The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-02-24
THEY HAD MET BEFORE.
A Railroad Ride and the Acquaintance
That Resulted Therefrom.

Not long ago a well-known young
indianapolis man, who is fond of the
ladies, took business trip up the Gin
cinnati. Wabash & Michigan railroad
to Benton Harbor. says the Indian
apolis Nea0s. When he left Anderson
the train was well filed with passen-
gers, and the further north he got the
more the passengers crowded on the
train. At Wabash there was only
standing room. A very handsome
young girl. dressed in the latest-the
very Iatest-fashion, had a seat all to
her own sweet self. The young Indian
apolitan asked, in his own soft. North
Meridian voice. if he might not occupy
the seat with her. He had been perch
ing on the coal-box and was real tired.
Certainly" she said. in voice as
sweet as maple molasses. And as she
spoke she moved over, and the young
man from indianapolis crowded into
the seat beside her. She was reading a
paper. The young man at her side
looked out the corner of his eye and
declared-to himself of course-that he
never saw one more beautiful. and the
rays from the great diamond on her
car and made them as bright as if an
electric light had flashed upon them.
OF course any one knows the Indian
apolis young man is aware of the fact
that he is awfully difident andslacking
in what is vulgarly called gall" So
it was fully ten minutes after he had
taken his seat before he had broken in
to conversation. She was rather talk
ative herself, and they soon became
fast friends for such recent acquaint-
ances. The man from Indianapolis
lied like pirate about himself and his
ancestral halls and the large tract of
land he owned at Fairview Park. Then
she had her inning and told how she
lived at Benton Harbor. but spent hel
summers in the east and her winters
in Florida.
"It's such a poky old town, you
know" she said, ''that 1 would moi
stay there at all if papa did not insist.
Poor papa is getting old and we have
to humor him a great deal. But mex
summer | am going to Europe. Broth
er Charlie is over there, and his wife il
| just the loveliest little woman on earth
She is related to the royalty of Spain.
but that does not make her the least
bit proud. Where did 1 understand
you to say you were going? Oh,
Plank's tavern. That's nice place.
60 over there once in a while when
am at home. 1t relieves the monoto,
ny, you know"
1t is not necessary to tire the reader
with recital of all they said, but the
young man was badly smitten with the
supposed heiress, and she seemed
to think fright smart of him." as they
say down in Brown county. When she
left the train at Benton Harbor it waG
not until they had agreed to write tt
each other. Their parting was 81
protracted that he missed his train
and under the protecting wing of Con
ductor ''Dud" Olney went to hotel
He had happy dreams that night, anC
charmer again. He had an early
breakfast. His head was lowered ovel
the table and his eyes were glued OF
the pages of Chicago paper. A sof
step at his side, rustic of garments
and then low, sweet voice murmured
''Beefsteak, smothered in onions
veal outlets, ham and eggs, baked po
tatoes, fried potatoes, fish, vegetables
wheat bread, rye bread, rolls. corr
cakes tea, coffee, and milk"
With a start he raised his head
That voice had familiar sound. Hi
eyes sought her eyes. Twas she-hi
companion of the evening before on tn,
train. Around her lips was the leas
bit of smile, and blush slowly man
tied her cheek. Straining every nerve
he stared at her in a cold, general
manager kind of style. and gasped
Gimme some beefsteak and plent,
of onions" p"