Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-09-17
THAT INTERVIEW.


We were in parlor car on the Ca
madam Pacific, 40 miles out of Moose
jaw, and westward bound. met three
civil engineers, in the employ of the
company, at Winnipeg, and we were
Cumming it to Vancouver.
"Not half bad looking" said Parkin
under his breath.
"Deuced fine looking girl, +" said Gra-
ham, with an admiring glance in the
direction of the star passenger.
"Clean built and well groomed,
muttered Clarke critically. 81 wonder
how she talks. -
I 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 could have
sworn that, as her eyes met mine over
the top of the book, there was an ex-
preston in them which said as plainly
as words could have conveyed the idea,
"I desire to communicate.
1t was like flash, this gesture of the
girl across the way, and possibly I
might have been mistaken. Could she
have been simply tossing back stray
lock of the golden sheen that enveloped
her handsome headp Perhaps-but
then, that glance.
stLet's 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 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 the
magazine. Her 1ustrous 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, L reflected, it was
well to be guarded in such matters.
Having filed my cigar case from box
in my grip, preserving meanwhile what
1 have always fattered myself was an
air of Indifference, made a move to re-
join my companions. Then, with quick
| motion of the body, a nervous gesture OF
the hand, she spoke.
"I beg your pardon, she said. Ct
er-that is-will you grant me mo-
| ment's conversation?"
| Ah, the voice was not disappointing
quite the reverse I thought-we1
| modulated, subdued, ladylike, in
| word, but Enthusiastically American.
"I shall be profoundly honored,"
answered, approaching the plush throne
of my fascinating neighbor.
"Pray sit tdown-er-that is-if am
not OBTAINING you" she went on, with
the sweetest smile in the world, indicat-
| ing at the same time seat opposite her
own.
Coolest cheek ever encountered,
was my silent reflection. but sat down
and awaited developments.
"It is so-er-such difficult matter
to approach, - she began in queer sort
of way. ''I wish we knew each other a
little better, you know. :"
"Heaven send the opportunity" /
spoke with all the gallantry at my COM
mand. "Lost her purse-wants to bor-
row money-father minister in Mont
real, and all that sort of thing" I
thought, and then kicked myself for
harboring such an idea. eff I can be of
any possible seryice,'' said, "I shan
be charmed.
"Sir,' she replied, with an appealing
gesture, "you are able to render me an
| immense service-if you will But stay
| of course you consider my addressing
you in this manner an unpardonable i'm
| pertinence. 1 am an American, you
| know" she continued, with a quaint
| little pride in the saying OF it, land
| with a touch of heroics) a business
woman"
ssPardon me, {" ventured ga lady
can address a gentleman under almost
apy conceivable circumstances.
fWill you, then, accept my card, /"
she proceeded, offering tiny slip of
cardboard. took it and read the in
scription. Margaret Stanford, Special
| Correspondent. " In the lower left hand
corner was printed in larger type the
name of a well known San Francisco
paper
ed. I 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
| IL, and then, without more ado, went
/ at the heart of her dilemma.
eDo you know the crown prince Of
Austria?' she began.
"No-I left Vienna when only
and''-
"oh, please don't frivol, !" cried my
little friend from Frisco. Its too seri-
ous matter.
'twhat2 Knowing the prince or not
knowing him?''
both, y 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