The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-09-29
A MAKE-BELIEVE STORY.
A Clever Woman's Ruse with a
Supposed Detective.

George Dunlap was hurrying through the
railroad station at Springfield to catch the
train for Montreal. He was little late,
and the knowledge of this fact so heightened
the susceptibility of his nerves that, when a
tall woman with her arms full of parcels
1eil heavily against him, dropping her par
cells, some of which burst and scattered
their contents in every direction, only the
sense of the politeness due to her sex kept
him from using an ejaculation that would
at least have expressed great impatience
Sne had clutched him nervously as she
slipped and he supported her moment
while he inquired if she was hurt.
81 don't know" she said, painting, 81
turned my ankle-I feel terribly iarred.''
When she recovered herself sufficiently to
stand without his help, he could do no less
than to offer to gather up her parcels, and
he had the satisfaction of feeling that he
was doing his duty, and seeing his train
steam out of the station at one and the same
time
swell, as have lost my train-' he be-
gan, as he stood holding some of her bundles
in his arms.
"Was that your train2" she exclaimed,
still visibly agitated. ut was mine, too,
think-I am not sure--l am stranger,
want to go to Hartford
Ills WAS uOb your Unen,' he an
swered; 'yours starts from the other side"
81 was late, had no time to get ticket
What time does the next train go to Hart
ford." she murmured, brokenly, lifting ap-
pealing eyes to his.
II will find out for you," he said, feeling
quite compassionate toward her, though
she was neither young nor pretty, and there
fore had no legitimate claim to strangers
protection.
He conducted her to the waiting room
and presently returned from the ticket Office
with the information that she would have
to wait over three hours-until after dark
in fact, for the train.
"Three hours alonew she exclaimed, with
IN unconscious naive stress on the 'salone''
that MIR. Dunlap found very interesting.
''I too, must wait until evening for my
train," he said smiling, land as it rains so
that we shall have to stay in the depot, if
you will permit me to sit here, will do N.Y.
self the pleasure OF waiting with you for
time at least"
"You are very kind" she answered sim.
ply, moving some of her bundles so that he
could sit closer to her than he had perhaps
ut first intended, land that too, after my
awkwardness made you miss your train
You heap Goals of fire-which ought not to
be the less hot because they are getting
rather trite-chestnut Goals in fact IL YOU
will pardon the expression-upon my head"
Mr.. Dunlap had already made up his mind
that she was neither young nor pretty; he
now, Us she looked at him with bright
audacious smile, revised his opinion to the
extent OF adding that she looked interesting.
She was tall, slender and very thin; with
sharp, old features, but her eyes, he de-
cided, were her strong point, they were so
changeful in expression and exhibited the
different phases of her emotions with such
an intensity, such sing leness of purpose
from the appealing gaze of a frightened,
helpless child, to the humorous quizzica,
glance she had thus given him.
"Will the delay incommode you very
much." she added, seriously
II did think it was quite necessary for me
to be one of the passengers on that particu-
lar train, but now am not sure. l think
shall be happier here"
~ hope you will forgive men she said.
gravely, ignoring the implication of the last
remark.
II most certainly shall II you continue to
be as agreeable as you have already been.n
he said, with a boldness which even some
ordinarily polite men will use toward a
woman they meet under unconventional cir
cumstanoes.
Bic cotored deeply and he felt that he
had rislSed losing her society by his last re-
mark. For moment she looked very grave
and nervousy fumbled with the leaves of a
book she held in her hand. Then she seemed
TO him to swallow her annoyance and take a
sudden resolution. 1t was us IL she said to
hersolf; "Life is too short and the periods
spent in waiting for trains too long to waste
the ono and prolong the other by servile
detercnce to useless conventionalities.n
~ hate waiting in railroad stations,n she
said, presently.
hr Dunlap lived back among the Berk-
shire hills whore the only communication
with the outside world was by means OF a
r'sxety, rumbling, clattering old stage which
cs1nected his town with the nearest rail.
road station,
Vie was country farmer of very moderate
means, hut for all that, he had read, he had
o'ss-T' !, he never doubted but that he was
much - re man OF the world than others
who had had much better advantages for
becomir, so. The very hulk OF his conyer-
station Was carried on In the common ver-
nnci..Jr, but he felt that he could be courtly
and csromonious to the last degree When
he read "a sentence tnat seemed to him to
be- the thing In lhe way Of polito repartee or
gallant address, ho reread 1t until he had
3aade " his own. That sort OF thing was