she reads her
brothers message her blue eyes light
up with an expression of love and
pleasure that her neighbours mirror
faithfully rejects. From her hus-
bandn' he thinks, with a great wave of
bitterness at the good luck that some
fellows always enjoy. And then for
awhile he reads on violently and tries
to forget,
The train flies on and on. In an hour,
the conductor tells them, they will
reach the. famous Horseshoe Bend
Outside u cherries, slanting rain is fall
ing steadily. Within some among the
passengers are asleep, others are still
reading industriously. Several of the
gentleman have in table and inaugu-
rate game of cards. Kitty's acQuaint-
ance is asked to join them, and con-
sents with readiness; and soon a right
merry game is in progress.
They pass the bend, and those who
are awake pay it the regular quantum
of admiration, And just at dusk they
reach Altoona and supper.
just here the conductor, who, after
the first gruftness, has manifested a
flattering interest in Kitty, comes to
her with the intelligence that as GER
ia II of the passengers are to leave at
this station She can have a lower berth,
since she persists in giving up her own
number to the lady with the sick baby.
This is gratifying to our little lady, who
has secretly dreaded second night up
aloft B ut conductors propose and fate
dispOses.
An Erie train leaves the station Just
rs their train enters; and through some
confusion of signals n number of the
Erie passengers let their train depart
unnOticed, and are forced to seek ref
uge on board the sleeper which carries
our two friends. There are six or eight
persons in the group, and their annoy
ing mishap excites much commiserati0n
among the passengers. Numerous tel
egrams are sent on to Philadelphia TO
quiet the anxiety of friends on the train
ahead. Berths are kindly offered them;
and by the time the train is fairly under
way they are completely at home and
as comfortable as their impatience will
admit.
On, on they rush through the dark
ness of the stormy night. The porter
goes his rounds, the berths are quietly
arranged, and one by one the sleepy
passengers disappear behind the friend
~ curtains. Kitty, who is not i bit
sleepy, and is in deep converse with a
Boston artistic who has numerous novel
and esthetic views to unfold, retires
with her companion to the rear seat
and talks art with the pretty enthusiasm
of an amateur who paints plaques and
works South kensington. 1t is ten o clock
before the conference ends; and unsUs-
pecting Katherine makes her way down
the aisle between the fiutterng green
curtains to section 4, the number that
the conductor has promised her early
in the evening. Warned by past mis-
takes she carefully searches for the
proper number; and, having found it,
parts the curtains carefully and deliber-
atcly to see-what? pair of laughing,
dark eyes; a hand thrust forth to seize
the parted curtains; the flash of a IA
maliar diamond ring! and in confusion
and terror Kitty Warner retreats hasti-
~ to confer with the porter, and to
br.be that worthy into making a full
explanation of the cause of her blunder
to the disturbed dreamer in section t.
An upper berth is found for her pres
emily and heavenward she mounts, her
blue eyes suffused with tears. and her
cheeks burning with shame at the
thought of her last and most disgrace
full encounter with this man, who has
been the bugbear of her whole Journey.
Il hate him! l doy' she exclaims,
passionatcly. 'sIf / had to ride on this
horri train another day should die!''
And poor Kitty cried softly as she sud
denly remembers that her handbag
hangs on the hook of section 4, and
that Edgar letter and all her posses
siOns are in it.
Il don't suppose he'll be ungentle-
manly enough to open it, though" she
thinks, with a flash of honesty, as she
remembers that he has not vet. justified
James suspicious in every respect.
Still, it is very anxious head that lays
itself upon Kitty's pillow that night.
However, she finally falls into a
troubled sleep that lasts until the porter
makes his morning rounds and warns
the passengers of their rapid approach
to Jersey City.
"Why Kitty, darling! Welcome
homer' eXclaims a familiar voice as the
train runs into the station at last and
the little girl in blue leaves the car in
which she has spent some of the most
unhappy hours of her life to receive her
brothers cordial and somewhat bearish
greeting.
Here, let me take your traps-whv,
Haselden, my dear boy You, too,
BrutuS!' and Edgar turns in surprise
to greet Kitty's bugbear, the ID. H, -
who has unwittingly been the means
of spelling her pleasure ever since she
bade goodbye to Jane and John in
Chicago.
A few words of explanation, a hur-
ried and rather embarrassed introduce
ton, and the friends seek different fer
ries; but not until blind, boisterous,
good-natured Edgar has made his friend
promise to dine with them at the Wind
sOr that evening.
As an ordinary thing Miss Kitty
rather enjoys counting her brothers
sympathy when in trouble But for
some unaccOuntable reason she refrains
from contiding to him the mishaps of
her journey. And very family and
feeblv she echoes his regrets that she
did not know Haselden before leaving
Chicago. But Edgar's attention is soon
diverted; and he IS utterly unaware of
the consTaint in his sisters manner
and voice as She greets his friend WHOM