Middletown transcript., 1891-04-09
Yen have lots Of flowers"

attached but thing | can IMAM
you for them," she said, looking vi
brightly at him.
A tender look came into his eye
as he said, " Yes, l sent them, and In
. much obliged TO you for wearing
them"
60" said Gladys rather coolly
81 had no preference. They match.
ed my dress so well,-that is why
wore them"
:" Yes, see," asseDted he, as coolly
Those cream roses would not looE
well with it at all, for instance"
Poor little violets,-that last re-
mark caused their dethronement, toT
the girl with a flush hastily and
angrily detached them, saying
"Come 10 think of it, the roses would
be far more effective and pinned q
few of the long.stemmed beauties 10
their place.
just as quickly Jack replaced the
few violets he had worn in his coat
with rosebud that she dropped, say,
ing, Mine are withered, toe"
Gladys looked annoyed, but said
nothing, and in FIVE minutes they
were hurriedly eating dinner at the
station restaurant.
/ Afterward Jack amused and enter
tanned her till the early bedtime, and
she slept soundly that night, feeling
safe with friend so near.
! Carefully looking from behind her
curtains next morning, Gladys saw
that the opposite section had been
| changed from two beds to two
seats" again, but Jack was not visible.
Half an hour found her dressed, watt
ing for him to appear, as she intended
asking him to breakfast out of the
well stocked hamper.
Presently he came in, and after
very slight hesitation smilingly ac-
cepted her invitation. He helped
her unpack the hamper and set the
table in her section, and in perfect
gale Of fun they began their morning
meal, sitting opposite.
This is fun, isn't it ?" said Gladys,
spearing for sardine with a cork
screw, for Jack, as company, was
honored with the only fork,
Immense r. be assented, SO en-
phatically that she laughed gleefuIly.
Emboldened by this, Jack, in the
act of carrying piece of cold chicken
to bis mouth, leaned over, and lower
ing his voice and fork at the same
time, said coaxingly, "Let's breakfast
together always,-shall we, Gladys 2"
She smiled in spite of herself at his
tone and manner, even while dainty
frown slightly marred her pretty fore.
head, and she answered briefly and
emphatically: "Couldn'r think of
such thing. Don't be silly, Jack"
20, you cruel little girl !" said
Jack dramatically, as he Strengthened |
up and proceeded to eat the morsel on
his fork.
Their merry little meal over, the |
rest of the day passed in the usual
routine ofa Pullman car. Jack was
all devotion from first to last. Read
ing, talking and eating, with nasty |
little promenades when there was any |
opportunity, was the order of the
day.
Gladys acknowledged to herself,
after bidding him good night, that
Jack was very pleasant companion,
but she did not want to marry him;
no, indeed.
Jack Hollis had known and loved
Gladys Preston since he was boy of
nineteen and she little girl of four
teen. He had proposed and been de-
clined several times, but knowing that
she did not dislike him, and believing
that everything comes to the man
who waits" be 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 to travel to Omaha with her.
As for Gladys, after her first surprise
at seeing him on board. she was SO
used to his failing 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 severe headache. With that
and a wretched nights sleep she was
worn out and cross,--undeniably so.
She snubbed poor Jack, who was all
'ympathy; refused the cup of tea he
brought her when they changed cars
1t Ogden and when the journey be-
ran again. lay back on the pillows he !
liked in the seat for her, and would
rave nothing to cay to him.
All day she suffered intensely,
eigning sleep most of the time, to
lvold being fused over by the SYM
pathetic old ladies.
How Jack longed to take the
,olden-brown head in his arms and
troke the throbbing temples. To- ,
Yards evening, when the rest of the !
were out at dinner, he
sked her with passionate tremor in
lis voice to give him the right to do +
o.
She was tryining to swallow the tea !
e had again brought to her. Push 6
ng it away, she said angrily = !
Jack, you bother me to death. i
Don't ever mention that subject to !
ne again, for l would not marry you.
10 away. and don't speak to me at
H." Then the aching head dropped !,
,earily back on the pillow.
Jack paled, took the half.emptied I
up, and walked silently out of the !
ar. That was the last she saw of I
i'm that night. She had her berth
,ade up early, and utterly exhaust G
j, soon feel into refreshing sleep, o
ON which she awoke IN the night
ith the headache gone.
Her first thought was of Jack, and :,
or eyes onened wide with shame as