Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-19

L lett here on the seat
All he answered, solemnly 'yours was The
Lady OF the AroOstook'; but mine" producing
IL rom his pocket, and displaying the title with
an amused smile that she feels rather than sees
mime Is A Chance Acquaintance If mistake
not, saw you put your book In the pocket of
your custer Just after / came in. Let Us see"
And taking the linen habit from the seat where
Kitty has dropped it. he triumphantly brings
iorth from one ofits pockets the twin volume OF
Howes.
With hasty and humble apology the blush
ing Kitty once more collects her possessions
and In very unenviable frame of mind follows
the crowd into the Pullman. She is almost cry
| ing at her own stupidity as she chances hastily
at the coupon which she carries and notices that
1t bears the number 6. She hardly chances at
her opposite neighbOr-a small boy and his big
brother-as she arranCes her luggage and tries
not to see her new acquaintance. who Ia coming
down the aisle. To her annoyance, he pauses
Just at her section. and scans his cOunOn with a
nonplussed air. But Kitty obstinatey looks out
of the window, although She is keenly conscious
that. after an instant's hesitation, he takes the
seat beside her. And while she is still feeling
hot. and angry. and uncomfortable, the train
PUSHES out of the station and into the wet
foggy streets beyond.
Presently enters the white-capped conductor
and one by one the passengers tickets are ex-
amined satisfactorily, until it comes the turn of
the people in section 6, Her three neighbors
pass muster successfully, and unhappy Kitty
tlmidiy thrust forth her checks. only to be
| crushed with shame and CONSERVATION as the
| conductor turns the coupon upside down, and
piercing her with his cold, shiny eye, gruffly
rOars: Number g. madam number @ nlease
ION have mistaken your section."
hitty companion politely removes her bags
10 number y. and leaves her to her by no means
pleasant medtations. She can see him in the
mirror OF the panel beside her, deeply interest
eu III the misleading novel of Howells. She no.
tees that he reads steadily until supper time,
and then he goes off to the smo king car, and she
sees him no more that night
Her Vls-a-y;s turns out to be woman with a
,ee.hins baby: and Kitty abdicates the lower
berth IN their favor. and goes up alOft where
| James evil prophecies have their due effect,
| and she dreams OF brigands. and the Siciiian
malta, and all manner of horrible things until
morning.
| Perhaps it is because the dark-eyed traveller
orders breakfast in the train that Miss Kate dis
| regards her sisters commands and decides to
! incur dyspepsia at the railroad restaurant in AL
! lance. For tie same reason she elects to dine
IN Plttsburg; yet her order is scarcely filled
When her ''chance acquaintance" walks leisurely
in. and is allotted place at the same table
mat he is gentlemanly and unObtrusiye she is
| forced to admit before the meal ends Even
Jane herself could hardly cavil at his demeanor
ne Is polite; simply that and nothing more
Nevertheless she does not linger over the meal
and at its close she hastily makes her way to the
gate. to be confronted by an official whose brass
Is not limited TO the buttons on his uniform
and who authoritatvely demands to be shown
her ticket.
Poor, needless Kate. OF course she has left
1t In her bag in the car She attempts an ex-
planatlon to the guard, who on the whole
rather enjoys bullying pretty girl in her con-
fusion, when quiet voice at her side requests
that the lady be permitted to pass and offers to
be responsiblefor her ticket if need be. The
officer steps back obsequiOusy, and Kitty
passes on, timidly murmuring her thanks. In
her embarrassment at this, her newest obliga-
ton to the dreaded drummer, she steps aboard
the wrong car, and once again he quietly sets
her right, with few deferential words waiyinc
all title to her gratitude. t =
Jane Is too great pess!mist anyway she re-
fleets throughout that gloomy afternoon. as
the train is flying along through smoky Penn
syiyanla towns, and she makes a pretense of
reading while covertly watching the traveller,
VINO Is stationed opposite just seat or two
ahead. He has met the porter and the enemy
Is his. Evidently he has travelled before and
knows his man, Miss Kitty thinks. for after he
has dOnned becoming travelling cap word TO
the attentive functOnary and pillow for his head
is produced against which he leans in q lazy,
comfortable fashion and reads leisurply-to ali
appearances, at least But in his secret heart
he Is blessing the laws of natural philosophy,
and particularly the bpnefcent rules that re-
late to the reflection from plane mirrors: for
rom his easy position he commands an unob-
structed view of the little girl who sits lust
back OF him; and whose dark blue travelling
such an admirable setting for her bright. clear
complexion, and heavy brown braiis
AT IittsDurG she has sent 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 InTp 83i,d
pleasure that her neighbours mirror f,1ithfnllr
reflects. From her husband' he thinks. with
great wave OF bitterness at the good luck that
some fellows always enjoy. And then for a
while ne reads on violently and tries to forget.
nd
conductor tells them, they will reach the lannon's
Horseshoe Bend. Outside a cherries, slanting
rain is falling steadily. Within some among the
passengers are asleep; others are still reading
Inaustrlously. Several ofthe gentlemen have ina
table and 1naugurate game of cards. Kitty's
acquaintance is asked to join them and con-
sents with readiness; and soon right merry
game IS In progress. He is awfuly foppish.
Miss Kitty decides. with a little air of criticism
as she marks the cluster diamond on his LITTLE
finger, so noticeable every time he plays a card
lhere Is an initial II. on his travelling rug, she
notices also; and 1t is several hours since she
remarked the monogram ID. H." on his UNI
orella-handle and portmanteau, and smiled as
she wondered II he were travelling on a pass
and then felt twinge of conjunction at her
small and weakly joke.
They pass the bend and those who are awake
pay 1t the regulation guantum of admiration
ana Just at dusk eyreach Altoona and supper
just here the conductor, who, after the first
gruffness. has manifested a flattering interest in
nifty. comes to her with the intelligence that
as certain OF the passengers are to leave at this
station she can have 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 a
second night up alOft- But conductors propose
and fate disposes.
An Erie train leaves the station lust as their
train enters; and through some confusion of
signals number the Erie passengers let their
train depart unnoticed, and are forced to seek
refuge on board the sleeper which carries orr
Two friends There are six or eight persons in
the group, and their annoying mishaps excites
much c0mmiseratiOn among the passengers.
Numerous kilograms are sent on to Philadel
phla to quiet the anxiety of friends on the train
ahead Berths are kindly offered them: and by
the time the train Is fairly under wav they are
completely at home and as comfortable az thoir
impatience will admit.
On, on they rush through the darkness of the
stormy night. The porter goes his rounds. the
Derths are quietly arranged, and one by one the
sleepy passengers disappear behind the friendly
curtains. Kitty, who Is not a bit sleepy. and ia
In deep converse with a Boston artistic who has
numerous novels and esthetic views to unfold
retlres with her companion to the rear seat and
talks art with the pretty enthusiasm of an ANA
teur who paints plaques and works South Ken
sngton. 1t Is 10 o'clock before the conference
ends, and unsuspectinU Katherine makes her
way down the aisle between the flutterinp preen
curtains TO section 4, the number that the con-
ductor has promised her early In the EVENING
Warned by past mistakes she carefully Searches
for the proper number; and, having found r.
parts the curtains carefully and delihoratay ~