The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-08-06


sad world. Then they hustled of, and
the sisters having said their last words at
the window and waved their last greet
ings on the hack platform, settled them
selves with q longdrawn sigh.
Mabel devoted herself to her roses,
upon which rested several suspiciously
large dew-drops, while Fan looked at
her flowers as though they held all the
wealth of suggestion of one of Brown
ing's poems.
1t was late; the girls were quite worn
out with the excitement of the day, and
soon retired.
A glorious morning brought them out
bright and early to enjoy the transfer
across therlver Oh the ferry boat. Their
fellow passenger was also out, but
seemed absorbed i'll his own reflections.
A dainty breakfast made from the lunch
supply, and supplemented by eggs and
coffee brought by the porter, obviated
the necessity of hurrying out to the
crowded lunch room, from which the
others returned with dissatisfied faces,
aud longing glances at the tempting
substitute.
81 guess we shall be able to dispose
of the crullers without any outside as
sistance," laughed Mabel, helping her
self to third one.
"They are awfully good" said Fan;
"still, I think they ought to fulfill the
mission to which they were dedicated;
however, I can't pass them now"
"Well, I should think not; I never
saw more absorbed man; do you sup
pose it is his mother or his wife?' said
Mabel, brushing the crumbs from her
pretty travelling dress.
"What do you mean?" asked Fan,
turning around to look.
"Why, the corpse; think it is no.
thing more than his grandmother or his
sister-in law. His expression grows up
on me as settled, not caused by recent
or distracting grief"
The girls laughed merrily, and set
tied themselves to their books the alb
sorbing interest of which might we'll be
doubted from the wandering glances
about the Car and out the window. Ma
bel was somewhat confused by meeting
the occasional chances in return from
the end of the car where the corporal"
as they had decided to call him for con-
venience sake, sat engaged, but not alb
sorbed i'll writing letters.
The day wore on with the usual di-
versions, dinner in the dining car prov
ing most pleasant one to all partici-
pating.
The interest in viewing Niagara Falls
brought the passengers together, and
broke the ice of formaity sufficiently to
set groups of them to TALKING; still the
corporal preserved his stony silence
and spoke not word. though he was
very gentlemanlyi in ARRANGING the places
for the ladies, and even ASST ted Fan and
Mabel from the car and watched to see
that they returned in safety.
More passengers came on during the
afternoon, and as the car filled up, q
change to accommodate party, brought
the corporal to the section directly
opposite the girls.
At supper time he ordered cup of
tea and q sandwich, but seemed not to
relish them, all of which was observed
from the dainty supper tab across the
way. Mabel looked at Fan, and quietly
said
"They are short cuts; why not take
one?"
This was enough for the daring older
sister, who enjoyed nothing better than
taking advantage of her advanced (O
years; selecting several of the tempting
crullers, and laying them on one of the
pretty little plates they had with them,
she passed them across the aisle with
her sweetest smile. He smiled, actually
smiled, brightly and pleasantly, and &C
cepted with thanks. and later. on return
ing the plate, said he had enjoyed them
very much, and that he had also enjoyed
their beautiful flowers. which had bright
ened the car oil day.
OF course such q remark called for a
response, which WAS heartily given, and
on referring to the source of the flowers,
he confessed to having noticed and en-
joyed the merry party of the previous
evening; SO they fell to chatting in the
twilight. and the girls told how they
were going to visit rich old maid aunt