The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-04
RAILWAY COMPANIONS.

shopping to get out Of the heat and dust
and have some time to freshen up before
evening. A few gentlemen were also In
the car, but they were something more
than middle aged, and probably only went
to town at all IN order to keep up the de-
fusion that they were necessary at the
Office or warehouse, and now having salts
fed their dignity, and put in the morning
they were fourishing Panama hats or
palm leaf fans, and yawning prodig1ouslJ
on their way to well earned rest.
The young girl was beckoned to seat
beside plump, middle aged woman in 9
gray gown, which did not tend to dimiE-
ish the embonpoint Of her figure. Cold
eyeglasses swung on her ample bosom, and
she wore fresh kid gloves a size too small
for her pudgy hands.
Coming out Of tie glare Of the street the
twilight arches of the depot had seemed
deliciously cool. but the car was sitting
As the train dashed out from under the
last crossing culvert the young girl threw
up the window and pulled down the blind
with a click.
"Oh, thank you, that is much BETTER" ex
claimed the lady in gray, who had involun-
tarily turned away from the binding sun
light which flooded them. She now be
slowed a scrutinizing gaze upon her com
panion, who was simply gowned in black.
Black is SO noncommittal, and what can
one tell from a sailor hatp But her blond
hair was stylishly knotted and her bands
were small; she settled herself with the
air Of one accustomed to travel, and she
did not look out of the window.
YES" repeated the plump lady, ''that is
better; but travelling on such day is al
most iutolerable under any circumstances. D
The young girl smiled her sympathy with
this opinion, but said nothing, as the con
ductor at that moment reached their seat
No one in the car seemed inclined to coz
versation. The old gentlemen were already
mapping, and the ladies leaned away from
the light with their fans in front of their
aching eyes. The monotonous roar of the
moving train seemed TO add to the Moons
oppressiveness. However after the first
two or three suburban stations had con
siderably thinned out the seats the motion
of the train seemed to be accelerated and
the swifter rush of air brought some miti
cation Of the heat. Then the remaining
ladies began languidly to rearrarge their
packages and discuss the mornings shop
ping tour or plans for the evening latter
the men come out"
The lady in gray furtively held up one
hand and observed with dismay that the
palm of her dainty glove was stained dark
with perspiration. She straightway drew
clean white handkerchief from heI
pocket and spread it on her lap, carefully
resting her hands, palms upward, upon it
Then stealing glance at the sharer of bel
seat, and discovering that she was OBJ
served, she exclaimed: 81 declare it always
does grieve me to see the first soil on &
fresh pair of gloves! After that it doesn'i
seem to matter so much"
The young girl again simply smiled-it
might be with sympathy or with amuse
ment. Her companion found her battling
and fidgeted consciously in her corner OF
/ the seat. Finally, with sudden resolve
and an added dignity of manner, she in
quired, "Are you going far, my dearf"
The young girl raised her eyes in some
surprise, but answered without hesitation
"Not very"
'Well, indeed you are fortunate, replied
the lady. "As / said to my husband thi;
morning, you pay dear TO get TO the coun
try on such q day as this. You ought tC
go, of course, early in the season, anC
never go near town except on cloudy days
or just after rain, when it's clean anC
cool. And SO we've done every year since
we were married until this one. But Mr.
Henderson found his business would take
him to town every day this summer. So
es Arthur-that's his son-has place a
the shore, and Isabel-that's my daughtel
has place in the country, they just in
sisted that we should not bother with al
out Of town place at all this year, but jus
divide our time between them"
"Then you have a married daughter, .
said the young girl with some show of in
terest. and the lady smiled complacently.
II do not wonder you are surprised. Ny
husband vows that except for my com
pleXion being so much fresher than Isa
bel's it would be almost impossible to tel
Us apart And when | was widow-bu
there, you know how it Is with widows
they are always so much run after that i
would be DO wonder if they lost theil
heads. l suppose you've noticed how
widow will set a girl in the shade an
day."
Il have heard that it is So" replied tht
girl tentatively.
y y
perienced it yourself" condescended The
matron; lit isn't probable you're mar
/ riedi"
NO, am not married-yet." The girl!
response was 50 obviously emphasized tha
the lady could not be blamed for the avid
ity with which she seized upon the clue, ex
claiming:
But engaged? Now. do tell me about
it, my dear. I'm sure there's nothing ST
interesting being married three time,
myself l ought to know" And she set
tled herself IL a. attitude of deep atten
ton.
Now the girl did not seem to hesitat.
from any timldity, but regarded her com
Portable conhdante with droll smile for
moment in silence. Then she began: ",
am on my way 10 pay visit to the siStei
/ OF the gentleman TO whom am engaged.
/ Why. how delightful" ejaculated tht
lady sympatheticaily; you viii be havin
gay times, riding and walking and all tina
with your sweetheart"
/ "Oh, he is not there" demonstrated IA,
young girl, IN tone OF surprise. "Tha
would not be proper at ali; though, Of
course" with tender smile, "he will RI,
out sometimes, when there = anvthia.
/ particular going on Indeed. ne VII. d,
! coming on lister train for little dane
/ his sister gives NE this evening / shoalc
/ not have gone out this missrsbiy hot dal
/ but for the dance"
/ That's just my case" cried the lady il
gray, my daughter has lawn party to
morrow, and OF course she wants my advice
with the decorations, and that in the morn
| ing, so must needs go today"
How wild an 70 see the children
Three such beauties. Yes, l know I'm
young grandmother, hUs when you MARI
at seventeen xbat san. you expect' l wish