The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-08
CHATTER l..
MIR. Lorry seeks Adventure

a martyr. He had Travelled pretty much all
over the world. and he was not without re-
sources. but the prospect Of a twenty-five
hundred mile journey alone filled him with
dismay. The country he knew: the scenery
had long since lost its attractions for him;
countless newsboys had failed TO tempt him
with the literature they thrust in his face,
and as for his fellow-passengers-well, he
preferred 10 be alone. And so it was that
he gloomily motioned the porter to his
boxes and mounted the steps with weari-
ness.
As it happened. Mr.. Grenfall LOrry did
not have a dull moment after the train
started. lie stumbled on a figure that
leaned toward the window in the dark pas
sageway With reluctant civility he apollo
gized: a lady stood up to let him pass, and
for an instant in the half light their eyes
met. and that is why the miles rushed by
with incredible speed.
Mr.. Lorry had been dawdling away the
months in Mexico and California. For years
he had felt, together with many other peO-
pie, that n sea voyage was the essential be-
ginning of every journey; he had started
round the world soon after leaving Cam
bridge; he had hshed through Norway ana
hunted in India. and shot everything from
grouse on the Scottish moors to the rapids
above Assouan. He had run In and out OF
countless towns and countries on the coast
of South America; he had done Russia ana
the Rhone valley and Brittany and Damas-
Gus; he had seen them all-but not unti
then did it occur to him that there might
be something Of interest nearer home true
he had thought of joining some Enghshmeh
on a hunting tour in the Rockies. but that
had fallen through. When the idea OF N1eNl-
co did occur TO him he gave orders 10 pack
his things, purchased interminable green
tickets, dined unusually well at his CLUB
and was of i'm no time 10 the unknown
West.
There was a theory in his family That II
would have been a decenter thing for him
TO stop running about and settle dow TO
work. But his thoughtful father had given
him a wealthy mother, and as earning a llY-
ing was not a necessity, he failed to see
why it was a duty. Work is becoming to
some men" he once declared, like whisk-
ers or red ties. but it does not follow that
all men can stand it" After that the family
found him hopeless" and the argument
dropped.
lie was just under thirty years, as good
looking as most men, with no one depend
GUI upon MN anu al ilCbiilt mat AoA wa
stood both the Maison Doree and a daha-
bean on the Nile. He never tired OF seeing
things and peoples and places. "'There
game 10 be found anywhere he said,
only it's sometimes out of season. If ]
had my way-and millionsI should run a
newspaper. Then all the excitements would
come to me. AS it is-Tm poor, and so
have to go all over the world after them"
ri 49, nf life had worked
well; he was a little bored at times-not be-
cause he had seen too much, but because
there were not more things left to see. He
had managed somehow TO keep his enthusi-
asms through everything-and they made
life worth living. He felt, too, a certain ella
tion-like n spirited h%orse-at turning to-
ward home. but Washington had not much
TO offer him. and the thrill did not last. His
big bag and his ~hatboX-pasted over with
foolish labels from continental hotels
were piled in the corner of his compartment,
and he settled back in his seat with a pleas
urable sense OF expectancy. The presence
in the next room of a very smart appearing
young woman was prominent in his con-
seriousness. 1t gave him an uneasiness which
was the beginning of delight. He had seen
her for only a second in the passageway,
but that second had made him hold himself
a little ~straigbter. ''Why is it," he won
dered. that some girls make you stand
like a footman the moment you see Them
Grenfal had been I'm love too many times
TO think of marriage; his habit of mind was
still general. and he classified women
broadly. At the same time he had a feeling
that in this case generalities did not apply
well: there was something about the girl
that made hin hesitate at labelling her
Glass A, or b. or a." What it was he did
not know, but-unaccountably-she filled
him with an affected formality. He felt like
bowling to her with a grand air and much
dignity. And yet he realized that his sue
cesses had come from confidence.
Al luncheon he saw her in the dining car.
Her companions were elderly persons-pre-
sumabIy her parents. They talked mostly
in French-occasionally using a German
word or phrase. The old gentleman was
stately and austere-with an air OF defer
ence 10 the young woman which Grenfall
did not understand. His appearance was
very striking; his face pale and heavily
lined: mustache and imperial gray; the eye
brows large and bushy, and the jaw and
chin square and firm. The white-haired lady
carried her head high with unmistakable
gentility. They were all dressed i'm travel
Ing suits which suggested something for
eign, but not Vienna nor Paris; smart, but
far from American tastes.
Lorry watched the trio with great inter-
est. Twice during luncheon the young wOm-
an glanced toward him carelessly and left
an annoying impression that she had not
seen him. As they left the table and passed
into the observation car. he stared at her
with some defiance. But she was smiling.
and her dimples showed. and GrenfaII was
ashamed. For som moment he sat gazing
from the car MISUNDERSTANDING his lunch
eon-dreaming.
When he got back to his compartment he
rang vigorously for the porter. y coin was
carelessly displayed I'm his fingers. do you
suppose you could find out who has the
next compartment. porter
j don't know their name. sub. but they's
goin' TO New York jis as fas' as they can
sit thuh. l ain ak I'm no questions. cause
thuh-s somethin' bout um makes me feels
IL l ain got no right to look at um even"
The porter thought a moment.
Il don't believe it'll do yuh any good. sub.
10 try TO shine up 10 tina young lady. She
ain the sawt. 7 can tell yuh that. 1 done
see too many guhls in ma time"
What are you talking about? I'm not
trying To- shine up 10 her. only want to
know who she is-just out OF curiosity. -
GrenfslI's face was n tribe red.
peg pahdon sub. but I kinI a. tbo,gb+