Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-04-21
4 BUNCH Of VlOLETs.
BY v. ETYNaE MITCHELL.

cups and open.eyed daisies, over hills
on which the lights and shadows OF q
summer morning were playing hide
and seek, through valleys where
drowsy cattle were grazing by the
side Of idle brooks, rushed the express
train known as 1.-THE Wild 1rishman,"
running between London and Holy.
head.
Seated in one Of the center car.
riages, which had no other occupant
than herself, was a young girl whose
face had the exquisite coloring Of a
portrait by Titan. Large brown
eyes shaded by curling lashes were In
strange yet pleasing contrast to the
golden hair which fell in wilful little
curls about her forehead.
As they neared Chester, the only
station at which the train stopped on
its long journey, the young lady
leaned forward and watched with
slight interest, the eager crowd Of
men and women who awaited the ar.
rival Of the cars.
II wonder what fate has in store
for me in the way Of travelling com.
panion," she murmured, and the
answer to her thought came almost
Immediately, as q gentleman wearing
the costume Of q traveller, and with q
much bronzed face, entered the com.
partment.
selAshly regretting the disturbance
Of her solitude, the young woman
opened book, which she had drawn
from her taveling bag, and appeared
to be entirely absorbed In its perusal.
The newcomer ut once proceeded
to make himself comfortable, stow.
ing away parcels and umbrella, and
finally taking possession Of a seat Mt
the opposite end OF the car, facing
his fellow-traveler, but barely glanc.
Ing ut her.
Only the sound Of the busy wheels
or the whir OF q passing train dis
turbed the quiet OF the journey. The
stranger had followed the example Of
bis vis.a.vis, and having taken out Q
newspaper, was soon lost In Its con.
| tents.
BY and by O mischievous south
wind, blowing with impertinent fa-
miliarity through the open window,
disarranged the fluffy curls peeping
from under the girls hat. She rose
impatiently to shut out the offender,
but fate ordained that the window
should stick, whereupon she glanced
with feminine helplessness ut the
man who had dropped his paper and
was looking full ut her.
For the first time their eyes met,
and bow OF coldly formal recogni.
ton passed between them.
"Miss st. john" he murmured,
II hardly expected to meet you here.
Allow me" And, closing the
window, he quietly returned to his
former position, while she, having
expressed her thanks by an inclina.
ton OF the head, resumed her novel.
The constraint OF their position
was uncomfortable to the couple, who
had evidently met and parted on
some occasion which had either left
them unfriendly or almost as
strangers.
From under his heavy eyebrows
the young man covertly watched his
companion. She was holding hel
book upside down. A smile broke
upon his lips as he observed this, and
rafting his newspaper noisly to at.
tract her attention he leaned forward
impulsively determined to break the
silence by addressing her.
"May inquire how your sister
Mrs. Arlington, IL? She raised hel
head, but not looking ut him replied
with freezing encouragement o
tone.
quite we'll"
"Ah, and your mother with quie
persistence), ! hope she Is better
Miss st. John. Am I correct in nd
dressing you by the old name? 70,
may have changed It,"
"You are quite correct" she re
turned icily.
Through the window nearest to Mr.
Dennison a saucy bee, giddy will
clover, bounced with noisy jocular
ity; then, regretting his imprison
ment, strove to escape from it by fly
ing with spiteful buzzing against tn
face Of the young lady, who CAV
vent to little scream which she In
stantly suppressed.
II see that you retain your an
tipathy to bees" remarked tn
young man, placidly folding his arm
and smiling; 'some things are un
changed"
"Among them your disagreeabl
habit Of teasing" replied Miss 81
John, and turned her attention t.
some russet-colored cattle tina
lifted their heads from the tall ree'
grasses to gaze in open-eyed wonde
at the passing train.
Don't you think" suggested MI
Dennison, when the silence again be
came oppressive, ''that, as we ar
likely to be shut up together in thi
compartment for two full hours,
might be more philosophical-not t
say agreeable-if we raise flag @
trucef We can confine ourselves t
commonplaces-the weather, catch
ing bees, or other harmless topics.
"Ohl confine yourself to catchin
bees, by all MEANS" she cried ner,
ously, as the insect in question re
minded them Of his presence b
bouncing against the ear Of tn
young lady.
~ have no objection to an occasions
interchange OF remarks about tn
weather." she added more genially q
she watched DR.. Dennison chase tn
/ J. a. .o,,r,l, xka ,,,sr I1,r