Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-11-23
THAT INTERVIEW.

company, AT winnipeg, ana we were
cumming it to Vancouver.
"Not half bad looking" said Parkin
under his breath.
"Douced fine looking girl, said Gra-
ham, with an admiring glance in the
direction Of the star passenger.
"Clcan built and we'll groomed,"
1nuttored Clarke critically. 81 wonder
how she talks.
had been regarding the young wom-
an carefully. She was very pretty, but
that was not alone what caused me to
transgress the rules of good breeding by
staring hard at our charming vis-a-vis.
Was it fancy? At any rate l could have
sworn that, rs her eyes met mine over
the top of the book, there was an ex-
preston i'll them which said as plainly
as words could have conveyed the idea,
81 desire to communicate. "
1t was like a flash, this gesture of the
girl across the way, and possibly l
might have been mistaken. Could she
have been simply tossing back stray
lock of the golden sheen that enveloped
her handsome head? Perhaps-but
then, that glance.
Lets go and smoke" said Parkin
rising and making for the smoking COM
partment.
"I'll join you in moment" said,
and my companions filed out. AS they
disappeared down the aisle I cast a
guarded glance in the direction of the
young woman. She had dropped the
book to her knees and was leaning for
ward slightly. One white hand lay on
the plush covered arm of the seat, the
other still separated the leaves of tho
magazine. Her lustrous eyes were gaz-
ing straight at me. Her lips, parted
slightly, seemed about to address me-
Surely there could be no mistaking the
situation, but still, | reflected, it was
well to be guarded in such matters
Having tillod my cigar case from box
i'll my grip, preserving meanwhile what
l have always fattered myself was an
air of Indifference, made move to re-
Join my companions. Then, with quick
motion of the body, a nervous gesture of
the hand, she spoke.
81 beg your PARDON" she said. "I-
er--that is-will you grant me mo-
ment' conversational
All, the voice was not disappointing
quito the reverse l thought-well
modulated, subducd, ladylike, in
word, but unmistakably American.
II shall be profoundly honorod,"
answered, approaching the plush throne
of my fascinating neighbor.
Pray sit down-,er-that is-if am
not OBTAINING you," she went on, with
the sweetest smile in the world, indicat-
ing at the same time a seat opposite her
own.
Coolest check l ever encountered,
was my silent reflection, but l sat down
and awaited developments.
1T is so-er-such difficult matter
to approach, " she began i'll queer sort
of way II wish we knew each other
little better, you know
"Heaven send the opportunity" 1
spoke With all the gallantry at my COM
mand. Lost her purse-wants to bor-
row moncy-father minister in Mont
real, and all that sort of thing" l
thought, and then kicked myself for
harboring such an idea. IF | can be of
any possible SERVICE" l said, "I shall
be charmed"
'Sir, she replied, with an appealing
gesture ''you are able to render me an
immense scrvice-if you will. But stay
of course you consider my addressing
you in this manner an unpardonable i'm
pertinence. | am an American, you
know" she continued, with a quaint
little pride i'll the saying of it, "and
(with touch of heroics) business
woman.
Pardon me, ventured "a lady
can address a gentleman under almost
any conceivable circumstances.
"Will yoa, then, accept my card,
she proceeded, offering u tiny slip of
cardboard. l took it and read the in
scription. Margaret Stanford, Special
Correspondents In the lower left hand
corner was printed i'll larger type the
name Of a well known San Francisco
paper.
"Ah, have heard of you, I remark
ed | never had, but then it is the
proper thing to say to a newspaper
woman. She likes you all the better for
it, although satisfied that you have lied.
Miss Stanford smiled graciously.
"That was nice of you," she said quiet
ly, and then, without more ado, went
at the heart of her dilemma.
"Do you know the crown prince of
Austrian" s,.e began.
"No--I left Vienna when only
and
ooh, please don't frivol," cried my
little friend from Frisco Its too seri-
Gus d matter" ."
"What? Knowing the prince or not
knowing him?"
Both" she replied, with an air Of
evaporation. "But listen. The Crown
Prince Ferdinand of Austria is on this
train. His car is special in the rear Of
ouls, and he is touring the Rockies.
have been sent to obtain an interview
with him, but my card has been return
ed twice by Count Somebody or other,
who is ono of the suite. To all intents
and purposes the prince has refused to
see me.
"The idiot" ejaculated-"c "cr-I-
mcan-the man must he insane
ono, " said Miss Stanford, ignoring
my rcmmk, "hc's been talked to death,
that'a all. l overheard your conversa-
tion and discovered your profession.
You are newspaper man."
"True," said, "but if the prince
! will not receive you he certainly will