The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-04-23
A CHANCE MEETING.
The Pretty Little Romance Of a
Railway Journey.

Railway Journey.
l had a delightful experience the
other day. l witnessed the fifth act of
a little drama in real life that made me
as happy as if it had been some con-
Germ of my own. The plot was q very
old one, but one that never loses it's
freshness or its charm. OF course l
shall not call the actors by their real
names: l shall not even tell where l
was going or where | came from; but
was on a vestibule train bound some
where, and it was about three o'clock
in the afternoon. There were only four
other passengers in the car, two sisters
of charity, an unmistakable drummer
aud a large.sized young man with a
blonde mustache who sat Immediately
in front of me. He was a manly-look-
ing fellow; and took decided liking
to him.
But this was all before the curtain
went up. That event took place when
we stopped at city that shall be
nameless, and self-possessed and
singularly attractive young woman en-
tered the car at the rear door. The
porter walked ahead, carrying her
satchel and umbrella, and established
her in the section opposite mine She
was dressed with that severe elegance
and faultless fit that a woman imme-
diately recognizes as implying Red.
fern. There was something inexpres
hiblv refined about her. "An admirable
product of our upper circles" l reflect
ed. u wonder if she is a doll?" There
was u firm look about her chin tina
made me decide in the negative.
After the train had emerged from
the covered station she laid her book il
her lap and looked around the car
When she came to the young man will
the blonde mOustache she gave barely
pcrceptible start Come" l thought
''this is growing interesting. cne ha
seen him before-or thinks she has.
The young man, twill be remcm bered
was u seat ahead of her, and as he wa
looking straight before him, he haC
not noticed her as yet. | could see sh,
did not think it was proper to stare a
the back OF the young mans head, anC
that she was making heroic efforts no
to do so; but it was no use in th
world. She tried to read, she tried Il
look out of the window, she tried t.
close her eyes; but, willy nilly, the,
wandered back to the blonde hair ant
the dark blue coat of the young man
Once she got up; but her heart failet
her, and she only took down her Goa
TO throw around her shoulders. 1t wa
absolutely incredible that she coult
~ fn,. thA n
usual, heated to the point of suffoca
ton.
At last she could stand it no longer
She tossed her book onto the seat witt
an impplsive movement, threw he
coat down beside it, and crossed owe
TO the young mans section. She hesi
tated for moment The two nun
watched her with interested horror
Her courage almost failed her, but sb
had gone too far to recede.
Il beg your pardon" she said, "bu
i can't be mistaken. Isn't this MI
Carter?"
lie started at the first sound of he
vo &c as if he had heard ghost an
before she had finished he was on hi
feet looking at her eagerly.
Miss Van Buren!' he exclaimed
and stood there still looking at her.
! never saw so many emotions S
plainly legible in a mans face at once
Hope and fear and great Joy and il
tense pain. read just as plainly as
they had been written in black an
white. Bnt the girl had taken it a
into her own hands. / suppose sh
read his face as well as did, and coul
interpret it little better. With
frank smile she held out both he
small gloved hands. As he took thel
and pressed them firmly, the fear an
til. pain passed out of his face, and til
red blood passed into hers. In anoti
er mOnent he had recovered his sell
possession.
'Sit down" he said. II must nc
keep You standing" She looked a littl
dubious He saw it, "IIow stupid
am. Where is yops section?"
She smiled up at hi,n and led the wa
TO her seat. He picked VI the book an
the coat and sat down b-side her
their stead.
or course after this l didst hea
murh that they said / shouldn't hav
hAA any pafucu'Hr scfuple against -
tcnng II | could have done so withor
their knowing it, for / was so much il
terested in them that | felt quite lilS
Providence or their grandmamma or
fairy godmother. But it wouldn't
for me to perceptibly listen, so | gaze
with great discretion into my move
and turned over the pages when
thought it was time. Every once
awhile would catch few phrases
Pretty soon heard, in the voice of tn
young man:
80 you lid write TO me after you &c
TO Europe?"
''Of course did!-three severa
times. And sent you an addres
where letters could be safely sent
me"