The Van Buren press., 1897-04-03

can't always tell: men are 70 deoeitfuL-' .
well, vel, | believe I'm going 70
have a right pleasant rip in spite Of
ths weather. Ia getting devilish hun
gry. though. II just stroll into the
diHing-car."
There, he's getting up again. Do
believe he's coming back here 10 offer
me that paper. Such impudeneei"
He passes down the aisle. cad. she
locks a. naughty as queen. Do believe
she thought I was going 70 zFeak 70
her. Queer creatures. women And he
goes into the dining-caT.
She colIapses. Dear ne, he didn't
rpeak 10 me after all He would have,
only I looked 50 indifferent-that i
know. I must be very cirenmspeet-
Men viii 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
Isnguor on her cheek as she sits across
the car waiting for the porter TO make
~ her berth.
He Is there. too. looking thoughtfully
ont Of the window.
Breakfast i announced, but he waits
until all the other passengers have filed
cut. When he reaches the dining-car he
finds only one vacant place. 1t Is at the
same table at which she is sitting. The
waiter conducts him to it and he Sits
down.
"DeYilish embarrassing. Sit here like
two dumb idiots and look at anything
but at each other. Iwould speak 70 her.
but she seems 50 eonfoundedly cold.
She could freeze mercury. PropriefY.
What Is propfiety, anyway. I'd like to
know2 Some fool comes along-he may
be blackguard-but he knows both Of
Bs. and he says: Miss So-and-So, let
me present Mr. So-aDd-So% Then we
talk each other blind with perfect pro-
priety!"
She thinks: isn't it terriblel So
near me! I'm sure my checks are as
red as beetsi | know i can't eat a
thing, and / was 50 hungry"
She folds her hands and rests them on
the end of the table.
- lovely hand. by Jore! As slender
and white and soft, ! warrant, as a
fairy's.s
She signs audibly: "If that breakfast
would only come! l feel SO silly sit
ting here"
lie grows restless: by CAD, I will
speak 70 her=iceberg or no ieebergl"
But at this juncture breakfast is
seryed and his opportunity for the time
being is gone.
She signs and takes up her fork.
lie sweetens his coffee and the train
piunges on.
lie purposely finishes when she does.
and together they arise. He holds open
the door for her.
She acknowledges the courtesy with
\ graceful bow and flushed check. 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 thrill
lie doesn't try to analyze his feelings,
but goes into the smoker and lights a
cigar.
When he again enters the sleeper his
eyes fan upon her great mass of auburn
hair as she reclines with her hat off;
ord then as he comes up the aisle he no.
iiees the softness OF her cheeks. the
slender hand upon the white temple,
the graceful form. and it seems to him
for one instant that he has a right to
90 to her and speak. But he passes on
and takes his seat. And she, sitting
there waiting for him to come, feels her
serses reel when she hears the sound
Of his footsteps; and as he passes, the
fragrance of the cigar smoke that lin
gers about mans person comes TO her
as she closes her eyes, overcome with a
variety of delightful emotions.
He sits with his face half turned to-
ward her, looking out Of the window.
She's a fine creature-fine creaturel
don't believe she's so cold, after ALL
| wonder what she thinks of me, any
way? ! need shave like anything
rubbing his chin); look like a wild
man. / guess I'll just look over that
magazine in my grip, and then it will
he the most natural thing in the world
for me TO hand il to her"
She thinks (sighing): "He certainly
is interesting. / wonder if he talks
well? Such an air of the world about
hint / like that. He's no innocent.
A man with a history, I'm sure. He's
about as Indifferent as / am, though
An, reading a magazine! Let's see
Cleaning slightly forward; why, this
months century. | have it in my
satchel. I'll just get it out. He might
think I'm behind the times"
lie thinks; wei, I've looked through
il, but don't know anything I've read
telearing his throat. Wei, I'll offer it
10 her; here goes. Cad! she's reading
the same number! That's no go; I'm
done up on that round" Throws the
magazine down on the seat in front Of
him and softly whistles to himself n
selection from "Faust.O
She thinks: "He turned all the way
around and was smiling. / do believe
he was going TO say something! Won
der what made him change his mind =?
These magazines are so stupid"
CThrows it DOWN.
That night they change at Chicago.