The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-20
PROPINQUITY.

1T couldn't cough You wouldn't have
heard me-"
"You might have sung out"
"Heyf"
Kearney made trumpet Of his hands.
"You might have sung out"
"You'd have thought 1t was hotbo1
squeaking."
"There was no necessity whatever 70,
giving warning, captain"
"Thanks, Miss KittyI I'm pleased to
hear it.
"Won't you come and sit DOWN" Kitty's
treble shrilled above the rumbling, rat.
thing, humping Of the wheels.
The captain bent over her, steadying
himself by the brake. NO." he scream
ed. "I'm not the man to be No. 8, even on
the back platform Of train. But I'm a
bringer Of bad news"
Miss Foster gave an effective start which
resulted In bringing her tiny hand flutter-
ing down upon Kearney's shoulder. "Oh,
what" she cried.
"Only that your good mother says am
to tell you that 1t is not nice for little girls
to stay out on back platforms at II O'Clock
on starry night, and that you must come
In"
But It's so hot and smoky in there"
she answered demurely, folding her hands
and settling back against the car. II
can't possibly stand it I've most dread
full headache" She closed her eyes and
threw back her head. The captain and
Kearney got the full benefit of the length
and curve Of her lashes and of the curls
blowing across her brow.
Miss Kitty, Miss Kitty, fear you are
Q slippery young eel"
"No, I'm not Really, my head does
ache. Nobody ever believes that can feel
bad or be In earnest" Her round eyes
rested on the starry sky at an angle which
allowed Kearney to sec that they were I'LL
ed with tears.
"Oh, come, captain, don't tease the
child! She has headache, and the airs
good for her. Tell Mrs Foster that I'll
bring her in directly"
Captain Mason shook his head and went
away. Appleton is looking fierce" he
called back over his shoulder
"What did he say about Lieutenant Ap-
pleton?" asked Kitty. Kearney repeated
what about"
"You, perhaps"
Miss Foster smiled frankly. 1T don't
believe so, she said.
Doesn't he still hopeP'
Dear, mop and this time there was
ring of unmistakable truth in her tones.
"You threw him over rather sudden
lke2"
II didn't. He threw me over-truly.
1t was stupid muddle about--about Mr..
SAKE, and rose and-things."
1.-THE things leaves room for imagina-
tion."
Miss Foster IGNORED this with a smile
and sat silently looking at the plain ma n
unrolled before them in the NIGHT like
wide bale of dark cloth. brooaded with
CROSSWORD bushes, Now and then the
train rumbled over q small trestle. and thu
white post numbering it shot past, The
telegraph poles wbisked by, and ths wiraa
rose and fall like the swells Of the soa
Far off across the darlt nroirio n u,bt
CLEANED at long intervals in the window
OF house that was invisible. but for them
Il was ALWAYS. mjnute after minnte hour
after hour, the whirling monotony Of the
plain in the night. the steady arch Of the
gray blue sky glittering with stars. Rum.
Bile, thump, rattle, rattle, rumble, thumb
and the ground whizzed past, and the tele.
graph poles darted by, and the cool wind
heavy with the greasewood odor. wbistled
around them, but Kitty sat looking
straight before her. and her tinv hands
were still folded on her knees. She knew
that Kearney was wild over every moment
she was making him waste.
At last she sighed. 1t was a mighty
sigh, which cost Miss Foster a severe nhvs-
ical effort, but she meant it to be heard
above the rattle and the wind. II was
heard, and a hand Shining YEARLY and
carelessly from her knee Touched the lieu.
tenants palm. The hand was caught
and held. There was silence again.
Then Miss Foster struggled properlv
hard to release her fingers, but she failed,
"You mustn't hold my hand, " she remon.
strated.
"Why9"
because.
"Is there any other good reasonp"
Miss Foster nodded.
"Tell me-"
IAN engaged girl shouldn't let her hand
ba hold -