The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 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 a little late,
and the knowledge of this fact 80 heightened
the susceptibility of his nerves that, when
tall woman with her arms full of parcels
fell heavily against him, dropping her par
GELS, some of which burst and scattered
their contents in every direction, only the
sense OF the politeness due to her sex kept
nm from using an ejaculation that would
at least have expressed great impatience
She had clutched him nervously as she
slipped and he supported her a moment
while he inquired if she was hurt.
81 don't know" she said, painting 81
turned my ankle-I feel terribly Jared"
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.
''Well, as I have lost my train he be-
gan, as he stood holding some of her bundles
in his arms
''Was that your train?n she exclaimed.
still visibly agitated. ut was mine, too, |
think-I am not sure-I am a stranger, |
want to go to Hartford"
'Ihis was not your train Them he an
swered; yours starts from the other side
Il was late, had no time to get ticket.
what time does the next train 90 to Hart
ford:' she murmured, brokenly, lifting an
pealing eyes to his.
81 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 a 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 darl,
in fact, for the train.
'Three hours alone! ~ she exclaimed, with
am unconscious naive stress on the ''alonen
that Mr.. Dunlap found very interesting.
Il, too, must wait until evening for nv
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 my
self the pleasure of waiting with you for
time at least.n
''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
at hrst intended, land that, too, after my
awkwardness made you miss your train.
va hCop SOdlo VI llIt-WulCu ought not TO
be the less hot because they are getting
rather trite-chestnut Goals in fact, if 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, as 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-
clded, 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.
''Wil the delay incommode you very
much" she added, seriously.
81 did think it was quite necessary for me
to be one of the passengers on that particu-
lar train, but now am not sure. think
shall be happier here"
81 hope you will forgive me-" she said,
gravely, ignoring the implication of the last
remark.
81 most certainly shall il you continue to
be as agreeable as you have already BEEN"
he said, with a boldness which even some
ordinarily polite men will use toward a
woman they meet under unconventional cir
cumstances.
She colored deeply, and he felt that he
had risked losing her society by his last re
mark For a moment she looked very grave
and nervously fumbled with the leaves of
book she held in her hand. Then she seemed
TO him to swallow her annoyance and take a
sudden resolution. 1t was as if she said to
herself: Life is too short and the periods
spent in waiting for trains TOO long to waste
the one and prolong the other by servile
Difference to useless conventionalitios."
81 hate waiting in railroad stations" she
said, presently.
Mr. Dunlap lived back among the Berk
shire hills where the only communication