The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-29
Inc Story Of Loo.


she was so pretty that although there
| were already FIVE on my side Of the car
rage, / willingly made room for her by
| me, thereby seriously accommodating q
| stout lady on my right.
Jump in. Charlie she said to young
| man who was following her. and he jump
| ed in, though the four passengers on the
other side spread themselves ostentatiously
| out.
My, that was run, and no mistakei
she said. painting and tanning herself with
a paper. IF we'd missed the train DOM
believe they'd have waited for us"
Not likely" said Charlie, who had by
row wedged himself in. Why. we shan,
be in Richmond now before l."
They were obviously going on the river,
as his scarlet and orange blazer, bright
tan Shoes and sweater indicated: his straw
hat bore the Magdalen badge, but dom;
think ne was aware of il, and he carried
a fishing-rod.
She was about L., brown hair and lashes
adorable curves) white teeth, and dimples.
and her muslin blouse fitted her in a
way that almost excused her velveteen
skirt and the feathers in her hat.
AS the train moved out of Vauxhall she
suddenly became aware of my existence,
and turned to me with a smile.
I'm afraid I'm crowding you dread
fully"
Not bit / have plenty Of room"
Come over here and sit beside me.
Loo" said Charlie, who also seemed sud-
denly aware of my existence.
No, thank you, Pm very comfortable
where I am she said. demurely.
Come over ere when 1 tell you," said
1F he pr;t h1,S-
band in future.
By this time all the carriage was in
terested in the question.
when you tell me-" repeated Loo in a
tone of scorn. 81 never heard yet that a
girl isn't free to sit where she likes so
long as other people don't object, and this
gentleman says I'm not inconveniencing
him"
ION the contrary" 1 said. but to this
day 1 don't know what 1 meant.
Charlie felt his character was at stake.
Look here, / don't want no nonsense.
When / bring a young lady out for the
day 1 expect her to be'ave as such, and
rot go carrying on with the fust lantern
jawed biinking-eyed fool she comes
across"
1 protest this description could not fairly
be applied to me, and yet undoubtedly
Charles eyes were fixed thresteningly on
my face.
81 hope, Mr. wilkins, you don't think
you're doing me a favor bringin' me out.
There's more than you only ready and
willing to take me out" said Loo, with
sudden and awful dignity.
81 should like to know who they are,"
said Mr.. Wilkins, with much skepticism.
Your betters, anyhow"
A young man by the window here tit
tered audibly, and Mr.. Wilkins showed
signs of apoplexy.
Very well, then. If I'm not good
enough for you, you can bloomin' well go
out by yourself. I'll bid you good after
noon"
The train had Just pulled up at Clapham
Junction, suiting the action to the word,
he stepped out. 1 could see his orange
and scarlet shoulders pushing their way
through the crowd with no sign of falter-
ing.
IT don't mind, I'm sure" said Loo, with
q jaunty toss Of the plumes but thought
her pretty and red underlip quivered a
little, and as we approached Richmond she
became manifestly downcast.
Most of the passengers had got out at
Putney, and at Mortlake there only re-
manned one old man absorbed in the pic
ture puzzles of a weekly paper, so we
were practically alone.
81 am afraid you are in trouble. Can
help your said, softly.
The brown eyes met mine suspiciously
dark and there was culver in her mouth
as she said:
Tit is very disappointing when you
think you are going out for the day for
for your friend to go off and leave you"
Very; but haven't you got some more
friends in the train? Could you join
them"
Without him? Nice and sarcastic they'd
be about it. 1 would give them the salts
faction. No; suppose I'd better go home,
and-and 1 shant have another day out
for a. month";
Two tears started to roll silently down
her pink cheeks.
Shouldn't I do instead?"
you? But 1 don't know you"
THAT is my misfortune, not my fault"
The tears spiashed off her round chin
on to the muslin blouse, but there were
no successors.
What would the others say?'
II don't know. If we go on to Twick-
enham and change there for Hampton
Court, you needn't know either
Hampton Court. o, it would be jolly,
and it would pay him out, too"
Eyes. you ought to think of that"
Privately, 1 thought she might forget
him, but apparently she was of a rare
fidelity. for at o'clock, when, after
most delightful pull, and tea ar a riverside
hotel, We were drifting dreamily back to-
ward Hampton Court, she said suddenly:
II wonder what Charles doing now?"
Drowning his sorrows in drink, per-
haps"
20, no, Charlie isn't one OF the drinkin'
sort. He takes his pint al dinner and
supper, and that's about all, but do hope
he won't get TO hear of this. He's awfully |
jealous, as you saw in the train-can't
bear me 10 so much as look at another |
man. He'd think OF knocking you down |
Il he heard OF me coming out with you |
like this
II don't see how he is to hear OF IT." |
We'll, l don't want TO be deceitful to- !
ward him." she said meditatively, and |
always was the worst hand at keeping |
a secret
But don't you think for his own hap
piness Mr.--er--Wilkins had better not hear |
about tbs expedition
~ don't know / shouldn't Ike TO de- /
ceive him. He is very honorable himself, |
for ali he's so hasty in his temper. He |
was fined five shillings for punching the /
head Of a man who winked at me"
There was pride IN her voice, and she /
seemed Quie Indifferent as to the unpless-
ant consequences her remorseful can6or 1
might entail or me.
II was not a subject on which 70 argue
but decided not 10 go back to town with |
her. Our parting should be a. Molesly
Station. but when I put her into a car
-iage and held out my hand TO her. her