The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-14


Two American fags nultered at the
shoulders of The big black flyer that pull
ed the northwestern limited out that glori-
Gus Fourth Of July morning; and nina
ture flags were in the caps Of the en-
glnemen. Tiny bits Of glory were PIN
ned to the coat lapels OF the conductor,
and brakemen The mail agent and mes
senger, the porter and the barber. ell
showed their patriotism In a similar way.
AS Freda entered the drawing room, the
passengers, men and women, dropped
their books and papers and looked up The
girl hesltated, glanced back, as though
afraid of the grandeur ,ofdfhe cati a 6qothe
company. Instinctively the people III the
car felt that she was alone, but so fair a
woman need have no fear of being lonely
long An elderly gentleman rose and Of
fered his seat which happened to be next
the door. The portor, smiling, was COM
ing back through the car. The conduc-
tor, following her in, had touched her arm
and nodded toward the seat gallantly sur
rendered by the elderly gentleman A
sweet-faced lady, whose wavy brown hair
frosted by the touch of time, showed that
she was approaching the autumn Of life.
smiled I'd az the beautiful girl. and put
a gloved hand upon a vacant chair beside
her. Freda returned the smile, bowed
slightly to the elderly gentleman, thank
ed him in a whisper, and took the seat
near the sweet-faced lady
Freda was one Of those rare creatures
who are always beautiful. She had
seemed a little pale when she entered the
car, but the girlish distress-the n1ornen-
tary embarrassment-beea her. She
was radiant now For a moment she
stole glances at the rich furnishings Of
the car, at the well dressed men and wo-
men, and out at the fields and farms that
were racing back toward Chicago under
her window. As she looked the earth
began TO circle. the far horizon whiriing
forward-the near fields running back Ii
made her dizzy. She withdrew her
glance, and saw to her confusion that
half the people were looking at her
Now the sweet faced lady began 20 talk
with her The iady's home was at Nor
mai. where Freda had attended school, 50
they were good friends-almost old ac-
ouaintancek-at once. But spite of toe I'M
teresting lady and the grandeur that sur
rounded her, Fredas mind would wander
back to the little station--to the agent
She cold not forget that she had held his
head on her knee, brushed back his brown,
luxurant hair and bathed his forehead
With her hands. She had known all
along that he was handsome, but she
did not know until now that he was SO
unlike other men. She would gladly fore
20 the day and its pleasure to return to
the deserted village and battle his feyered
forehead and hear his voice again.
When she could endure ter secret no
longer. Freda, CHANGING about, nestled yet
a little nearer and told the lady. IN an
artless impulsive way, OF her experience
al the station, of her momentary embar-
rassment, and finally how she had bathed
the young mans forehead with her lace
handkerchief-the one her mothers mother
had brought from far-off Sweden-and
asked the lady II she had done wrong
Now Freda had tod, parenthetically.
with little smiles and bushes. great deal
more than she had intended TO tell, more,
perhaps, than she knew herself, but the
sympa theuc lady had been through II all.
She understood. This had been the first
meeting. Ii would not be the last Spite
of the smile upon the gentle face there
were tears and a look Of sadness in the
soft brown eyes as she pressed the girls
hand that rested upon the arm OF the
chair mo, my dear" she said, ''you did
not do wrong" AS she looked upon the
sad. yet happy girl, SO full OF her sweet
distress, these lines Of Fields came to
her:
You are too young to know Il now,
But some day you shall know"
VI
That was long long dav for Eraaa