River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-11-26
AT THE HORSESHOE BEND.

The parlor car on the first line from
Philadelphia was comparatively empty
when the train pulled out of Harris
burg, after stopping the usual twenty
minutes for dinner. The three drum
mers had retired to the smoking room
for post-prandial cigar, and the only
other occupants of the car were a
young lady and gentleman.
She was about 20, blonde, with
little rings of soft hair falling over a
white forehead from beneath the
turned-up brim of jaunty straw hat.
Her nose was what Tennyson calls
tip-tilted. Her laughing blue eyes re-
belled against the otherwise demure
expression of her face, and the slightly
parted lips revealed glimpse of pearl
| like teeth which one could never asso-
ciate with a dentists chair. Her neat
figure was set off to advantage in a
tight-ftting light dress, and the cluster
of carnations on her bosom bespoke a
love or nature.
The young man on the other side Of
the aisle, Immediately opposite, evi-
IDENTIFY appreciated the points of excell-
ence in his fellow traveller. He held
book in his hand. but was not so alb
sOrbed in it that he did not cast many
covert glance at the pretty face half
turned toward the window in admira-
| ton of the scene. He was bright
young fellow, with dark mustache,
and a silk travelling cap thrown care
lesslv ON the back of his head. In the
seat by his side was small sachel,
which he had never let out of his sight
since leaving Philadelphia, and upon
which ne rested his hand most of the
time. Ii was easy to see that he was
travelling on business. and that he was
used to it. He was as much at home
in the swinging chair as if he owned
the ear and all its appurtenances, and
| he commanded the services of the
colorcd porter IN the ott-hand manner
characteristic Of your experienced
| traveller.
! wonder what makes my ia.r neigh
/ Dor so fidgetS - he was saying to him
/ self .'Seems to me something is troub-
! ling her. She looks awfully worried.
! Not used to travelling alone. L guess.
| NAV be she thinks there is danger of
our being attacked by train robbers or
! Indians. or something of that sort.
/ She does not look like fool, though
! There is good deal of Intelligence in
! that face.
The lady had been feeling In her
pocket and had closely examined the
/ contents of her hand-sachel, drawing
therefrom a handkerchief, vinaigrette.
a pair of gloN Is. bundle of paper pat
! terms. some crochet work, and a few
crumbs of cake The last she put in
her mouth in an absent-minded way,
/ siphinp heavily as she replaced the 9th
/ er articles Then she tried TO raise the
window. In an instant the young man
was at her side, rendering his assist
ance. She thanked him with a glance
of her blue eyes.
AT what time shall we be at AL
toOna?" she asked in low, sweet voice,
! IN perfect keeping with her appearance.
about J o'clock. We are little
behind time. -
I'VE shall pass Horseshoe bend by
daylight, shall we not"
"Yes. just about shutdown. foR
have seen it before, of courseP he IN
terrogated.
No. have passed it several times,
b,ts always in the dark. Papa prefers
travelling g. night, to save time. am
making the joufney by myself this time,
and it is the first opportunity hare
had to enjoy the scenery"
I Altoona! Twenty minutes for sup
peri
The young man hastily seized his
sachel and left the car, telling the por-
ter. as he passed him. to see if ahe lady
wanted anything. But she did hot.
She told the porter rather shortly that
she did not want any supper. and then
as soon as the man had disappeared.
hr st into tears. When the Young man
rnt,,r ned in about fifteen minutes, with
- tray ,arumb on his mustache and an
roma of ,'uffee clinging to his clothes,
ha noticed th at his travelling eompan.
ion : ewes were red, and that she looked
generally disconsolate., ;.
Does not like travelling. by herself
and feels lonely. was his inward com
ment. as he settled himselt IN his seat
after placing his sachei By his side and
throwing paper bag OF cakes down
with it.
The train started. and the YOUNG
man gradually let his book drop on
his lap. as his head sank back, his
ewes closed. and his mouth opened
He was not exactly asleep but had
almost lost consciousness when ht
became aware that his sachel was
! moving slightly Without opening
) his eyes he let his hand fall on the
sachel. As he did so he touched the
slim fingers of hand that he
recognized with thrill to be those Of
a lady. The hand was quickly drawn
: away. bat the young man was now
broad awake. So broad awake thai
he pretended to be still asleep as be
opened his eyes Just wide enough tc
! peep through the lashes at the troubled
face of the young lady gho va
travelling alone for the first time. :
: She had moved to seat in front o