The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-04-24

sits down.
"Gad! she's as fine as sikh"
"My, isn't he lovely!"
"What a formi"
"How tall, and dark, and manlyi"
"Fine color. Wonder if it's natural?"
81 would love to know what he is.
Those checkered trousers are a little
loud"
'she's as cold IS an iceberg, though,
I'll bet"
He'll be speaking to me next. I'll
have to be very circumspect."
81 wonder if she's well supplied with
magazines and periodicals? have sew
eral in my satchel,"
"He does seem to be so nice, but we
can't always tell; men are so deceitful."
"Well well, 1 believe Pm going to
have a right pleasant trip in spite Of
the weather. I'm getting devilish hun
cry, though. I'll just stroll into the
dining-car,"
''There, he's getting up again. I do
believe he's coming back here to offer
me that paper. Such i~mpudence!"
He passes down the aisle. "Gadl she
looks as naughty as a queen. Do believe
she thought 1 was going to speak to
her. Queer creatures, women" And he
goes into the dining-car.
She collapses. Dear me, he didn't
speak to me after all. He would have,
only I looked so indifferent-that I
know. 1 must be very circumspect.
Men will take advantage of the least
thing"
The next morning the snow has
ceased falling and the sun is shining
with great warmth. There is a certain
languor on her cheek'as she sits across
the car waiting for the porter to make
up her berth.
He is there, too, looking thoughtfully
out of the window.
Breakfast is announced, but he waits
until all the other passengers have filed
out. When he reaches the dining-car he
finds only n vacant place. 1t is at the
same table at which she is sitting. The
waiter conducts him to it and he sits
down.
"Devilish embarrassing! Sit here like
two dumb idiots and look at anything
but at each other. Iwould speak to her,
but she seems so confoundedly cold.
She could freeze mercury. Propriety!
What is propriety, anyway, I'd like to
know? Some fool comes along-he may
be a blackguard-but he knows both of
us, and he says: Miss So-and-So, let
me present Mr.. So-and-So?' Then we
talk each other blind with perfect pro-
priety!"
She thinks: 'Isn't it terrible! So
near me! I'm sure my cheeks are as
red as beets! ! know I can't eat a
thing, and I was SO hungry!"
She folds her hands and rests them on
the end of the table.
"a lovely hand, by love! AS slender
and white and soft, I warrant, as a
fairy's."
She signs audib4y: 'If that breakfast
would only come! I feel SO silly sit
ting here"
He grows restless: by CAD, 1 will
speak to her-iceberg or no iceberg!"
But at this juncture breakfast is
served and his opportunity for the time
being is gone.
She signs and takes up her fork.
He sweetens his coffee and the train
plungesD on.
He purposely finishes when she does,
and together they arise. He holds open
the door for her.
She acknowledges the courtesy with
a graceful bow and flushed cheek. Her
heart is beating strongly when she
again reaches the sleeper.
Somehow some subtle something has
passed. between them, and her cheeks
are pale, and the forms and faces of the
men she has lately met out have no
place in her memory, and the music OF
the "two-step' no longer rings in her
ears.
Their eyes had met across the table
and fingered a little longer, perhaps,
than twas necessary, Orwell, and their
hands, in reaching for the salt-cellar,
had touched. What a thrill!
He doesn't try to analyze his feelings.
but goes into the smoker and lights a
cigar.
When he again enters the sleeper his
eyes fall upon her great mass of auburn
hair Is she reclines with her hat off;
and then as he comes up the aisle he no.
tees the softness of her cheeks, the
slender hand upon the white temple,
the graceful form, and 1t seems to him
for one instant that he has a right to
go to her and speak. But he passes OF
and takes his seat. And she, sitting
there waiting for him to come, feels her
senses reel when she hears the sound
of his footsteps; and as he passes, the
fragrance of the cigar smoke hat lin
gers, about a mans person comes to he1
as she closes her eyes, overcome with 9
variety Of delightful emotions.
He sits with his face half tnrned to
ward her, looking out of the window.
"She's a fine creature-fne creature!
I don't believe she's so cold, after all
/ wonder what she thinks of me, any
way? I need a shave like anything
rubbing his chin); look like a wild
man. 1 guess I'll just look over thai
magazine in my grip, and then it viii
be the most natural thing in the work
for me to hand it to her"
She thinks (sighing): HE certainly
is interesting. 1 wonder if he talk.
we'll? Such an air of the world abou