Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-23
HER DECEPTIVE
LOOKS

uIN OEScF 1--WE IOONS
There were only about half dozen pas
sengers in the chair car attached to a train
that pulled out OF Jersey City for Wash
ington one morning last week. One of them
was plump, daintily-clad. well-groomed
young woman, whose obviously peroxided
hair was in queer contrast with her pal
pably timid, shrinking manner and the baby
stare with which she looked out Of her
large, blue, angel-child eyes. She entered
the car quite as il she were sadly confused
by the excitement of travelling, and she
took the seat indicated by the porter as if
she really apprehended lurking danger
somewhere. One of the other passengers
was large, fat-faced, middle-aged man.
with gray stde-whiskers, and dressed with
considerable elaboration and care. He OBJ
served the hesitating manner of the young
woman and how uncertain she seemed to
be as to where to deposit her travelling
gear and wraps; and so, adjusting his tie
giving hitch to his cuffs, and sneaking
giances at himself in one of the little panel
glasses beside his chair. he rose and walked
up to the young woman.
Permit me to assist yeu, madam" said
he, in courtly, 1-am-oid-enough -to-be-
your-father manner, and he lifted her pair
OF hand-grtps. umbrella and wrap into the
rack above her chair
You are $3.50 very kind" murmured
the timid young thing, gratefully.
Il beg you not to mention 1t at all-not
at ALL said the portly man with the side
whiskers, pompously clearing his throat
and shooting what seemed glance of vic
tory at the other men in the car out Of his
peady eyes. Il perceive you are unused to
travelling, and 1t is a source Of unbounded
pleasure to-ahem!-be able to render you
whatever little assistance I can" and the
portly man wheeled the chair in front Of
the young woman's around so that it faced
hers, and deposited himself in it with all
the GOODNESS in life.
Yes" he resumed, at was evident to me
that you were unused to journeying by
rail-. and as 1t afforded me end of de-
light to make you comfortable my dear
mfss-no, no, no, not word of thanks.
Shall get YOU some of the magazinesY'
You are indeed more than kind. I am
Tut tut. my dear child, don't mention 1t
don't dream of mentioning such a thing!"
exclaimed the portiy man, eomplaisantiy
to the next, car ahead, where the newsboy
has his headquarters, and get you some
reading material. Pleasures mine, I as
sure you--always is. to help those who are
SO unused to travelling and The rest of
his gallant speech was lost as he moved to-
ward the front car for the magazines He
returned with five of them in few mo-
ments, and deposited them grandiloquently
on the young woman's lap.
Going to Philadelphia, I presume?" he
said, persuasively, as he resumed the chair
facing the young woman.
les, IopIleu IL6 llInlu young creature,
yes, of course, 1 am going through there
but not to stop. 1 am going
Ha! you have a longer journey to make.'
said the fatherly man. TOO bad I'm not
going beyond Philadelphia, so that could
be of assistance to you to the end of your
journey. Too bad, really. Is this the first
time You have undertaken so long Jour-
ney on the railroad?"
''WeI, no." replied the young woman
suddenly losing her timid aspect and sly
laughter creeping into her large blue eyes.
Il don't think 1 could quite say that. L
have made number Of quite long journeys
by rail, and some by coach, and others by
sleigh over frozen rivers and mountains,
and"
Goodness. gracious me. is it possiblew
exclaimed the large, pompous man, with an
astonished look. Why, [ was under the
IMPRESSION
Yes. perceived you were." interrupted
the young woman, who now looked perfect
ly able to take care of herself and a
broad smile playing over her features
However, perhaps the presumption was
natural. The fact remains, though, that
l am thoroughly used to travelling
manner that"
"Of course, you did said the young wo-
man, still smiling broadly. But we all
make mistakes. l am on my way to Seat.
tie. l went there a year ago last spring
with woman friend of mine-were a song
ambulance team, you know-and from there
We went up to the Klondike Had all kinds
VI t1onble SettihS III, because we were a
trifie early. but we finally made Dawson
City, and when we got there you had bet
ter believe that we made good. Gathered
all kinds Of coin, and I'm going out to
Seattle now to meet my pardner. We're
going up again in the spring, and if 1 don't
have rocks to heave at the robins when I
get back this time, why"
My dear young woman" said the elder
iy masher, giving his skull cap a nervous
twist. "you-er-quite amaze me- looking
around the car to catch the smirks of the
men, who had been taking it all in. L
inferred from your-er-manner-but If I
can-er-be of any further assistance to you
-er-why-"
And he backed away and resumed his
own seat, while the self-contafned young
woman with the chemical hair and the con-
venient baby stare smiled graciously and
began to cut the pages Of the gift lftera-
ture.
This is just like finding magazines" she
seemed to be saying to herself, as she look
ed over the dollar and a quarters worth
Of monthly publications. The elderly
masher looked out of the window for the
remainder Of the journey to Philadelphia