The Paducah sun., 1901-12-09
In Tho Maryland Hills.
BY LEE ASHLEY.

| Copyright, 1901, BY Daily Story Pub. Col
II was an early December twilight
and snow. which had been rain an hour
before. beat against the car windows
and stuck there IN large, soft fakes.
II followed the conductor in at the
door in a slooty gust. and the girl in
the third seat shlyerod and drew the
Imitation sables closer about her
! throat.
Steve Patterson glanced from under
the visor Of his conductors cap at his
one lady p-ssenger. She was not a
pretty girl, according to Steye's stand
ards. Her face was too small and
pale under the shadow Of her Big hat.
When she boarded the car two hodrs
earlier there had been an excited
brightness In her eyes and a faint
color in her cheeks. Now she leaned
back against the seat. tired ana inert.
and there was a pathetic droop at the
corners of her mouth. As she glanced
lp at him shyly Steve thought OF o
kitten that he had lshod out Of a
horse pond years ago, and be smiled
at the comparison as he passed on into
the next car.
A little later he came back. The
iattle aud creaking of the train had
stopped
Tunnel cayei in ahead" ho ex-
plained to the three men In the front
Of the car. The ne smiled reazsurlng-
ly at his lady passenger.
'Tain't nothin' TO be scared about.
Miss" he assured her. sitting down on
the arm 0i the seat opcg.ta. Just
means a-l.ia' Of here sp1ii-an cul-
twain a little patience. he addcd
loosely as drummer swung himself
out. growing as De went
The girl smiled, but hcs eyes were
sombor.
DO you reckon wen get into phll-
adelphia on time?" she questioned
timidly.
Steve shook his head
Couldn't make Il before 10. miss,
or IL mebbe. It's a three-hour Job,
anyhow"
The girls chin qulyered.
but what1l | dog" she demanded,
with a catch In her voice. "Melbe he
won't waitl Mebbe he'll think ANT
comin'i l amt used 10 tayeiin
alonel" and two tears dropped among
the fury tails Of her collarette.
Steve smiled encouraglngly.
Don't you fret. miss. Your friends
II walt" he assured her. "They won't
take no chance Of lettia' a Little thing
Ike you set IN alone"
But she shook her head.
Il amt got any friends there-but
him." and a wave Of color swept up
Into her face.
Steve had a tender. conscientious
heart lie leaned across and laid a
large protecting hand on the arm Of
the opposite seat.
is Il your brother that's eoln' TO
meet you--or your uncle. mebbe?" he
guggested
she shook her head again. Then
suddenly she lifted her vet. childish
eyes.
'T'm-Im runnin away to get mar
riedi' she gaspel 10 tremulous con-
ANH"tA"s TT NNNA p HNA pa NA an
we'd 60 straight 20 the preachers.
but ncv-5h, I wish hadn't oome!"
and sh9 buried her face IN her muh
Steve crossed over and sat down be-
slio her. Eiopements were no novelty
TO the young conductor; brt this pale
little girl cf II or so was a different
matter. lie patted her slim shoulder
with awkward gcntlencas.
You tel me abou; g." ho sugested. .
an mob0e ] can help you. lay OF
at Philadelphia myself"
After a little she poured out her
story. an old one TO Steve. but a now I
and romantic ono 20 the little milu- .
ner's apprentice from smithsburg. Her
face frightened In the telling. Her
innr~--' e-e aparkled aud she spoke
2 L,s lovers hue clothes and city