Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-10-19

'c$$tlNsSATSa4 E~ nehru me.
S$$gSSS$g SS7 'Y u might
o@SSIssSS33SSSS s;giSsS have sung out"
M1g5NNMSSS "Hey?"
IYIIMZNTNSS%so Kearney made
~ " 0O'0 w y q trumpet of his
hands. "You might have sung out. "
YOU'D have thought it was hot
box squeaking."
"Thero was no necessity whatever
for giving warning captain."
"Thanks, Miss Kitty. I'm pleased
to hear it"
"Won't you come and sit down ?"
Kitty's treble shrilled above the
rumbling, rattling, humping Of the
wheels.
The captain bent over her. steady
ing himself by the brake. "No," he
screamed, SIN not the man to be
number three, even on the back plat
form of train. But I'm bringer of
bad news"
Miss Foster gave an effective start
which resulted in bringing her tiny
hand Auttering down upon Kenrney's
shoulder. "Oh what?" she cried.
"Only that your good mother says
am to tell you that it is not nice for
little girls to stay out on back plat
forms at II o'clock on starry night
and that you must come in. "
tBut it's SO hot and smoky in
there" she answered, demurely, fold
ing her hands and settling back
against the car. 81 can't possibly
stand it; I've most dreadful head
ache" She closed her eyes and threw
back he4 head. fhe captain and
Kearney got the full benefit of the
length and curve of her lashes and of
the curls blowing across her brow.
"Miss Kitty, Miss Kitty, / fear you
are a slippery young eel"
"No, I'm not. Really, my head
does uche. Nobody ever believes that
l can feel badly or be in earnest. :"
Her round eyes rested on the starry
sky at an angle which allowed Kearney
to see that they were filled with tears.
ooh, come, captain, don't tease the
child. She has headache, and the
airs good for her. Tell Mrs. Foster
that I'll bring her in directly"
Captain Mason shook his head and
went away appleton is looking
fierce" he called back over his shoul-
der.
"What did he say about Lieutenant
AppletonP" asked Kitty. Kearny re-
peated the captains words. "Fierce
wonder what about?"
"You, perhaps"
Miss Foster smiled frankly. 81
don't believe co." she said.
Doesn't he still hope?"
Dear, no" and this time there was
a ring Of unmistakable truth in her
tones.
"You threw him over rather sudden
like"
81 didn't; he threw me over-truly
1t was stupid muddle about-about
Mr.. SAKE, and rose, nd-things.
''The things leaves room for imag-
nation"
Miss Foster ignored this with o
smile, and sat silently looking at the
plain as it unrolled before them in the
night, like wide bale of dark cloth,
brocaded with greasewood bushes.
Now and then the train rurnbled over
small trestle, and the white post
numbering it shot past The telegraph
poles whlsked by, and the wires rose
and fell like the swells OF the sea. Far
Off across the dark prairie light
cleaned, at long intervals, in the win
dow of house that was invisible; but
for them it was always. minute after
minute. hour after hour, the whirling
monotony OF the plain in the night,
the steady arch of the gray blue sky
glltterlng with stars. Rumble, thump,
rattle, rattle, rumble, thump, and the
ground whizzed past, aud the telegraph
poles darted by, and the cool wind,
heavy with the greasewood odor,
whistled around them, but Kitty sat
looking straight before her, and her
tiny hands were still folded on her
knees. She knew that Kearney was
wild over every moment she was making
him waste.
At last she sighed. 1t was mighty
sigh, which cost Miss Foster a severe
physical effort, but she meant it to be
heard above the rattle and the wind.
1t was heard; aud hand slipping
woarily and carelessly from her knee
touched the lieutenanPs palm. The
hand was caught--and held. There
was silence again.