The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-05-21


said she was going to watch the moon
! light Oh the mountains from the plat.
form and opened the door to go out.
finding for the first time that No. 81
was the "ender." In her disappoint.
ment she protested against this and
wanted to know the why and wherefore.
"We shall have far less motion.
Madge," Mr.. Cullen explained. "And
then we shan't have the rear end man
in our car at night"
"But I don't mind the motion"
urged Miss Cullen, land the flagman is
there only after we are all in our
rooms. Please leave us the VIEW
81 prefer the present arrangement,
Madge,' said Mr. Cullen in a very
positive voice.
was so sorry for Miss Cullen's dis.
appointment that, ON impulse I said,
"The platform of 81 is entirely at your
service, Miss Cullen. The moment it
was out 1 realized that I ought not to
have said it and that deserved re-
Duke for supposing she would use my
car.
Miss Cullen took it better than I
hoped for and was declining the offer
as kindly as my intention had been in
making it when, much to my astonish-
ment, her father said:
"By all means, Madge That relieves
us of the discomfort of being the last
car, and yet let's you have the scenery
and moonlight.
Miss Cullen looked at her father for
a moment, as if not believing what she
had heard. Lord Rallies scowled and
/ opened his mouth to say something, but
checked himself and only flung his dis
card down as if he hated the cards.
'Thank you, papa, said Miss Gull
len. But think 1 will watch you
play"
"Now, Madge, don't be foolish"
said Mr.. Cullen irritably "You might
just as well have the pleasure, and
you'll only disturb the game if you stay
here.
Miss Cullen leaned over and whisper
ed something, and her father answered
her. Lord Rallies must have heard, for
he muttered something which made
Miss Cullen color up, but much good it
did him, for she turned to me and said,
"Since my father doesn't disapprove, I
will gladly accept your hospitality, Mr..
| Gordon. And, after glance at Lord
Rallies that had challenging "I'll do
as please" in it, she went to get her
hat and coat
The whole incident had not taken ten
seconds, yet it puzzled me beyond meas
ure, even while my heart beat with an
unreasonable hope, for my better sense
told me that it simply meant that Lord
Rallies disapproved, and Miss Cullen,
like any girl Of spirit, was giving him
notice that he was not yet privileged to
control her actions. Whatever the scene
meant, his lordship did not like it, for
he swore at his luck the moment Miss
Cullen had left the room.
When Miss Cullen returned we went
back to the rear platform of 81. let
down the traps, closed the gates, got
campstool for her to sit on, with cush-
ion to lean back ON and footstool, and
fixed her as comfortably as could, even
getting travelling rug to cover her lap,
for the plateau air was chilly. Then
hesitated moment, for / had The feel
ing that she had not thoroughly approx
ed of the thing and therefore she might
not like TO have me stay. Yet she was
so charming in the moonlight, and the
little balcony the platform made was
such a tempting spot to linger on, while
she was there, that it wasn't easy to go.
Finally Asked
You are quite comfortable Miss
CullenP'
"Sinfully So, she laughed.
"Then perhaps you would like to be
left to enjoy the moonlight and your
meditations by yourself?" / questioned.
I knew ought to have said more butt
simply couldn't ,nhen she looked SO en-
ticing.
Do you want to go?' she asked.
NO" calculated, SO forcibly that
she gave little startled jump in her
chair. "That isl mean," 1 suffered,
embarrassed by my own vehemence, CIV
rather thought you might not want me
to stay"
"What made you think that?' she de-
manded.
L am not q good hand at inventing
explanations. After moments seeking
for some reason pumped out, ssBe-
cause feared you might not think il
proper to use my car, and suppose it's !.
my presence that made you think it." {
She took my stupid tumble very nice
ly, laughing merrily while saying, eff
you like mountains and moonlight. Mr..
Gordon, and don't mind the lack of n
chaperon, set stool for yourself too"
What was more, she offered me half of
the lap robe when was seated beside
her.
1 think she was pleased by my offe,
to go away, for she talked very pleas
antly and far more intimately than she
mad ever done before, telling me facts
about her family, her Chicago life, her
travels and even her thoughts. From
this learned that her elder brother
was an Oxford graduate, and that Lord
Rallies and his brother were classmates.