The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-22

he asked conddentially, coming up to
us; "the train starts very soon for the
east"
shall | bring It in here?" he inquired,
when the stranger assented and ordered
something; there is a nice little table
where miss was seated, and he pointed
toward the place l had occupied.
We moved simultaneously aud took
the seats.
'cYou are going by this trains: asked
my companion, in a casual, oG-hAnd
manner.
Naturally " answered l, someVAa;
surprised; did be intend doing other
wisey
''Then | shall be most happy to escort
you as far as our roads lie together, -
was the further rejoinder, but he uttered
still somewhat constrainedly Il am
going to Massachusetts,.
80 am l." was my answer, shyly
given; his reserve was very infectious.
Did you not know that?"
GLOW should II" and he half smiled.
/ saw then that he had beautiful
teeth, partially hidden, as was indeed
the entire lower part of the face, by the
thick moustache and beard.
1.-THE waiter brought him his steak,
and we both sat silent; be occupied with
his supper, 1 with all sorts of misgiv-
ings and conjectures.
| was put out with myself, auntie,
with auntie's sister-in-law, and with my
escort himself. Were we going to travel
together all that way in this most I'M
comfortable manner? Nothing would
have panied me more than any diver
sion of his from the gentlemanly cour-
tesy due to a lady, but there was a pc
| culiarity about his constraint that puz.
zled me. After all, though a stranger,
he was a half connection and might
well have been frlendlier, more especi-
| ally as he must have noticed the effect
his manner bad on me. If | had only
known his namel Somehow | fancied
this would have placed US on a pleas
anter footing. Then his last remarkI
Had 10 n told him my destination?
The second hour of waiting seemed to
me far longer than the first, and | was
glad enough to find myself-with my
companion, of course-in the eastern
bound train, which quickly sped away.
My ideas of the romance of such a
journey had now entirely collapsed;
anything more prosaic was hardly to be
imagined.
There we sat, a 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 I
never experienced a more awkward sit
uation.
"Pretty name, Jessiel'' said my con
panion Suddenly. Now, with the ex-
ception of a few sentences in the wait
ing room and the most trivial courtesles
since we started, no conversation had
passed between us, Therefore the re-
mark was welcome-besides it was re-
assuring. | Frightened up. He did
know my name THAT he had my tray
eling-bag-on which l had engraved
"Jessie"-in his hand at Chicago nev
occurred to me). 81 knew a Jessie
once" he repeated, as | turned a half
smiling face toward him.
He might have known a hundred for
aught l cared; it was only the oppor-
tunity of learning his that interested
me, so l exclaimed quickly:
"What is yours?"
Edward"
l sank back on the seat in thorough
disgust at my failure, 1t was evident l
must let things take their course. Be
sensible woman, Jessie, I argued to my
self. What does it matter whether he
be Mr.. Jones or Mr.. Smith, providing
he brings you safely to your destination?
My companion had, however, noticed
my discontinue, and it amused him, 1
could see by his smlle. But his trans
lation of my vexation vas IN incorrect
one.
81 am sorry Edward does not meet
with your appreciation.
"Oh, dear. mol 1t is "a good as any
other" l rejoined carelessly. Once |
had pronounced 1t a horrid name and
fatty refused to call some one by 1t.
But the past had gone back in shadow
land. The present fully occupied me.
A pause, In which l was lacking on
every surname l could recollect to the
Christian one l had just heard. Then
a bold stroke occurred to me-what if |
addressed HIM at a ventureP
do you attach luck, good or i'll, to a
certain name, Mr.. --p"
Edward" finished my!disconcerting
vis-a-yis before l could bring my lips to
utter Jones or Smith. How | should
have liked to have boxed his ears, an
ladylike as it sounds. "If you mean
that believe all Tommys must of ne
cessity be good, and all Harrys bad-no
Miss Jessie"
Was he teasing me, and doing his part
of "hide" better than mine of ''seek?"
| could not decide For a few moments
sat stupidity silent, then made even a
more stupid remark, and thought what
a fool l must appear to him.
why did You not ask my name out
right, Miss Jessie, instead OF beating
about the bush?' asked he of the
red necktle, after a pause.
Did hear Alright? | all but jumped
up, as l took in the purport II The
question. The color mounted to my
temples; fortunately my veil hid it par
TALLY.
He had misunderstood me willfully.
Why should he? Surely my curiosity was
a pardUnable and natural one under the
circumstances. lreSolved he should not
have the besi Of it-let HIM keep up the
silly mystery As long as it plesses him.
Tie tlpSirA IA fp,ak-n1 - b,I a,-,,r