The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-09-29

We shall get rid of the crowd there.
He was standing on the platform,
still with his hand on the sill OF the
open window. He was thinking that
it would have been pleaSanter to travel
with this handsome girl than to smoke
next door. He was in search of an eN-
cuse to change his mind and join her
Miss Milford, with a calm and unap-
proachable mien, returned his steady
gaze. An excuse was not easy to tlnd,
but just before the train started he
gave her an inkling of his intentions
by his last words:
"You will find some papers in there
if YOU care to look at them. / shall see
you again at Barnstaple; [ shall have
done my smoke by that time. Au
revoir!'
"He means to travel with me from
Rarnstaple to Noelcombe," Helen con-
cluded, closing her lips tight and not
looking amiable.
That is precisely what he had meant
and what he also proceeded to do.
At Barnstaple he entered the car
riage as though it as a matter of
course that he should do so, and,
taking the seat opposite to its occu-
pant, he said
81 hope you don't mind my coming
in here? There was such q lot of men
III the other carriage that they smoked
me out"
She made some inarticulate sound
which suggested her Indifference to his
movements.
A pile Of illustrated papers lay where
he had placed them. beside her on the
seat. He pointed at them and asked
whether she had been reading.
'It is too hot to read" she said.
perhaps you are one of those people
who can never read in train
81 read sometimes"
at makes your head ache, perhaps"
eyes, it does"
'Does it make your head ache to
look at pictures.
NO" After moments pause she
added: "But talking makes my head
ache"
I'm sorry; that is particularly I'M
fortunate, for | have question or TWO
which 1 really must ask you. You see,
/ ought to have a full description OF
your watch and purse, a minute ac-
count of your fellow travelers-every
particular, in fact, of the clrcumstan-
ces to send up to headquarters as soon
as possible. / am sorry to trouble you;
but want it down in black and white;
it would not do to trust my memory
in any important business.
He drew out a boOk-it might nave
been a note book-and pencil from MS
breast pocket, and began III business
like way to question Helen ana write
down her answers. She was impressed
nv his manner and set at ease by this
explanation of his intrusion.
'1Your name"
"Helen Milford"
"You came from Merton, you said
started about 2:3O? How far do you
live from the station?
'Two miles"
He entered this important item care
fully.
Merton is a pretty village" he re-
marked. II have often passed through
it on my way to Dromore."
Helen started and looked at him.
''You know Dromore" he pursued.
Eyes"
''The Chilterns are awfully nice peo-
pie"
Lady Chiltern was Helen's cousin
and most intimate friend; but she had
grown frigid again, for what had the
Chilterns to do with the note book or
the theft?
'Would you kindly describe your fell
low trayelers?' he proceeded, with
solemnity, his pencil poised i'll the air
and his dark eyes watching her eX-
pressive face.
"a thin, middle-aged mani thought
he was a dissenting minister-sat next
to me. There was a WOman-a smart
woman with feathers and dirty hands
opposite to me. The other people
we're men; 1 hardly looked at them. [
could not recognize either of them"
'Poor menu murmured the gentle
man. writing in his book.
This superfuity of the dialogue was
a mistake on his part. A delicate col
or rose to Helen's cheek; she averted
her eyes, and her attentions from her
vis-a-vis and fixed them on the land
scape. The scenery through which
they were passing was magnificent.
Great hills, topped with rugged bOuld-
ers Of gray granite, clothed with short
turf on which droyes of horned sheep
were browsing, Streaked and belted
with woods of oak and ash, rose
almost perpendicularly from out the
smiling valleys.
Mr.. Jones was not wanting in pene-
tration. He replaced his notebook with
a smile at his own expense, for he
soon saw that his companions atten-
ton was absorbed by the scenery at
which she was gazing with rapture in
her eyes. a pleasant smile ripping her
mouth, and that she had forgotten
him.
TIe was an admirer of fine scenery
bimself-Woods, rs covertS, and noun