Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-07-13
A BIT OF TORN Brad.
NJ CAROLINE $. VALENTINE.

Felix Corvin sat idly gazing out Of
the window Of the street car. because
there was nothing inside to aotract
his attention. He was cold and un-
comfortable. and wished be had taken
a cab instead Of the ear. Cars were
always stopping at every corner, and
the open door let the cold pour in.
Theref It was stopping againl he
pulled the collar of his overcoat lit.
tie higher and shivered, for he was
seated next to the door the conduc-
tor was opening. A young lady was
coming up the steps, but stumbled as
she reached the platform.
How AWKWARD thought Felix.
She had stepped on the front of her
gown and torn the braid which
trimmed it. The girl saw this, and
lifted the gown trihe as she entered
and took her seat.
Corwin was very neat, orderly
person. and, curious to see how the
torn trimming would affect her,
shifted his position and watched.
Without the least expression of an
noyance or anger she turned back
the lapel of her jacket and secured a
pin. Then. lifting her skirt slightly
-revesling q very trim, well-shod
little foot by the action--she calmly
bent down and proceeded to unite the
ragged edges of braid as well as pos
s;ble with the pin. She did this
neatly and quickly; then opening her
card case became absorbed in slip
Of paper, presumably a calling list
Corwin was Immediately impressed.
Many a girl would have ignored the
rent trimming, but this one did not
belong to that careless class.
Here iss woman, Thought Corwin,
who is extremely neat yet takes life
easily. She does not lose her temper
though sorely tried, but meets all ac-
c1dents and misfortunes with tran
quill mind. What helpmate for the
man lucky enough to win her lovel II
poverty should fall to his lot he would
still be rich in the possession of such
treasure, for with their change Of
fortune she would dou calico and wear
1T with as happy face and as light 9
heart as if she were in silk attire
Here Corwin's absurd reveries in
regard to the fair stranger came to ar
abrupt end, as she rose to leave the
car. There was sudden jar as she
reached the door, and she threw uI
her hand, which still held her caro-
case, to catch strap. The case flew
out OF her hand and landed on Cor.
wins knee; as he picked it up to re
ctore it to its owner, several cards
fell out. While putting them bach
he could not avoid seeing the name
engraved on them; "Miss Halbro
kerr
At the sight of the name he gave {
start, and, standing up, put the care
case into the hand that was out
stretched for it.
i beg pardon, he said hesitatingly
aYou are not Frank Halbroker's sis
ter, are your The conductor wa
waiting with frowning face for til,
car had been waiting nearly minut'
already. Please make haste, ma'am,
he said rather grufiy.
The girls face flushed deeply, thel
smiled bewitchingly as she answered
Corwin's inquiry. Il have tina
honor, and before he could agail
speak she had passed out.
Then this highly unconventiona
young man dropped back into hi
seat with sigh of satisfaction, anc
although he again looked out of tn
window, he was thinking, not of tn
scene through which they were pass
ing, but of the girl who had left tn
car.
A Jew years before Frank Hal
broker and Felix Corwin had finished
at Harvard. They were in the sam
class, and had gone in the same set
bit while each liked the other fairI,
well, there had been no intimacy be
tween them. Indeed, Corwil
had forgotten that Boston
where he was spending a fev
days on business, was Halbroker'
home, and the fact would doubles
never have occurred to his mind hat
not Miss Halbroker come upon th
scene. Since then Halbroker's stocl
had risen tremendously in Corwin'
opinion; what good fellow Fran
was and how he should enjoy talkinI
our college days with himl He de
termined to look him up that yer,
night, and, incidentally meet hi
charming sister.
Halbroker, not having had hi
memory logged in such pleasan
way was rather at loss to accoun
for Corwin's warmth when he Gale,
that evening, and it was not unit
Felix, after talking for half an hou
about old Harvard, returned to as
if he might have the honor Of meet
ing his sister, that light dawned upo
him.
He called her in, introduced her t
Felix and then apologlzed for q pre-
vious engagement, asked to be ex
cused. Felix expressed deep regre
at his friends unavoidable departure
but succeeded in banishing all saint
ness as he settled down to spend
comfortable evening with his sister
She proved as charming IN conver
sation as in person, and after stayinI