The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-02-22
a CORRECTED
PREJUDICE
4 Story of . Girl, q Young Man and
o Railroad Car.

form when Mabel Rodman, her arms ful
Of roses, waved her adieus from the real
platform Of the car. The house party
was breaking up, and she was on hei
way home. 1t had been a lovely week
and her mind was still filled with tn,
nearness Of its delights. She sat bach
with her eyes upon the flying landscape
but her thoughts were elsewhere.
Then she realized that somebody wal
standing in the aisle. She looked around
was gazing down at her. He raised hii
hat.
"This Is quite a pleasant surprise" hi
said. "No, it isn't" he laughingly added
"Strange how we get in the habit Of say
ing these meaningless things. It's q
great pleasure, Of course, but 1t isn't Q
surprise. I knew you were going OF
this train"
The roses and her handbag and tn.
latest magazine were on the seat beside
her, but Mabel did not offer to remove
them.
She answered his greeting in a wei
bred and dignifed way, with no trace o.
special friendliness in her tone.
Presently with a courteous phrase II
which he expressed the hope that ht
could help to brighten her journey he
raised his hat and passed along, evident
" on his way to the smoking car.
Mabel took up her magazine, bun
though her eyes were on the page heI
thoughts were on Arthur Blake. He
was certainly fine looking and very well
bred, but these qualifications could moi
excuse his lack of ambition and his idle
ways. OF course 1t was his misfortune
rather than his fault. Rich mems soni
were usually handicapped in this way.
And yet Mabel felt she could hardly for
give Arthur Blake. The fact Is he was
the only cloud on an otherwise perfect
vista. The very first time she had met
him he had shown his admiration SO
plainly that it was almost embarrassing
Probably nobody else had noticed 1t. but
1t was almost strange if they had failed
to do 80. 1t was true that he hadn't
paid her any really marked attentions,
but there was a different look In his
eyes when he addressed her and a sof.
tened meditation of his voice that told
the story quite too plainly. She had left
her Pittsburg home for good time, and
1t irritated her to have this serious ele-
ment intruding itself on her week of gay.
ETY.. For Arthur Blake evidently was
serious, as serious as such a frivolous
fellow could be. That he was an idler
she was quite sure. His time seemed to
be entirely his own. And here he was
now actually taking the very train sh.
had taken in order to be near her. She
would show him that his tactics were not
appreciated. She was not to be won in
NJ Io,,hf he ho1 caf hia
heart on her as he might on any gilded
toy that his rich papa could buy. Well.
his heart would be disappointed this time,
II he really had heart.
There was a great deal Of mirror work
along the sides of the car. There were
strips of glass between the windows, and
there were other strips below them. and
Mabel, musing above her magazine, with
its cover opened before her as pretense,
found that by looking in these strips at
certain angles she could get a very fair
view Of a number of her fellow passen-
gers along the other side Of the aisle.
And just as she made this discovery
Arthur Blake returned. He came down
the aisle and threw a hasty glance at
her as he passed and then took a seat on
the opposite side of the car little back
OF where Mabel sat.
There was no doubt that he was fine
looking fellow. OF course Mabel took
good care that he shouldn't discover that
she was watching him. Then she soon
found out that although he had every
opportunity to watch her he didn't avail
himself of the chance as he might have
done. On the contrary, he only threw
two or three casual glances in her direc-
ton as il to assure himself that she was
all right. Then he drew some letters
from his pocket and looked them through.
When he had finished them, he produced
a memorandum book and made a num-
Der of figures. And Mabel noticed that
his face wore quite different expression
while these business transactions were
under way. After he put aside his
memorandum book he sat still for mo-
ment. and his brow was knit as if in deep
thought over some abstruse problem.
And Mabel. covertly watching him in the
mirror, felt that this was an Arthur
Blake whom she had never met.
Then his face Eghtened up, and he
glanced along the aisle. Half way up the
car young man. several years Arthur's
junior, occupied a seat. He was pale
and cadaverous youth with a look of
deep melancholy on his troubled face.
Arthur walked up the aisle and paused
by this passenger, and Mabel saw his lips
move. The invalid, for such the youth
must be. looked up with sorrowful. sui
len expression and briefly nodded. Then
Arthur spoke again, leaning upon the
seat and smilingly regarding the young
man. This time the youth made some
reply and Arthur laughed merrily. The
invalid responded with slightly frosty
smile, and then Arthur slipped into the
seat beside him. In five minutes they
were chatting like old friends. When
Arthur arose to leave. the invalid hastily
put out his hand and Arthur shook it
warmly. As he passed down the aisle
the tired eyes of the pale youth followed
him with a softened and wistful gaze.
The porter had met Arthur and hand
ed him yellow envelope. He turned as
he tore 1t open and glanced at the
message and then walked slowly back.
There was an old lady. very neat and
very white old lady-white Of face and
hair and neck scarf-who sat nearly op-
posite Mabel, and this sweet old lady had
fallen asleep. Arthur paused and look
ed at her. Then he went back and spoke
30 the porter. A moment later he return.
ed with a pillow. The gentle old lady
was only in a doze and she opened her
eyes as Arthur proffered the easier rest
ing place. She smilingly accepted it and
let him place 1t carefully beneath her
silvered head.
And all this time Mabel had been
watching the young man in the telltale
mirror. Was this the idler, the man OF
no sentiment, the selfish pleasure seek.
er? She felt her cheeks color as she
realized her lack of charity, her stupid
and unfounded prejudice. And yet he
had idled, and was he not on the car al
this very moment on a silly love chase.
A moment later when Arthur turned
and caught her eye she was looking
squarely at him. He thought she had
never seemed so beautiful. The soft
flush on her cheeks was wonderfully be-
coming. In each hand she held a bunch
Of the lovely roses that had lain beside
her on the seat. Her gaze told him she
wanted him. He stepped to her side.
"Perhaps your friends would like
these" she said as she held up the
flowers.
He knew what she meant.
"Of course they would" he cried II
boyish pleasure. And then he added in 4
lower tone as he reached down for thu
roses, "How very, very thoughtful"
Mabel Redeemed again and looked ava!
and this time did not follow his move
ments in the glass.
He was back presently.
"They were both delighted" he said
"and send you their grateful acknowl
edgments."
Mabel looked up and caught the eye O
the invalid youth, who smiled and nodde'
to her and held up the flowers, and sh
smiled and nodded back. And then sh
smiled and nodded to the dear old lad.