The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-09-21
7HE lady. SMILED.

TlbuEon was crowded ~ usual ana peo'
pie were streaming through the cars In
that hurried search for vacant seats
Little Mr.. Tom N, Oddly, who was Just
starting out on his two days vacation,
knew there would be this rush and 80
was among the first to scamper of the
boat, Chamber into the nearest coach, and
pre.empt the best middle seat on the
shady shIde Of the car, Then, after the
miserable fashion Of his kind, he pro.
ceeded to coverthe entire seat with him.
self, his overcoat, his cane and his va.
lise. This exercise OF seldshness accom-.
plished he drew an evening paper from
his pocket and pretended to be absorbed
In the base ball reports. CHANGING out
OF the corner OF his right eye he saw q
small, black.gloved hand resting upon
the top Of the seat Just where bis over.
coat lay, and then, his curiosity leading
him iurtheraleld, he glanced still more
and found that the hand belonged To-
one Of the most charming women II had
ever been his undeserved good fortune
10 meet.
Her face was rather pale, almost sal.
low, indeed, but lit up by pair Of great
black eyes that were as luminous as q
child's and as gentle as a does. The
nose was short, straight, but rather too
stout; the mouth was full and red, with
provoking little droop to tho lower lip ;
apd the chin was round and slightly
double. The eyebrows were heavy and
the hair black, with copper tint at 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, 1.-THE but we'll.
rounded figure. II may be repeated that
little Mr.. Tom N. Oddly felt that he had
never before seen SO bewitChing u Great
ure, and when she looked at him in a
pleading, timorous way aud asked In a
low voice II "thls seat was engaged" he
swept his things out OF the way with a
single movement and declared himself
delighted TO be able to say 1t was not.
She thanked him with o little faltering
smile and sat down.
She was unprovided with current liz.
erature, and so little Mr.. Tom N. Oddly,
as the first advance toward his deter
mined plan OF making himself agreeable,
offered her part Of his paper. AT this
she stiffencd somewhat, then prettily dc.
clined the offer, saying that II hurt her
eyes 10 read on the train. AS she said
so she turned those beautiful orbs Of
hers upon the young man, and Just to
show that lie knew what was proper
under the circumstances he replied that
no book or paper that had yetGeen writ
ten was worth spelling 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 iIr. Tom N. Oddly observed this
he was a very observing young man
and hazarded the remark that she was
foreigner.
"No,n,. she replied, 81 was born in Cal.
iiornia."
dAL, indeed, /" said he, with fine spirit;
$50 was ], SO that We are a native son
and daughter Of the golden west, and
therefore related"
THAT'S quite ingenious" she remark
ed; "are You a lawyerP"
"Np," he answered, getting rather red
In tho face, "l'm connected with Messrs.
Sock, Tie & Co."
~ have IA friend who deals there y
said she, sweetly; "are you one of the
partuers?"
mo" he replied, feeling very warm
about the ears; VI have charge Of the
suspender department"
"0h, that must be very NICE" said
she.
"Yes," he replied, but without any
greatSenthusiasm, for this was subject
on which he did not particularly care tc
converse, so he changed the topic OF con
versation by asking Of the lovely eyes II
she was goingfar.
ITO Santa Rosa" sue saidi "and
your"
"oh, I'm going on back Of Cloverdale
for little roughing It," he said.
"Does II hurt you-to rough III" she
asked, with gentle interest.
"Bless you, no. he cried; "why w
the pleasantest kind Of lie. Fresh air
fresh milk, and an occasional bear
"Bearal" she cried, "but surely those
nasty, hugging things must DO danger
ousP'!"
"0t course they are, said he, valiant.
", "but 20 we'll prepared. have a
revolver In my Valise and this cane is'a
sword cane."
ais II really, now ?" she asked with &
ready interest; "how does II work. But
perhaps II 10 not right to display II
here" r..-..
~ don't know but what you're right
aSsOnted little Mr.. Tom N. Oddly, "es'
peCially as that fellow across tho way has
done nothing but stare Of US ever since
the train started
"Ah, but that's not ALL" said she
"would you believe II, that man follow.
ed me ever since ] left my house, got OF
the same boat, and, now here he Is or
the same train. Oh, II ! only knew
but there, don't let's notice him. Tel
me about your bear hunts and how YOU
arc going to hug me-"
Little Mr.. Tom N. Oddly was trying Il
remember the most exciting bear adj
venture he had ever read Of, when The
engine gave ehrill toot.
"0h, my |" cried she, laying her hand
ON little Mr.. Tom N, 0ddy's arm, ~ do
believe we atu going through tunnel
There was no doubt about II, ant
with another toot the engine plungeC
into o long, black hole. A wild wicked
hope lcaped up In little Mr.. Tom N
Oddy's little mind, but II only lived q
moment, for There, directly over che
next seat, was hung lighted lamp. 1
only burned dimly, and lhe light y gayt