Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-08-18
SHE CHANGED
HER MIND.

IT was oae lovely day in the July Of
last year. aud / was starting iubilantly
OF for a months holiday at Scarborough.
knowing ms luxurious habits as yoa DO.
my friends. you will not be surprised 20
hear that when ] reached Kings Cross
selected a corner seat Of a first class
smoker and provided myself with plenty
Of cigars and magazines, To complete
my anticipation of a pleasant journey.
jsst as had settled myself comfortably
and the guard gave his whistle. the door
opened and pretty, excited young lady
came busting in. She seemed very re-.
lieved at having caught the train and sat
down in state OF GREATNESS and smiling
exhaustion.
II hooked over at her from my corner;
so did a loudly dressed, bounderish look
ing young man from his, for she was an
extremely pretty girl, with brown, curly
hair small features and the daintiest lit
tie figure in the world. | frowned at the
loudly dressed young man. and he frown-
ed at me. and just then the girl looked up
and caught my glance of admiration.
She stlffened, and then her eyes fell upon
my cigar. which / had left smoldering in
my hand, and a look of severe displeas-
ure came into her face.
"'Are you aware. sir she said austere-
ly. that this is not a smoking carriage?'
isn't itP' ] answered, looking up at
the window. Why, goodness me, they
must have forgotten to take the label
down.
1.-THE girl followed my glance. and Mt
the sight of the partially obliterated let
tiers. half concealed by the blind, her face
erimsoned with modification, and. biting
her lip, she took up a paper hurriedly to
hide her confusion.
II have made the very same mistake,
my dear said a kindly matron on her
right 1T doesn't matter much; little
smoke won't hurt us, will itF
No; l must change at the next sta
ton she returned sweetly.
Excuse me-, broke in. but this is
an express train
''~Do you mean to say it doesn't stop
at Peterborough?
at doesn't stop at ALL said. until
we get to York
elm so sorry / murmured, turning
to the girl Can / assist you in any
way2 If it is a case of necessity, YOU
know, we can communicate with the
guard
"'Oh, no-that is mean don't think
it would be considered so,' she stammer-
ed, her face suddenly suffused with
bushes. You see l was going to we'd
ding
'sThe elderly matron smiled. Il had all
/ could do to repress my amusement,
while the loudly dressed young man in
the corner sniekered audibly.
"'Oh, well, / shouldn't let that worry
me, if were YOU said soothingly. It's
very disappointing. but they will be able
to fix it up all right without you.
THE bushes deepened, and the girl
hung her head.
"'Im afraid they-I mean r.
"She broke off in confusion, and the
old lady bent toward her.
~ quite understand, my dear she
said. 1T wouldn't be a wedding without
| the bride I'm very, very sorry for you.
but you mustn't fret. It can't be helped
now, and you must send a wire directly
we get to York
This seemed TO raise the girls spirits,
and she began to laugh, a little hyster.
! ically perhaps at first Then she thanked
me very prettily for doing nothing and
| begged me to smoke and declared she
really didn't mind the smell at all, but
rather liked It. When the train rushed
through Peterborough, she laughed more
merrily still, and was so charming and
unaffected that long before we reached
| York we were chatting together like old
| friends We found out then that we had
! mutual acquaintance. that our respec-
| tive homes were situated but few miles
| from each other and many other inter
esting facts.
when the train drew up, proposed
to assist her In finding out the telegraph
| office, and thither, therefore, we went.
''I don't think I'll send a wire, after
ALL she said hesitatingly as we found
the place.
"'Why notY l said in some surprise.
Because-because think I'll go
straight home
"'But think of the anxiety of the poor
chap / said feelingly. Why, he may
be thinking all kinds of dreadful things
| have happened to YOU
"She stood irresolute for a moment;
then she picked up form and wrote,
and, for the life of me, / could not resist
looking over. All that she said was:
"'I have changed my mind.-Phyllis.'
"'Of all the cool cheek, that is the cool
est thought.
"But | stepped back and pretended TO
be much interested in the company's time
! table.
Now, we must find out the next train
back ! said, as she turned again to me,
and then we will have some tea. You
must want some badly
But your train-you will surely lose
it, she murmured.
"'York is my destination / said I'M
truthfully.
"After that ! found out there was no
train for an hour, and we took our way
to the tearoom. where my pretty compan-
ion made me her willing and sympathetic
confident. She was unhappy, very un-
happy, at home, and in an i'll guarded
moment had agreed TO a runaway match
without the knowledge of her parents.
Now she was thankful, very thankful,
that she had been prevented. 1t seemed
like fate. That was the summary Of
her remarks.
''There, now, you fellows" broke of
the narrator abruptly. Il needn't tell
you much more; only that we exchanged
| 4 4. Il. 4