The Delta independent., 1890-06-10

''1OW III tne WOriO, ne murmured,
addressing the picture, stdid YOU get
here? You and your friend in your
stylish attire spoil the monotonous
effect produced by your neighbors. !
like to see things harmonious and
will rescue you, Miss Benton, from
your present conspicuous position"
On coming out of the shop he met
some friends, slipped the tintypes into
his pocket and thought no more about
them till he was seated in the train the
next day.
After he had read the morning pa
pers, tried to take nap and been
disturbed by baby, in the next seat
behind, pounding him on the head, he
dug his hands moodily into his pockets
and looked straight before him.
Something with sharp edge cut
his finger; then he remembered the
tintypes.
"Its very good for Katherine" he
reflected. "I'll ask her to let me keep
it when see her. l wonder who the
other girl is-she's remarkably pretty.
The face was full of possibilities
and he went on building up history
for it till suddenly aroused from his
reverie by an exciting conversation
carried on behind him in piercing
whispers.
The baby had long since disappeared
and two ladies had taken its place.
'tGood heavens! Betty, where do
you suppose he got it. [ never laid
eyes on the creature before in my life
and there he sits gazing at my picture
as if we were old friends"
At this nothing short of superhu-
man effort prevented Mr.. Howard
from turning round. With wonderful
self-control he remained quiet and
waited for further developments.
Betty murmured something sooth-
ing and then the irate maiden began
again:
M wish could get good look at
him. He looks like gentleman,
doesn't he, Betty?-at least his back
does. But the idea of a strange man
having my picture is simply unbear-
able.
"I should think it would be the fact
you minded" Betty mildly suggested,
"not the idea. Besides, he need never
know it is your picture unless you talk
SO lOuu ne neafS yOu.
'I suppose they imagine Pm deaf"
thought Mr.. Howard.
"Betty, must get good look at
him. I'll tie on this thick blue veil to
walk down the car to get some water."'
A short pause and then young lady
of medium height and good figure
walked sedately past. After she was
again seated she delivered her opinion.
"He's not exactly good looking, Bet
ty, but evidently gentleman"
Both were silent for about ten min
utes and then this fair unknown began
again:
"This veil is simply suffocating; l
must take it off. Betty. Pm going to
put these shawls and bags up in the
rack-they're in the way"
'"Now," thought Mr.. Stephen How
ard, "Now's my chance"
He stood up at the same instant she
did and offered his assistance.
She accepted his help without
word and he was careful to show no
signs of recognition.
After that she held long conversa-
ton with Betty too low for him to
catch, but he heard her order the lug
gage to be sent to the Windsor Hotel
and he had seen for himself that the
tintype in no way did her Justice
also that the name on her bag was
Miller.
AS soon as Mr.. Howard reached his
room he sat down to think out the sit
uation. Obviously the thing for him
to do was to return the tintype.
But how? To be sure, now that he
knew her name he could leave it at the
hotel for her; but then he was dis
tinctly conscious of desire to give it
to her himself.
After while this desire changed
and he felt he would much rather know
her and ask her to let him keep it.
This he determined to do, and after
gram to Miss Benton, whose Journey
ing, he discovered while at Saratoga,
had taken her to Newport:
To Miss Katherine Benton, Riggs Cottage,
Newport
to your friend Miss Miller. Will write expla-
nation. STEPHEN HOWARD.
BY nine O'Clock he received this an
swer:
To Mr.. Stephen Howard, Union club, New
York
Miss Miller. allow me to present my friend,
Mr.. Stephen Howard.
KATHERINE BENTON.
Armed with this telegram and tin
type he at once started for the Wind
sor.
The whole affair had been so like an
adventure aud so out of the common
run that he almost dreaded to meet
the girl for fear she would spoil all by
proving stupid or uninteresting.
She came in almost Immediately with
his card and the telegram in her hand.
OF course she had no idea that Mr..
Stephen Howard was the man who had
possession of her picture, and, as she
said afterwards, it seemed as if she
stood before him for week gasping
and saying "well!"
In reality it was not five minutes be-
fore they were both laughing and ex-
planning and interrupting each other to
wonder at the strange course of events
that had brought them together.
"And the telegram" she said, "was
II. H. 4