The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-20
Switched Off,


| ing car, preparing TO. enjoy her supper
| when the brakeman came in and an
| nounced that the car would have to "a
vacated, as, owing to some accident, ii
| could not be carried further.
Notwithstanding the fact that Louise
was deeply in love even now on her way
to visit tn family of her farec, she was
possessed of a healthy young appetite
and she looked longingly al the tempting
| array of dishes which had been set b :
fore heF just previous 10 the stern edic.
! Of the brakeman. IL was cruel to be
| torn away from such a good supper, sti
untouched, she thought, and yielding t.
a sudden impulse she hastily wrapped d
| chop some rolls and a generous supply
j of olives in napkin and~carried them
| with her into the sleeping car.
She was conscious of the amused CLAN
! ces Of one or two Of her fellow passen-
| gers, particularly whte-bearded, benev-
| olent-looking old gentleman, whose eyes
! twinkled as she marched into the car,
| with head held haughtily erect and the
! napkin safely elasoed in her flnds, but
| she reflected that she had pad for her
| supper and sen had a perfect right to
| stay the pangs of hunger, even if she
| did appear a little ridiculous. Louise
| was a very Independent young woman;
/ il she had not been she would never
| have won her fathers and mothers cor
| sent to take this trip. They had not been
able to see the tragedy in the separation
| OF two loving hearts for period of some
sixty days.
Just think of 1t. mamma. DEAR" she
had said, eff you don't allow me to &C
! cept Jacks mothers invitation it will be
two whole months before we are togeth-
er. for Jack says he can't possibly leave
his business again until after the spring
trade"
But don't like the idea of your going
out to Chicago alone" her father ar
gued.
And you don't know his people, sup
plemented Mrs. Blakely 'It might be
most awkward for you, Louise
You win put me on the train, papa,
and I certainly know enough TO take
care of myself until Jack meets me, SO
you see there is no objection to my 60
ing alone and, mamma, one of my rea-
sons for wishing to make this vst is
TO get acquainted with Jacks people. 1
think every girl ought to make it her
Christian duty to become acquainted
with her prospective relatives, so she will
go into the family with her eyes open, -
she said with a fine assumption of wis
dom. OF course she triumphed in the
G4-Q MI anu WI = IO4dhClS 4Act0 AlOl spur
ed her Systematically for twenty-three
years for nothing.
Just as Louise was setting down to eat
she was Mortified to discover that her
pocketbook was missing. She beckonsd
wildly to the porter. who was leisurely
pacing the platform.
Won't you please run Down where the
dining car is and get my pocketbook?
l left it on the table. 1 will be so much
obliged to YOU
Use sorry, miss, but it's 'gainst the
rules to leave the car he answered with
Importance.
Louise turned in desperation to the con-
ductor. who seemed just about as ada
mantine.
Cant he go, really?" she pleaded "My
ticket. checks and money are in my pock-
etbook. Oh. what can 1 do?" Her voice
broke into a sob and the whitebaarde1
old gentleman, who has been listening to
the conversation, said as he laid his hand
kindly on her shoulder:
There, there; Til go for you
'Oh, thank you; how good Of you; 1
hate to have you go, and yet 1 want
my Docketbook.'
The train mayt start at any moment;
you take great chances sir, of getting
left" remarked the conductor, not at
tempting to conceal his disapproval
Il viii risk it for this little woman"
said Louise's new friend as he started on
his uncertain errand.
Going back to her seat, she tried not to
worry. She pllilosophically decided to eat
her lunch, and, opening the napkin. was
startled to see, side by side with the
chops, rolls and olives, her lost pocket
book
Instead OF rejoicing she gazed upon it
with loathing almost, and sat perfectly
still with it and the untasted food in her
lap. sadly awaiting the return of her
knight.
Every sound of whistle or engine bell
terror to her heart, and she did not draw
a peaceful breath until at last, Just be-
fore the train started, the old gentIman
appeared, looking weary and dishearten-
ed. He stopped before her, about to i'm
form her of his fruitless search. but she
tragically pointed to her pocketbook and
burst into tears, which seemed to soften
any wrath he might have justly felt at
her carelessness. for. 10 her relief, he
passedn on and disappeared into the
smoking compartment. She did not see
him again during the remainder of the
journey.
The next morning. when Jack took her
hand to greet her. as she stepped smil-
ingly off the train. he reached his other
hand over her shoulder.
Why, hello father" ne said II wish
I had known you were coming home on
this train, you might have met Louise
and taken care Of her
She turned and blushed as she recog-
nized her benefactor of the evening be-
fore.
We'll well, so this is your sweet
heart" he said, smiling reassuringly at
the much disconnected Louise "Well.
Jack, my son, she needs a protector
Kilbourne cowles in What 10 Eat.