Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-06-10
On CHICAGO LIMITED

1t Is the twilight time OF the busiest,
Eiaddest. most hurried day in all the
year-the day before Christmas. The
scene Is the Grand Central depot. that
portal through which, in the morning,
pour the countless thousands who are
as the sands Of the shore In the midst of
the great city; through which at night
these countless thousands dc part, and
the city knows not that they have gone.
On this evening the crowd is q glad
and a merry one, and though there
Is much pushing and jostling every one
Is goOd-natured; for. indeed. is not this
the eve of gladness-that gladness
which is the touch Of nature making
the whole world kin?
In the waiting-room Of that road
which leads to Chicago, on the edge of
the crowd forcing its way through the
narrow gateway leading to the limited
train. Is q little lady, who to a keen
eyed observer shows n notable lack OF
the holiday atmosphere. She Is fault
lcssly tailor made as to garbing. she
Is gloved and booted and hated In the
most exactly correct of the smart
styles; and she carries a small handbag
which looks as assured and self-con-
tanned as does the little lady herself.
She waits until she can pass the gate
without being crowded, then shows her
ticket. walks through, finds her car,
hands her little bag to the porter say
ing, "Section No. g." and Is presently
comfortably seated facing the engine.
Altogether a very well regulated and
systematic little lady, but evidently n
little lady who either does not know
it is Christmas eve or, knowing, Is for
some reason trying to forget It AS
the train moves out Of the great depot
and tile little lady watches the lights
flashing rapidly by. two great tears
creep out Of her beautiful eyes and
CLEAN for q moment on the veil that
falls from the jaunty travelling hat
Soon dinner Is announced in the dining
car, and the little lady walks calmly
through the train, eats her dinner.
then as calmly returns to her place.
As the porter passes she glances at
the unoccupied section opposite and
inquiries pleasantly:
Porter, Is No. 10 not takenf'
Preserved for n party at Albany.
Miss" Is the reply.
sThen l may sit there for a while and
watch the river" says the little lady,
and she takes the seat by the window
and looks out across the Hudson and
watches the lights coming out one by
one along the Palisades. After a time
she return to her own place, takes a
novel from her sachel and settles her
self to its perusal, but by and by she
discovers that 1t Is all about a husband
and wife who become estranged, and
then make 1t all up and live happy ever.
more, and the little lady signifies her
disapproval by closing the book with
vicious bang and saying. after a mo-
ment's thought, "Neverw She then
called the porter and had her section
prepared for the night
Ere long she had drifted to that land
where dreams take possession of us
and whether she would or not hel
dreams were all about a tall, dark maj
with merry eyes, which could look Sc
we're, and with a pleasant voice which
called her Edith, and all through tn,
dream was little dog, a skye terrier
for which she did not seem to care n
all, but which seemed to have a grea
deal to do with everything-and thel
pleasant voice said briskly:
Porter, Is No. 10 readyT And tn,
voice somehow seemed to 60 with tn,
tall, dark man in the dream, and sh
half awoke with a dry little sob, an,
murmured sleepily, "Never?' and wen
back to her dreams until the sunshin
of Christmas morning came through
the curtains and brought her again t
the world Of real things. As she emere
ed from her seclusion to complete he
toilet she discovered that the opposit
section had been made up and the oc
cupant had departed to the smokin
compartment
A dress suit case and travelling Goa
were lying on the seat As her eye wa
caught by the initials on the dres
suit box her heart seemed to stan
still, then she looked hastily at tn
coat and gasped, ut Is Philip" ther
becoming conscious Of her dishevele
condition, she made . frantic rush fo
the end Of the car. When she appeare
again she was a. fresh and bloomin
- Q rosa Her ooetjoo OoanWAjlo ha