The broad ax., 1897-07-10

quiet-mannered man whose hair ano
mustache show the frosts OF age, VINO
could tell an interesting story OF an
improbable attachment II he would.
You remember the tender little love
story that appeared in magazine form
q year or two ago and which maidens
cried over and ladies speculated upon
at afternoon teas? 1t was as tantaliZ-
ing in its way as Frank Stockholm
vexatious question, the lady or the
tiger? Did Luke know? the ladies
asked each other and the answer was
according to the temperament OF the
speaker, for the author had left II a
mystery. Luke, a blum, lovable back
woodsman, tells a comrade about the
sojourn of a family OF wealth and cul-
ture in his neIghborhOod one summer
long before and about the lovely girl
Of queer actions. Every one who
reads the story as the author makes
Luke tell 1t knows that the girl loved
Luke. There II ends with no promise
OF hopes fruition. Readers wonder II
Luke ever learned the truth. The
gray-haired conductor was telling the
story to a friend who stood with him
on the platform the other day. lie
never forgot his duty long enough to
leave an angry woman waving her um-
brella frantically after the retreating
car nor carry another past her desd-
nation, but one could read in his face
the appreciation of the sadness and
poetic essence Of the midsummer tale.
THAT man is one in a thousand" said
the friend afterward. He has the
highest kind Of an opinion OF women.
He bows at their shrine as he would
at that Of a far-sway saint. He Is a
bachelor and always will be on account
Il the strangest kind Of a love story
you ever heard. He is a college man
and has a lot OF energy, though you
might think he was lacking in any
thing like ambition. After he gradu-
ated from college there was no opening
in professional or business channels
te him, for he was a poor boy who had
worked his way through college. The
support of his mother and a younger
sister then devolved upon him. He
had a chance to get work as a street.
car conductor and as that was the only
thing that presented itself he. like
a sensible man, accepted II. He had
been at work not more than three
months wher he noticed a sweet-face
girl who rode on his car two or three
times a week. She was one Of the
girls who radiate sunshine. She
smiled at every one. including the con-
ductor. His life had been a hard and
lonely one and II is no wonder that
the sight Of the gracious girl and the
delicate scent of her fayorite perfume
set him dreaming. He began to think
Of the days when he was established
in a profession and might meet this
girl as an equal He noted the bird
like turn Of her head and the tendrils
Of hair on her neck with a lovers de-
light. II he had been more Of a clod
and less Of a dreamer this wouldn't
have happened, but as 1t was he was
made ecstatically happy by the oppor
tunity to raise her umbrella or pick
up her handkerchief. He never pre-
sumed upon her mechanical politeness
He knew she was practically unaware
of his existence. But these dreamers
are strange people. Once or twice a
young man accompanied her on her
downtown trips. This caused a fierce
little pang of jealousy, but he reasoned
that she knew nothing OF his deyo-
ton, that he was not in q position to
declare himself then and would not be
until fortune smiled. She was young.
No one would take her from him for
years yet. One week he missed her.
Another passed and she did not appear.
He overheard q conversation one day
that gave him the information he de-
sired. She was Ill at her home. He
learned the address. Next day some
exquisite rcd roses cheered the sight of
the sick girl. No card accompanied
them. Every day the gift was re-
peated. One day merry party board
ed the car. The pretty girl, looking
strong and well again, and the young
man whom the conductor had noticed
before, were the center Of the crowd.
When the merry party alighted the
pretty girl looked shyly at the con-
ductor. She had q warm heart that
often led her to forget the less i'm
portant eonyentionalities. She had
bade adieu TO the cat at home. Why
not to this quiet, stern-looking man,
who she vaguely remembered. had al
ways been kinder THAI his duties re-
quired. Besides. she was 50 happy to-
night that her heart overhowed with
kind impulse. 'Good-by.' she said.
softly. I shall not ride on your line
again soon. We go to Cleveland to
live. I was married today
The hand pressure that returned
hers was gentle and respeetfui- The
mans face was ashen. He said not q
word. Tie was surprised. Perhaps
should not have done that she whis-
pered to the bridegroom Nothing
you do coEld be wrong. dear he whis-
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