Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-11-08
THE LADY SMILED.

The Saturday afternoon train at
Point Tiburon was crowded as usual
and people were streaming through
the cars in that hurried search for
vacant seats. Little Mr.. Tom \.
Oddly, who was just starting out on
his two days vacation, knew there
would be this rush and so was among
the first to scramper off the boat,
Chamber into the nearest coach, and
pre-empt the best middle seat on the
shady side of the car. Then, after
the miserable fashion of his kind, he
proceeded to cover the entire seat
with himself, his overcoat, his cane
and his valise. This exercise of sell
fishness accomplished he drew an
evening paper from his pocket and
pretended TO be absorbed in the base
ball reports. CHANGING out of the cor
ner of his right eye he saw small
black-gloved hand resting upon the
top of the seat just where his over
coat lay, and then his curiosity lead
ing him further afield, he glanced
still more and found that the hand
belonged to one of the most charming
woman it had ever been his un-
deserved good fortune to meet
Her face was rather pale, almost
sallow, indeed, but lit up by pair of
great black eyes that were as lumi-
nous as childs and as gentle as a
does. The nose was short, straight,
but rather too stout; the mouth was
full and red, with a provoking little
droop to the lower lip; and the chin
was round and slightly double. The
eyebrows were heavy and the hair
black, with copper tintat the edges.
The dress was black, relieved by
three green damask roses at the
bosom, and was so draped as to show,
with some degree of accuracy, a little
but well rounded figure. 1t may be
repeated that little Mr.. Tom n. Oddly
felt that he had never before seen so
bewitching a creature, and when she
looked at him in pleading, timorous
way and asked in a low voice If this
seat was engaged" he swept his
things out of the way with a single
movement and declared himself de-
lighted TO be able TO say it was not.
She thanked him with a little falter-
ing smile and sat down.
She was unprovided with current
literature, and so little Mr.. Tom n.
Oddly, as the first advance toward his
determined plan of making himself
agreeable, offered her part Of his
paper. At this she stiffened some
what, then prettily declined the offer,
saying that it hurt her eyes TO read
on the train.
As she said so she turned those beau
tiful orbs of hers upon the man, and
Just to show that he knew what was
proper under the circumstances he
replied that no book or paper that
had yet been written was worth spoil
ing those eyes over. She threw up the
lids little more at this, then smiled
again and lifted her shoulders in
something very near a shrug.
Little Tom n Oddly observed this
he was very observing young man
and hazarded the remark that she
was a foreigner.
No" she replied, II was born in
California"
"Ah, indeed" said he, with fine
spirit; 80 was |, so that we are ma
tive son and daughter of the golden
west, and therefore related
That's quite Ingenious" she re-
marked; "are you lawyer
No he answered, getting rather
red in the face, I'm connected with
Messrs. Sock, Tie & Co"
Il have "a friend who deals
there" said she, sweetly; ARE you
one of the partnersf'
No" he replied feeling very warm
about the ears; Il have charge of the
suspender department" T."
"Oh, that must be very nice, said
she.
Yes" he replied, but without any
great enthusiasm, for this was sub
ject on which he did not particularly
care to converse, SO he changed the
topic of conversation by asking of
the lovely eyes if she was going far.
TO Santa Rosa" she said; ''aud
your"
"Oh, I'm going on back Of Glover
dale for little roughing it," he said.
Does it hurt you-to rough it,"
she asked, with gentle interest.
BLESS you, no." he cried; why it's
the pleasantest kind of life. Fresh
air, fresh milk, and an occasional
bear"
''Bearsr' she cried, but surely
those nasty, hugging things must be
dangerous
''Of course they are" said he, val
iantly, but / go well prepared. /
have revolver in my valise and this
cane is a sword cane"
rs it really, now!" she asked with
a ready interest; how does it work?
But perhaps it is not right to display
it here"