The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-02-08

him, but am in a tremendous hurry nov, as
waiting for q consultation. and my pen stub
bornly refuses to write any more. Try to en-
| Joy yourself, sis, and whenever you grow
yours fraternally, EDGAR
With little pout and smile at the
villainous puns which her brother has
thoughtfully underlined GAS though !
| should fail to recognize them, in
deedr') Kitty returns the missive to
its broad, soap-cOlored envelope, and
raises her eyes just in time to meet q
| surprised and steady look from a gen
tleman who has just come up the stairs
from the street. In reality it is not an
| impairment stare; only such look as
man might give who fancies he rec
ognizes an acquaintance yet doubts the
testimony of his own eyes as he meets
nothing but look of repelling blank
ness in the others answering regard.
"Jane's drummer! He is appearing
rather early upon the scenem are the
thoughts that flash through Kitty's
mind as she looks frigid, unutterable
things through and beyond the new
conner, who passes on to the next seat
and disposes of his portmanteau and
overcoat, pausing in his proceedings to
glance occasionally with puzzled look
at the pretty girl opposite. But Miss
Kate has already sought refuge in
Johns gift, and is absorbedly following
the fortunes of Howells' heroine through
the opening chapter. So the puzzled
gentleman wisely produces paper from
his pocket and lets himself become abb
sorbed in its contents also.
By and by Kitty becomes aware that
the ticket-office is open, and with a
wariness born of James warnings she
arranges her traps IN compact pile,
and, clinging valiantly to her handbag,
gets into line and patiently awaits her
turn at interviewing the ticket-seller.
This is amatter of considerable delay,
since some one in advance inaugurates
mild but lengthy dispute with that
official regarding the claim to a section
that has been telephoned for, or some
thing of that sort. And when Kitty
gets back to her place she finds that
certain Polish migrants have come in,
and virtually evicted her; and that, oh
horrorsi her belongings have been I'M
tremendously transferred to the settee
occupied by that impertinent drummer!
And-do her eyes deceive herP-no; he
is actually reading her book! She can
not see the title, but it is the same dun
colored volume, with the regulation
gilt frieze and publishers monogram.
She could identify it if she saw it IN Al
rica, she is sure. "Impudence!' she
calculates, mentally, as she drops angri-
ly into her seat, and waits for him to
return her book. But this he evidently
does not intend to do; and, resolved on
her part not to ask for it, the annoyed
young lady feigns to be unaware of the
dark eyes that so frequently desert the
pages of the borrowed novel to bestow
long, steady and still puzzled look
upon the face of their neighbor. He
certainly does look debonnair and
well bred, she admits, reluctantly, and
she is stealing a second glance at him,
when suddenly:
Pittsburgh. Fort Wayne & Chicago
train is now ready. Passengers for Phila-
delphia. New York and the East all
aboard" intones the train-agent, as
though it were a cathedral, and he were
rendering Gregorian chant. And i'm
mediately there is a stampede for the
stairs.
Kitty picks up her shawl-bag and
| buster, and basket of fruit, with deliber-
| ate slowness. He shall have a chance
to return that book unasked if he wishes
| to, she determines. But evidently the
gentleman has no such intention. He,
too, is gathering up his traps, pausing
to put the fateful book in his overcoat-
,>nnl-a. To Il itfr's 1nnr trinl
| this move is the last straw.
Il beg your pardon. sir" she says,
coldly, "but will you be so good as to
return my book"
The gentleman turns in establishment,
| and courteously raises his hat.
Il should be delighted to do so, if
your book were in my possession" he
answers, gravely. .May 1 inquire to
what book you refer?
ITO Howells' Lady of the Aroos-
took which left here on the seat"
"Ah!" he answered, solemnly, ''yours
was The Lady of the Aroostook
but mine" producing it from his peck
ct, and displaying the title with an
! amused smile that she feels rather than
sees. "mine is A Chance Acquaint-
ance.' If | mistake not saw you put
your book in the pocket of your buster
| Just after came in. Let us see." And
| taking the linen habit from the seat
where Kitty has dropped it, he triumph
antly brings forth from one of its pock-
| cts the twin volume of Howells.
With hasty and humble apology the
blushing Kitty once more collects her
possessions, and in very unenviable
frame of mind follows the crowd into
the Pullman. She is almost crying at
her own stupidity as she glances hastily
at the coupon which she carries, and
notices that it bears the number
six. She hardly glances at her opposite
| neighbor-a small boy and his big
brother-as she arranges her luggage
and tries not to see her new acquaint-
ance, who is coming down the aisle.
To her annoyance, he pauses just at her
section, and scans his coupon with a
nonplused air. But Kitty obstinately
looks out of the window, although she
it keenly conscious that, after an in
stant's hesitation. he takes the seat be-
side her. And while she is still feeling
hot and angry and uncomfortable, the
train rushes out of the station and into
the wet, foggy streets beyond.
Presently enters the white-capped
conductor, and one by-one the passen-
gers tickets are examined satisfactorily,
until it comes the turn of the people in
section six. Her three neighbors pass
muster successfully, and unhappy Kitty
timidly thrusts forth her checks, only to
be crushed with shame and consterna-
ton as the conductor turns the coupon
upside down, and, piercing her with
his cold, shiny eye, gruffiy roars:
Number nine, madam! number nine,