The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-07-20

Then he broke the silence by leaning
toward her, aud saying, in very soft
and persuasive tone: .tGladys, won't
you reconsider what you said last
night2"
Looking around nervously to see if
any one could hear, she answered: "No,
Jack-please don't go over that again,
for 1t won't do one bit of good"
He looked disappointed then picking
up her jacket said "Well, we are almost
at Sacramento. Come, let us go out to
dinner"
Gladys rose quickly, glad that she did
not have to dine on candy, after all /;
and while helping her with her coat
Jack casually remarked:
"You have lots Of flowers"
ayes, and these lovely violets-they
came this morning with no card at.
tached; but 1 think 1 can thank you for
them," looking up brightly at him.
A tender look came into his eyes as
he said, "Yes, sent them, and Pm
much obliged to you for wearing them:"
"Oh," said Gladays, rather coolly,
81 had no preference. They matched
my dress so well-that is why l wore
them"
eyes, see," assented he ms coolly.
"Those cream roses would not look
we'll with it AT all, for instance"
Poor little violets-that last remark
caused their dethronement, for the girl,
with flush, hastily aud angrily detached
them, saying, 'Come to think of it, the
roses would be far more effective" aud
pinned a few of the long-stemmed
beauties in their place.
Just as quickly Jack replaced the few
violets he had worn in his coat with a
rosebud that she had dropped, saying,
'Mine are withered, too"
Gladys looked annoyed but said moth
ing, and in five minutes they were hur-
riedly eating dinner at the station res
taurant.
Afterward Jack amused and enter
tanned her till the early bedtime, ard she
slept soundly that night, feeling safe
with friend so near.
Carefully looking from behind her
curtains the 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, waiting for
him to appear, as she intended asking
him to breakfast out of the we'll stocked
hamper.
Presently he came In, and after very
slight hesitation, snilingly accepted her
invitation. He helped her unpack the
hamper and set the table in her section,
and in a perfect gale of fun they began
their morning meal sitting opposite.
"This is fun, isn't itH" says Gladys,
spearing for sardine with corkscrew,
for Jack, as company, was honored with
the only fork.
''Immense he assented, so emphat.
ically that she laughed gleefully.
Emboldened by this, Jack, in the act
of carrying a piece of cold chicken to
his mouth, leaned over and lowering
his voice and fork at the same time said
coaxingly, "Let's breakfast together al
ways-shall we, Gladys1"
She smiled in spite of herself at his
tone and manner, even while a dainty
frown slightly marred her pretty fore
head, and she answered briefly and en-
phatically: Couldn't think of such
thing. Don't be silly, Jack"
"Oh, you cruel little grill" 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 of
Pullman car. Jack was all devotion
from first to last. Reading, talking and
eating, with hasty 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 compauion-but she did
not want to marry him; no, indeed.
Jack Hollis had known and loved
Gladys Preston since he was boy of
nineteen aud she little girl of four
teen. He had proposed aud been de,
clined several times, but knowing that
she did not dislike him and believing
that "everything comes to the man who
waits,n he was waiting, and in the
meantime wooing to the best of his
ability.
meet some other man during her visit
who would fall in love with her and win
her; hence his deep laid schme to travel
to Omaha with her. AS for Gladys,
after her first surprise at seeing him on
board, she was so used to his never fail
ing devotion that she took his coming
with he as matter of course. 1t was
just like Jack, she thought.
The second morning Gladys arose with
a severe headache. With that and
wretched nights sleep, she was worn out
and cross-undeniably so. She snubbed
poor Jack, who was all sympathy; re-
fused 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 to say to
him.
All day she suffered intensely, ,feigning
sleep most of the time to 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 out
at dinner, he asked her, with a passion
ate tremor in his voice, to give hun the
right to do so.
She was trying to swallow the tea he
had again brought in to her. Pushing
- ouov sha coid onoriIy.