Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-03-13
A QUEER WOOING.

girl whose name he did not oven know. 1t
happened in this way: Tom was Il tclc.
graph operator III tho city, bat lived in y
small suburban town. AS he sat in tho
train ono morning on his way to work he
noticed among tho passengers who board
ell the train ut one of tho stations ~ beau
tiful girl who entered his car and took the
seat directly in front of his. Tho morning
paper had no further interest for Tom that
day. All the way in to town he sat watch
ing the girl in front of him.
Week after week went on, and each day
found poor Tom moro and moro deeply in
love. The unconscious object of his ndorn-
ton Travelled on the same train every day.
Sometimes sho sat near him, and his eyes
fairly dcvourcd her wonderful beauty. At
other times she sat at tho other end of the
car, whore he could only catch occasional
glimpscs of her past the heads Of his follow
passengers. Her namu was Hclcn. He
had heard a girl friend call hor So. That
night Tom sat up until 3 o'clock writing
love letters To Helen and tearing them up
Us fast us he wrote them.
Tho next morning Helen again occupied
the seat just in front of Tom. Iio sat gaz-
ing mt her and building castles in tho air.
Presently his mind turned to tho love let
tors he had been writing, aud be began to
frame Il new one. AS no unused hu idly
fingered the window sash. which made u
clicking sound similar to that of u tclc-
graph instrument. UnconSciously he
spelled out tho words Of tho letter.
dearest Helen" ran tho message, 81
love you dearly. Say you will he mine
and But he got no further, for sud
denly the girl burned in her scat and
looked him full in the face, her eyes hlaz-
ing with indignation. Thcn she turned
hack mil S,iZinu tho catch ON h,r Min,
dow, clicked out tho reply:
"liow dare your
Tom was completely dumfoundcd. Ho
felt like jumping out of the window and
ending his miserable existence. He reflect
cd, however, that such IL rash proceeding
would do him no good, and might possibly
wound the feelings of tho young lady.
Moreover, his first duty was to apologies.
OF course, it would not do any good. Shu
would never have anything to do with
such an idiot as he had shown himself to
be. Still, he could not we'll leave matters
as they were, SO he ngain reached for tho
window catch.
~ beg your PARDON" clicked tho i'm
proviscd key.
your insolcnco is unpnrdonnblo,'' was
the reply.
but let me explain. did not know
"1don care to hear our explanation"
Just then the train pulled into the sta
ton and the offended girl left tho car with
out SO much us looking back.
Tom went to his work with q heavy
heart. He could think of nothing elsa all
day but TIE stupid blundcr which had de-
stroycd all possibility Of his over winning
tho heart OF tho fair telegraph operator.
On the following morning he took an
earlier train than usual, i'll order to avoid
meeting the fair HGlon, whom he did not
have tho courage to face. But he had not
rcckoncd on the fact that she might also
wish to avoid him. This was the case,
however, and Tom was somewhat startled
when he saw her enter the car. There was
only one seat vacant, and that was just in
front Of the unhappy young man. 1t seom-
cd as though the fntes had conspircd to
bring these two people together. The
longer Tom pondcred the matter the mere
no saw tho hand of destiny i'll this matter,
and he decided to make one more effort to
obtain forgiveness. Reaching for the win
dow catch. he sent the following message:
I'm awfully sorry l offended you yes
tcrtiay."
There was no answer, and the young
man continued:
- had no idea you understood me. I
unconsciously telcgraphcd what was pass
ing in my mind.
otlil no answer.
elf you don't forgive me, 1 shall he
miserable for life"
At last the answ or came:
"Plcasc stop. You arc attracting every
Eody's attention."
Then let me come and tell you how
sorry l am"
After a long pause tho girl answered,
"You may come"
Toms heart lcaped with joy rs tho win
dow catch clicked out these words. Hn
lost no time in accepting tho invitation,
ana it was not long before he had per
suHt!ed her to forgive his foolish conduct
of the day before.
After thnt he mot her every day on tho
train, and their acquaintance soon rirencd
into sincere friendship on the part Of tho
young lady. AS for Tom, his feelings had
long ago got beyond that stage. They
talked OF many things during their daily
rldes to the city, but for a long time they
both avoided all mention of the episode
which had led to their acquaintance.
One day, however, Tom said, "DO you
remember the message l sent you by tho
window catch?''
"Of course | do replied his companion,
looking out of the window to tide her
bushes. "How could l forget such u piece
of impcrtincncc?"
Nho" ~ > iHiIcTllntIiCC ana lQlDt!C
and all that replied Tom, but still if it
had not boon for that l should never have
known you. So l am not at all sorry.
Are you?"
How can you ask such o question:
haven't l forgiven you long ago."
Yes, but forgiveness is not enough"
"Not cnough?"
mo; l want something more. You
know-weil, the fact is, IL meant every
word of that message, Helen. Toll me, if
l should repeat that message now, what
would your answer bc?'
Still looking out at the flying land
scnpe, Helen placed her dainty finger on
the window catch.
Click, click. Click, click" Toms
heart was in his throat as he heard the in
strument click out her answer, "Y-e-s."-
Sioux City Journal.
The OppoTtune Moment.
A certain deacon that l know considers
rigid discipline essential to the we'll being