The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-29

Their merry little meal over. the rest Of the
| day passed in the usual routine OF Pullman
car. Jack was all devotion from first to last.
Reading, talking and eating. with hasty httle
| promenades when there was any opportunity
| was the order Of the day.
| Gladys acknowledged 20 herself, after bid
| ding him good night that Jack was very
| pleasant companiOn-but she did not want 10
| marry him: no, indeed.
Jack Hollis had known and loved Gladys
| Preston since he was a boy Of nineteen and
| she n little girl of fourteen. He had proposed
and been declined several times; but knowing
| that she did not dislike him, and believing
| that everything comes TO the man who
waits" he was waiting. and in the meantime
wooing to the best of his ability.
He was very much afraid she would meet
some other man during her visit. who would
| fall in love with her and win her; hence his
deep-laid scheme 10 travel 10 Omaha with her.
| As for GLADYS, after her first surprise at seeing
| him on board. she was so used 10 his never
| falling devotion that she took his coming with
| her as matter Of course. 1t was just like
| Jack. she thought.
The second morning Gladys arose with So
we're headache. With that and wretched
nights sleep she was worn out and cross-un-
! deniably so. She snubbed poor Jack, who
was all sympathy; refused the cup of tea he
brought her when they changed cars at
! Ogden: and when the journey began again,
lay back on the pillows he fixed in the seat for
| her and would have nothing 10 say TO HIM.
All day she suffered intensely, feigning
| sleep most Of the time, 10 avoid being fused
| over by the sympathetic old ladies.
| How Jack longed to take the golden-brown
| head in his arms and stroke the throbbing
! temples Toward evening, when the rest Of
| the passengers were ont at dinner. he asked
| her with a passionate tremOr IN his voice 10
| give him the right 10 do So
She was trying to swallow the tea he had
| again brought in TO her. Pushing 1t away,
she said angriy;
Jack, you bother me TO death. Don't ever
mention that subject TO me again, for ! will
not marry you. Go away, and don't speak to
me at all" Then the aching head dropped
YEARLY back on the pillow.
! Jack paled. took the half-emptied cup, and
walked silently ont of the car. That was the
! last she saw of him that night. She had her
| berth made up early. and utterly exhausted.
soon fell into n refreshing sleep, from which
she awoke in the night with the headache
gone.
Her first thought was of Jack. and her eyes
| opened wide with shame as she remembered
| her rudeness 10 the man who had always been
| SO kind 10 her. She recalled the panied set
! look. as he had turned away the evening be-
| fore and resolved 20 ask his pardon the first
! thing in the morning. when of course he
would forgive her and they would be good
friends again.
Morning found Gladys herself again. sweet
and pretty rs ever. but no Jack 10 be seen.
| He had not come in to take breakfast with
her as she expected. so she decided he must
| have eaten at the station. which had been
| passed early before she was up.
After a lonely little breakfast by herself,
| she settled down comfortably with book TO
| read, and wait for him to come and make up.
The hours passed however and still 10
| Jack His traps were still opposite. so he
must be on the train. probably in the smok-
| ing-rO where the other men spent most of
their time. She began TO grow very indignant
at his neglect.
ITO be sure. told him never TO speak to
me again, but he knew | did not mean 1t, y
! sOliloguized Gladys then tossed her head and
vowed she didn't care what he did
| At luncheon time she saw him disappear in
the eatng-roOm without so much as "A look
even in her direction Shortly after the train
moved he sauntored carelessly into his sec
ton Meeting her wondering eyes he gravely
| bowed, then taking a book. was 10 all intcnts
soon absorbed in ls contents.
! Aer heart seemed 20 sink few inches as
she fully realized that he had taken her hasty
works literally, and did not intend speaking
10 her. But pride came 10 her rescue. and
she was apparently as much interested in
her work as he WAS in his.
The afternoon rolled on. and still they read
never CHANGING at each other. As the train
drew up at the dinner station he threw down
his book, and without q word TO the girl
across the aisle, went out talking and laugh
ing with one of the men.
Gladys. who had not left the chr that day.
tmidly asked the old ladies If she could 60
out TO dinner with them, and was promptly
taken under their wing. After dinner Jack
stayed in the smoking-room playing cards.
| Then. as the shadows darEened 80 that she
| could not see TO read, Gladys spirits fell TO
lowest ebb. Turning to the window but see
ing nothing of the fast-darkening landscape,
| she gazed steadily out with fast-flling eyes
| She realized then and confessed 10 herself
| how much she had missed Jack all day.
On the train few into the darkness. The
car lamps were lit. and berths were being
made up all around hey More and more
! lonely and lOw-splrited she grew. Tomorrow
morning would bring them 10 Omaha, where
her friends would meet her. She would GO
one way, Jack another, and he would never
speak to her again. The last thought was too
much for her, and by this time she WIS crying
| softly but bitterly in the corner, with her face
| still turned 10 the window.
All, Jack. deliberately staying away all day
| from wilful little Gladys was a diplomatic
| stroke Of yours,
! suddenly some one leaned over her and said
softly Why. Gladys homesick already?"
Startled, she turned quickly. and with a
| joyful little catch of her breath dashed her
handkerchief over her eyes, and answered
| shyly; NO. Jack, only lonesome, and I'm
sorry was so rude yesterday"
He sat down, screening her from any pryng
| eyes, and said very low. GLADYS, darling,
were you crying because have been such an
| unnanly beast today
The pretty head dropped lower. but no an
swcr. Jack glanced around no one was look
ing. Taking her hand he said "Gladys. once
more ask you 10 be my wife. II You say no
| | shall never trouble you again but shall take
| the first train home from Omaha tomorrow a
disappointed man. Which is it, dear yes or
no?"
Still no answer.
Say, yes, dearest" pleaded Jack. with his
| lips dangerously near the fluffy bang.
An almost imperceptible nod was oil the
answer he got, but it seemed to satisfy him
! Gently raising her head he stole a kiss, just
IN time to escape the porter's inquisitive eyes
rs he came up blandly asking the young lady
If she was ready to have her berth made up.
Blushing furiously. the young lady said yes
she was ready; so pressing her hand warmly,
Jack whispered: Good night love" and left
her, well satisfied with the result of his Jour
ney.-Jessie Howell Hull in The Overland.
Amnity of the South for the Lakes.