Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-04
RAILWAY COMPANIONS.

1t was the noon train out, and the car
was filled principally with ladies, who had
been glad to hurry through with their
shopping to get ont 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
fled their dignity, and put in the morning,
they were flourishing Panama hats or
palm leaf fans, and yawning prodigiously
on their way to well earned rest.
The young girl was beckoned to a seat
beside plump, middle aged woman in
gray gown, which did not tend to dimiE-
ish the embonpoint of her figure. Gold
eyeglasses swung on her ample bosom, and
she wore fresh kid gloves a size too small
for her pudgy hands.
Coming out of the 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 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 scrutinizing gaze upon her com
panion, who was simply gowned in black.
Black is so nOncommittal, and what can
one tell from a sailor hat? But her blond
hair was stylishly knotted and her hands
were small she settled herself with the
air of one accustomed to travel, and she
a IL Ng.ft 10
"Yes," repeated the plump lady, that is
better; but travelling on such a day is al
most intolerable under any circumstances "
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 con
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 rearrange theiI
packages and discuss the mornings shop
ping tour or plans for the evening "aftel
the men come out"
The lady in gray furtively held up ont
hand and observed with dismay that the
palm of her dainty glove was stained darl
with perspiration. She straightway drew
a clean white handkerchief from he
pocket and spread it on her lap, CAREFUL!
resting her hands, palms upward, upon IL
Then stealing glance at the sharer of he
seat, and discovering that she was oh
served, she exclaimed: IL declare it Away
does grieve me to see the first soil on
fresh pair of glovesl After that It doesn'
seem to matter so much"
The young girl again simply smiled
might be with sympathy OF with amuse
ment. Her companion found her baffiin
and fidgeted consciously in her corner 0
the seat. Finally, with a sudden resolv
and an added dignity Of manner, she in
quired, "Are you going far, my deari"
The young girl raised her eyes in som
surprise, but answered without hesitation
mot very"
"Well, indeed you are fortunate" reptile
the lady. Gas / said 10 my husband thi
morning, you pay dear to get to the cour
try on such a day as this. You ought I
90, Of course, early in the season, an
never 20 near town except on cloudy day
or Just after a rain, when it's clean an
cool. And so we've done every year sine
we were married until this one. But NJ
Henderson found his business would tak
him to town every day this summer >
as Arthur-that's his son-has place
the shore, and Isabel-that's my daught'
has place in the country, they just Il
sisted that we should not bother with q
out Of town place at all this year, but ju
divide our time between them"
"Then you have married daughter
said the young girl with some show OF 4
terest, and the lady smiled complacently.
81 do not wonder you are surprised.
husband vows that except for my cor
plexion being so much fresher than Is
bells it would be almost impossible to te
US apart. And when l was widow-b'
there, you know how it is with widow
they are always 80 much run after that
would be no wonder If they lost the
heads. | suppose you've noticed how
widow will set girl in the shade al
dayf"
II have heard that it is 50" replied Il
girl tentatively.
"Of course you are too young to have e
perienced it yourself" condescended q
matron; "it isn't probable you're ma
riedW
mo, am not married-yet. The CIR
response was 50 obviously emphasized tn
the lady could not be blamed for the avi
ity with which she seized upon the clue, e
claiming
"But engagedi Now do tell nee abo
IL, my dear. I'm sure there's nothing
interesting-and being married three tim
myself | ought TO know" And she 81
tied herself in an attitude Of deep ate
ton.
Now the girl did not seem TO hesita
from any timidity, but regarded her col
Portable confidante with droll smile fol
moment In silence. Then she began:
am on my way to pay visit TO the sist
of the gentleman to whom | am engaged
"Why, how delightfulP calculated I
lady sympsthetically; you will be havi
gay times, riding and walking and all tt
with your sweetheart"
"Oh, he Is not there" demonstrated
young girl, in tone Of surprise. "Th
would not be proper at all; though,
course" with tender smile, che will r.
out sometimes, when there is anythi
particular going on. Indeed, he Will
coming on a later train for little da1
his sister gives me this evening shou
not have gone out this miserably hot
but for the dance"
That's Just my case" cried the lady
gray, my daughter has lawn party
morrow, and Of course she wants my adv
with the decorations, and that in the mo
ing, 80 | must needs go today"