Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-04-12
4 BUNCH OF VlOLE7s.
BY v. ETYNGE MITCHELL.

cups ana Open-eyeu udlSleS, Over nlil'
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 Irishman, .
running between London and Holy
head.
Seated in one of the center car
riages, which had no other occupant
than herself, was young girl whose
face had the exquisite coloring OF
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 gentleman wearing
the costume of traveller, and with a
much bronzed face, entered the com.
partment.
Selfishly 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 at once proceeded
to make himself comfortable, stow
ing away parcels and umbrella, and
finally taking possession Of seat at
the opposite end of the car, facing
his fellow-traveler, but barely glanc-
ing at her.
Only the sound of the busy wheels
or the whir Of passing train dis
turbed the quiet of the journey. The
stranger had followed the example OF
his vis-a-vis, and having taken out q
newspaper, was soon lost in it's con-
tents.
By and by mischievous south
wind, blowing with impertinent IA
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 at the
man who had dropped his paper and
was looking full at 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 her
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 l inquire how your sister,
Mrs. Arlington, is? She raised her
head, but not looking at him replied
with freezing Encouragement OF
tone.
Thank you; Mrs. Arlington is
quite WELL"
"Ah, and your mother with quiet
persistence), l hope she is better,
Miss st. John. Am l correct in adj
dressing you by the old name? You
may have changed it,"
"You are quite correct" she re-
turned icily.
Through the window nearest to Mr..
Dennison saucy bee, giddy with
clover, bounced with q noisy jocular-
ity; then, regretting his imprison-
ment, strove to escape from it by fly
ing with spiteful buzzing against the
face of the young lady, who gave
vent to little scream which she in
stantly suppressed.
II see that you retain your an
tipathy to BEES" remarked the
young man, placidly folding his arms
and smiling; ''some things are un-
changed"
Among them your disagreeable
habit of teasing" replied Miss St
John, and turned her attention to
some russet-colored cattlo that
lifted their heads from the tall reed
grasses to gaze in open-eyed wonder
at the passing train.
Don't you think" suggested Mr..
Dennison, when the silence again be-
came oppressive, that, as we are
likely to be shut up together in this
compartment for two full hours, IL
might be more philosophical-not to
say agreeable-if we raise flag OF
trucef We can confine ourselves to
commonplaces--the weather, catch
ing bees, or other harmless topics. -
"Ohl confine yourself to catching
bees, by all MEANS" she cried nerv-
ously, as the insect in question re-
minded them of his presence by
bouncing against the ear Of the
young lady.
IT have no objection to an occasional
interchange OF remarks about the