The Washington times., 1901-07-21
Tickets, please. "

Tickets, please
"Northwick. said Eve Indignantly as
Baines produced them.
The conductor shook his head Wrong
train" he said iaconically, I'VE don't stop
| till York"
| TIL York; Eve repeated aghast as
| the man continued, You can either pay
| extra fare now OF when you gets there
| Sorry, miss as she protested vigorous
ly. I've got to ask it-this ere's a trial
| trip in view of the coming show at York
On and on sped the train. and gradual
ly the darkness fell; the old man munch-
| ed his sandwiches. and drew his overcoat
comfortably around him; Eve shivered in
her thin summer dress. and Baines watch
ed their neighbor with look OF murder
in her ordinarily mild eyes.
At i119 punctually the express slacken-
ed speed.
"A record trip" grunted the old gen.
tleman. as he gathered his things togeth-
er and proceeded to leave the carriage
Good night, ladies'" But neither of them
replied they stepped out wearily on the
platform.
Eve hailed the guard, and. careful not
to lay herself open to ridicule again, re-
pressed the full tale of her wrongs, and
town.
The II 05 had gone; there was nothing
until the Scotch Express stopped there
at 40 on its way to reach London at S:o5-
''in time for breakfast" the guard added
loosely, which seemed to accentuate the
fact that they had eaten nothing since
their tea. In the dim light of the wait
ing-room they added up their joint sum
of money left and came to the conclusion
that with the two third-class tickets
back and the cab to Mount Street, but
shilling and few coppers remained.
Half famished. they sought the refresh
ment room, and drank the muddy station
coffee out of its thick. chipped cups-Eve
shuddered at the bare recollection-and
tried to swallow some of the hard, but
terless handwiches.
The night mist settled down like steam
over the gloomy station, and Eve shiv-
cred with cold as the faithful Baines
walked her up and down the long, curv-
ing platform.
why ever didn't you wire to me?"
Ainsworth had interposed. but the an
swer was conclusive. 1t would have ta-
ken n more than ordinarily long telegram
to explain, and their exchequer was so
low that it was a bare question of tele-
gram VS.. sandwiches, and the latter had
carried the day.
At length. after their weary waiting,
the train puffed noisily into the station.
and they were bundled amidst sleepy
Scotch family into a suffy, badly lighted
third.
How they had slipped in with the milk.
and climbed those everlasting stairs, and
yes, she admitted 1t 1t was
h.
He made her promptly confess how still
more superiatively good it was to be
sitting by her husbands side in perfect
amity again; and. finally satisfied on this
to him, after his misconception-most
momentous point, he cleared up the only
remaining mystery in the shape of the
bag
She had been going to Eleanor Case.
Now Eleanor, Case was poor, and al
ways badly dressed, and there was that
new pink teagown from Paquin's which.
II Julian would remember. he had never
liked and 1t didn't go with the drawing
room, and never would; and in fact-and
Eve blushed at her secret small philan-
thropy-she had told Baines to wrap 1t up
and take it with her.
Now Baines. being hurried, had popped
it in a bag, carefully explaining how
averse she was to the look of parcel"
an explanation that was confirmed by her
appearing at that moment with once
more trim and highly respectable demean-
or, to enquire If the said much-crumpled
article was to be forwarded to Miss Case
by post.
1T must be quite spoiled by now." said
Eve firmly. ignoring Baines' ready pro-
test of only little bit creased ere and
there, num-"
To which Ainsworth made reply. In the
exuberance of his spirits:
''Fll buy you dozen more"
you dear extravagant old thing" said
Eve.
Like the Boojum of renown, Baines,
ever discreet, slowly and silently van
ished away" And there the little incl
dent ended.-Muriel Hine in Casseil's
Magazine.