McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-01-17

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moment, ended by the polite waiter.
"Won't you have something to eat?"
he asked confidently, coming up to us;
s'the train starts very soon for the
east"
"Shall 1 bring it in herep" he in
quired when the stranger assented and
ordered something; ''there is q nice
littlo table where Miss was seated, ;"
and he pointed to the place l had occu-
pied.
We moved simultaneously and took
the seats.
"You are going by this trainP" asked
my companion in casual, off-handed
manner.
"Naturally" answered I, somewhat
surprised; did he intend doing other
wiser
"Then 1 shall be happy to escort you
as far as our roads lie together" was
the further rejoinder, but he uttered,
still somewhat constrainedly; 81 am
going to Massachusetts. ....,
$50 am L." was my answer, shyly
given; his reserve was very infectious.
add you not know that?''
s'How should Up" and he half smiled.
| l saw then that he had beautiful
teeth, partially hidden, as was, indeed,
the entire lower part of the face, by the
thick mustache and beard.
The waiter brought him his steak,
and we both sat silent-he occupied
with his supper, with all sorts of mis-
/ givings and conjectures.
was put out with myself, auntie,
with autie's sister in-law, and with my
escort himself. Were we going to trav-
ell together all that way in this most
uncomfortable mannerp Nothing
would have panied me more than any
diversion of his from the gentlemanly
courtesy due to a lady, but there was
, a popularity about his constraint that
puzzled me.
The second hour of waiting seemed
to me far longer than the first, and I
was glad enough to find mysef-with
my companion, of cOurse-in the east
ern. bound train, which equickly sped
away
My ideas ON the romance of such a
journey had now entirely col
lapsed; anything more prosaic was
hbA W oO
There we sat, young man and a
young woman, who, to Judge from all
appearance, wished themselves any
where but where they were. AS for
myself, may safely assert that never
experienced more awkward situation.
"Pretty name, Jessie?" said my COM
panion, suddenly. Now, with the ex-
ception of the few sentences in the
walting-room, and the most trivial cour-
tesies since we started, no conversation
had passed between US. Therefore the
remark was welcome-besides it was
reassuring. frightened up. He did
know my name oRat he had my trav-
eling-bag-on which had engraved
"Jessie'-in his hand at Chicago,
never occurred to me). 81 knew a
Jessie once" he repeated, as I turned
a half-smiling face toward him.
He might have known a hundred for
aught [ cared; it was only the oppor-
tunity of learning his that interested
me, SO exclaimed quickly.
''What is yours?"
Edward"
sank back on the seat in thorough
disgust at my failrre. 1t was evident
l must let things take their course. Be
a sensible woman, Jessie, 1 argued to
myself. What does it matter whether
he be MIR. Jones or Mr.. Smith, provided
he brings you safely to your destina-
ton?
My companion had,. however, evil
IDENTIFY noticed my discontinue, and it
amused him, could see by his smile.
But his translation of my vexation was
an incorrect one.
81 am sorry Edward does not meet
with your appreciation"
sob, dear, no! 1t is as good as any
other" 1 replied, carelessly. Once 1
had pronounced it a horrid name, and
fatty refused to call someone by it. But
the past had gone back in shadowland.
The present fully occupied me.
A pause, in which | was lacking on
every surname could recollect to the
Christian one 1 had just heard. Then
a bold stroke occurred to me-what if /
addressed him at venture!
''Do you attach luck, good or i'll, to a
certain. name, Mr.. -S?''
edward" finished my disconnected
FIs-d-fls, Uololo L Couiu uIiHSS my Ups
to utter Jones or Smith. How should
have liked to have boxed his ears, I'M
ladylike as it sounds. eff you mean
that l believe all Tommys must of ne
cessity be good, and all Harry's bad
no, Miss Jessie.'
Was he teasing me, and doing his
part of "hide' better than mine of
''seek?" l -ould not decide For
few moments sat stnpidly silent, then
1 made even a more stupid remark, and
thought what fool 1 must appear to
him.
vowed I would not touch that sub
ject again.
"Why did you not ask my name out
right. Miss Jessie, instead of beating
about the bush?" asked he of the red
pooEfio aftor q ,,ouco