The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-08
A CAR ROMANCE.

ure The world was bright, the future
full of glorious hopes. There were no
clouds, no disappointments anywhere on
the horizon, nothing but joy.
A glance at her as she stepped lightly,
airily into the car, absorbed only in her.
self, told all this.
She saw no one; she wanted to see no
one except the conductor, with whom she
was impatient, for he did not Immediately
collect the fare held between the dainty
fingers. She was pretty-very pretty
Withal she was not conceited. A girl she
was that could be loved and would love
with the devotion Of sweet IS. Love, I'M
bounded love, made everything scintillate.
1t was near the beginning of the line
that she took the car. Arnold Fessenden
was the only other passenger, but he was
not seen. Fair paid, the young lady
reached for the inside of her muff and
Withdrew three letters. Fessenden, sitting
just opposite, could not but see that two
were written in masculine hands, while
the third was evidently of feminine origin,
as the sharp, angular writing plainly
showed. One was addressed Local, 3" the
second Town. while the third, that of
the bold, round business hand, was from
Minneapolis. The cut of the West hotel
was recognized easily. This was the prize.
The other letters, none of which had been
opened, were dashed back into the muf in
disdain. But the otheri The envelope
was tough. 1t resisted, and just then the
tiniest evidence OF a pout before the horrid
paper tore irregularly.
There were several pages closely written.
Her eyes began to brighten. The address
ing words were not less than three in
number, two of the three began with
"Ds.'' The pout disappeared. The
cheeks dimpled, tho mouth parted and the
pearliest pair Of regular teeth just showed.
She was in raptures. Thus she read the
letter througj totally unconscious that
she was rejecting in her face every emo
ton she felt, every hope she had. Now
there was frown, then q smile, and thus
the streets went by.
The passengers came and aliRhted, but
for the young lady, she was as oblivious
to her surroundings as though repoSing in
her own boudoir.
The pages were turned back SO that
Fessenden could see them. 1t was wrong;
it was ungentlemanly, but then he was
thinking that he might want to make
some vivacious miss beam at future day,
and was thirsting to plagiarize the words
this fond admirer was using. So thor
oughly was the young lady wrapped in her
own thoughts that, unconsciously, the
words in her heart were formed on her
lips and could be partly interpreted by
her vis-a-vis.
He believed he could read her every idea.
t'God bless him. he thought she said.
while he is away. He is so good, SO
thoughtful Of my feelings. I'll not speak
to any one.'' Similarly she went through
the letter, giving physical expression to
the air castles she was building. Fessen-
den only caught a sentence here and there,
but dearest, "darling,' sweetheart,
were scattered in profusion, while he saw
'tHave thought only of you, "Been busy
day and night mo chance to CALL :"
lawfully tired,'' "Want to be home
With
On the last page she fingered longingly
over the concluding words. There was just
q suspicion of a sigh, another happy ex-
preston on her face. and she began to fold
up the letter. But, no. Again she reread
particularly fascinating sentence and re-
placed the letter il the muff.
1t was that OF the angular hand. She
glanced through it hastily, giving but lit
tie evidence of interest in it's contents.
| Then change. She fairly absorbed ev-
cry letter of the sentence. deep blush
spread over the fair complexion. She bit
| her lip until the blood almost broke
through the tender skin; the eyes became
| moist, and there was the slightest tremor
| to her hands as she held the tinted sta
| tionery Undoubtedly she was deeply af-
fected, and single tear glistened on tho
! eyelid before she quickly brushed it away
Fessenden was unable to comprehend
what had occurred until, by the dropping
| of leaf, he diScerned that the letter was
signed. "Your dearest friend, Bettie' He
also saw enough to understand that Bette
had said, 81 received a long letter this
morning from Melton Granville, whom
you confided to me you were SO fond Of.
He is in Minneapolis this week, as l sup
pose you know. Isn't it lovely that he is
having such grand timer Most hospitable
people he ever met. And the girls-he
simply raves over them. Way behind with
his business; nothing but receptions and
hops Don't you envy him?".
The poor girl gladly would have been in
| her own coy little room, where she could
have given way to q woman's greatest re-
lief If she could have had a good cry, her
pent up feelings might have been relieved.
Her dir castles had been blown away, her
:dols shattered. She felt that she had been
deceived. Her heart was almost broken.
Fessenden is a sympathetic fellow, and
his feelings followed those of the young
| girl, though in more manly WY. His
proves as college athlete recalled itself.
| His feats on the football field and in the
college "ring'' flashed across his memory,
and if he could have visited Minneapolis
by some spiritualistic means he would have
! administered thrashing to the heartless
young man who had caused the pain,
| which would have made him desire hos
pital cot rather than a ballroom chair.
Fessenden almost lost his heart. He was
! sorely tempted to seek an introduction
through some mutual acquaintance. The
knowledge that this would surely bring
out his dishonorable conduct in reading
the exposed letters deferred him.
The letter went back to the muff, and
she withdrew the one which she had left
| unnoticed.
It was the second of the masculine hand
| brief and apparently formal; in fact. q
note. 1t was quickly disposed of, but its
contents undoubtedly were as soothing as
the "good cry'' which had been barely
avoided. The CLEAN of success shone in
the eye The color, which had faded