The Van Buren press., 1897-04-03
SONG WITHOUT WORDS.
ny JOSEPH 5. ROGERS.

cred with deep snow.
She Ii dressed IN a tighfiy-htting trav-
ding suit of gray broadcloth, with a
high collar Of dark. rough cloth. Her
hat is a dainty little makeup Of black
velvet and graceful feathers. A small
cluster Of white lace, peeping out from
beneath the crown, lends a soft light TO
her calm countenanee and deepeus the
shade Of her dark auburn hair. Her
wistfui eyes are Of such deep, intense
blue that in certain lights they seem al
most black.
She has thrown her sealskin cloak on
the seat in front Of her. where also rests
her satchel. By her side lies novel
open-wise; and on the window sill a
bunch Of yiolets.
She il Thoughtful, and the dismal land
fcape she gazes upon serves neither 10
aampen nor reanimate her spirits, for
the sees it not; and IL il all one 10 her
whether the train be snowbound or
speeding swiftly on toward its destina-
ton. Her mind II filed with other
images and impressions. The gay sea
son which Lent had just ended 50 cruel
Iy--its balls and its theatera, its teas
aud reeeptions-th hold her
thoughts. Her conguests, her social
trinmphs-the homage she has won
from men and the envy she has evoked
from the woHnen-nre the subject Of the
many pictures that fit before her mind.
And the deepest and kcenest Of all il the
= - Il
these, homeward bound, where there
awaits her-sackeloth and ashes, and
fasting and prayer. What a change.
She languIdly signs and turns from the
window. She picks up the novel. me
ehanicslly reads a page, and then be-
gins staring blankly at the last line. for
the sound of the '.twostep" rings in her
ears and the wnirl Of the dance i before
her again.
lie boards the train at Helena. As he
passes up the aisle he casts a careless
glance at The form Of the young lady,
who, with a dainty handkerchief across
her face, had long since fallen asleep.
lie shrugs his shoulders and passes on
10 the seat directly in front Of his fair
slumbercr. Here, after the porter has
deposited his luggage, he begins to
make himself comfortable. He removes
his great coat, hangs his hat on the rack.
draws a paper from his pocket, sits
down, and begins thinking.
swell, here | am at last. 1t win be a
deuced long time before I'll see any
Of the girls of Helena again. wonder
what this one behind me looks like?
Not much for beauty. I'll wager; other
wise she wouldn't have covered up her
face. Girls are queer creatures any
way. Now. well see what the news is. 3"
lie stretches himself out in the seat,
opens his paper, and begins reading
just as the young lady awalies with u
ftart. She snatches the handkerchief
from her eyes and looks about her in
half dazed fashion. Seeing the top of
the newcomers head, she wonders
where he came from. Then, consulting
her watch:
Half past two! Al, l understand
we must have passed through Helena
while was asleep. How stupid Of me!
lie boarded the train there, | suppose.
i wonder what he looks like. Horrid
of him to show nothing but the top Of
his head above the top of that seat.
do know something about palmistry,
but phrenology, pshaw! He's keeping
mighty still; ! wonder If he's gone to
sleep. No; there's the corner Of paper.
Hes rcading-reading all about the
brutal prize fight, I'm sure; men are
ruch horrid creatures"
She picks up the novel and turns the
leaves languidly.
He rests the paper on his knee and
assumes listening attitude.
"Humphl awake at last, and reading
that yeilow-coycrcd literature saw Oh
the seat by her side. The Duchess. or
Sarah Grand Sweet stories, so fun of
feeling and paihos,' they say"
He clasps his hands behind his head.
She lowers the novel and
"Well, there's an addition. They are
right large-nails well kept-gentle-
manly instinct. Finger-ends square
determination. Large knuckles-
ual labor Pshawl how in the world
am / to tell anything about him from
lis nails and his knuckles? How stupid
Of me 10 sleep 20 longl"
She removes her hat and smoothes
back her hair.
81 look a fright. I'm sure. There,
he's stirringl"
She seizes the novel and Immediately
becomes absorbed.
lie sits up. "Tantalizing, I've Just
got To see what she looks like, that's
al there is about IL. I'll rise up and
teke that newspaper from my overcoat
pocket"
He rises and, as he reaches for the
paper. carelessly looks down the aisle.
She lowers the book and quite un-
concernedly looks up.
Their eyes meet for second; then he
ats down.
Cad she's as fine as silk"
my, isn't he lovelyl"
"What a forml"
"How tall. and dark, and manlyl"
'Fine color Wonder il it's uatural?"
II would love 10 know what he Is.
Those checlIered trousers are a little
lJud."
she's as cold as an iceberg, though,
I'll bet"
Hell be speaking 10 me next. IN
esse = be very circumspcet"