The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-01-20


mashed potato on their plates And yet
they were hungry like the rest Of us, and
ate heartily enough, But they evidently
did not know just what it was they were
eating
Cecil, we managed to whisper, ''were
We ever that oblivious?"
The grim, stern man addressed as Cecil
struggled moment with some very hot
coffee, and the replied heartlessly-
"Yes; guess we were Just such fools. "
If it had not been that there was certain
kindly, tender smile lurking in his blue
gray eyes, when he said this, what might
the consequences not have been?
All through the night the train fled on
at a fearful speed We slept but little,
and at Burlington sat up in our narrow
berth, and looked out at the pretty, quaint
looking town sleeping 50 peacefully in the
pale, still moonlight on the hill side. above
the great, dark, rushing Mississippi
In the morning dining car was put on,
and at breakfast we had the pleasure of
sitting just behind our young couple at
one of the little white tables.
The girl looked more blooming than
ever. Certainly, long journey did not
lessen or injure her young beauty any
The dark eyes shone; the fair cheeks glow
ed; the pretty hair was brushed back from
the white temples so smoothly it made one
think of rich, amber-brown satin
At .coquettish brown hat, over whose
brim fell countless little brown plumes,
surmounted this shining hair.
Papa, the owner of it was saying
smilingly, quite audaciously, "Mr.-and l
have decided we rather like being snow
blocked.
The young man looked an eager assent.
"Well, you didn't seem to mind it much,
admitted the girls father, at which both
the young people blushed considerably.
We were on the outskirts of that great
city, now-the "Queen of the West"
Occasionally we caught glimpses of the
blue, sun lit Lake Michigan. All about
us were the pretty suburbs of the huge
town-small attractive homes, surrounded
by tasteful little gardens.
Surely, these dining cars were models of
comfort One could sit slipping ones cof-
fee at the diantiest of white tables, with
most tempting and deliciously cooked little
breakfast before one, and yet have ones
eyes charmed by lovely scenery flash
ing past How much preferable, this, to
scrambling out at some forlorn little way
station and snatching hurried, miserable
meal Here one could eat as leisurely as
one liked, with every want supplied, and
the most perfect attendance.
Our grinning "Sambo, in his spotless
sacque and apron. fairly hovered around
us, so fearful was he lest we should not
have all we wished. And did he not seem
as delighted as child, when We praised
the pretty little green and gold bill of fare?
"Keep one, Mistiss-keep one! he cried
thrustipg one into our hand, and when in
return we slipped some bits of silver into
his black palm, how startling that capaci-
Gus grin became.
We found our young couple in front of
us had already secured two of the dainty
pieces of green and gold cardboard.
"I want you to keep yours in remem-
beFance of OqF pleasant trip, We heard the
young man saying; 81 mean to keep mine :"
The girl raised her luminous eyes for a
moment to his face; then dropped them.
Il shall need nothing to remind me of it, "
she said prettily.
And while these little significant asdes
were going on, how obligingly absorbed the
Young girls father remained in the Chicago
Tribune, which, with other papers, had
been brought on board at the last station !!
He, evidently, must have known the young
man before, we determined He appear
ed so perfectly at ease concerning his con-
slant presence with his daughter.
As We had finished our breakfast there
was no further excuse for remaining, so we
left the dining car for our pullman"
But we had one more glimpse Of our youth
ful couple. just as We were entering the
city they made their appearance. The
blue eyed young man wore very sober
expression, and the girls laughter did not
come quite so frequent or gayly. They
occupied the seat alone again, as the girls
father was smoking out on the platform.
We could see his broad back through the
window in the door, and could not help
laughing little at the apparent indiffer-
ence with which he received his daughters
attentions
We decided the good looking young man
must be desirable parti.
"And | may come tonight? You re-
member, you said | might, " we heard pres
emily the young fellow saying with no little
eagerness.
The girl averted her face somewhat, and
looked out rather unseeingly, we thought,
at the tall, white houses before her
The Eyes" was not very audible but her
companion seemed satisfied.
would would your ne said,
little unsteadily, and leaning slightly over
her, would you mind wearing this for me
in memory of our snow blockade