The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-24
tcopy right. Isoe. by Daily Story Publishins Gel

us whether we get 10 san Franciscc on a certain day or not. We have nothing to call us anywhere"
 T hate sorrow" fumed Pellingham Are they going to be sad all theii lives What nonsense. We were born, we must die. It's all nature. What's the use of kicking"
 Then he overheard the woman with the blue-green eyes saying to tn, married couple:
 I'm trying to understand how you feel, but I know I cant. There's nc one in the world who really belongs tc me or is dependent upon memo one upon whom I am dependent, either So how can tell how it would seem to lose the core of the heart7 My heart has no core. I have failed to get hold Of life with firm hands. I've been through college and I've travelled the last five years. and now Pm going to California to see if can't find a little spot in which to settle down and make a home for myself. I shall get some | living thing in it-a stray dog or a stray baby or something of the kind. I'm tired of being independent and de- tached. Life's banquet has been served in topsy-turvy way for me. I've all | ways been nibbling at desert. Now want to begin over with bread and | soup."
 The day wore along. The car got very cold. They seemed to be at the l heart of winter. They were the nu- cleus of that swirling whiteness. T am glad I made my will bevor I left my home," said the German philosoph- ically; and he did his feet up in his travelling rug and resumed his reading of Faust"
 If I perish" said the American with the hypnotic eyes, lat least I shall have the pleasure of dying in very agreeable company" He bowed to the lady with speaking eyes. Pel- lingham disliked him. What was the sense in aimless compliments? To eradicate from the lady's mind the im- pression that all men were fools, he carried rug over and spread it over her lap. He made no comment at all, but he expected her to be profuse in her thanks-indeed, he dreaded those loquacious courtesies. But she was perfectly silent and smiled at him slowly as if she had expected him to do something of that kind. He went back to his seat, and sat there, his arms folded. She sat silent, too; and a wave of consciousness, warm and soft and comforting, seemed to beat between them. It was as if they were old friends who had no need of speech.
 "I'm very fanciful.'' said Pellingham at last, shaking his reverie from him. This is sheer nonsense. The best thing for me to do is to talk with her. No doubt she will say something flip pant or foolish at the very outset"
 He went over and sat opposite her. She looked up gravely.
 Have you ever been in a place of danger like this before?" he asked.
 Every living creature must often be in unconscious danger" she said, gent ly. T have been in conscious danger twice, once from a wreck off New foundland: once from derailed train
 This Is a disagreeable situation be- cause there is no chance for action. A man would perish in half an hour out in this storm"
 Courage with inaction is certainly more difficult than courage with action am not apprehensive, however at least only apprehensive about the coal If that holds out no harm will come to us." ....
 You take a practical view of it. We shall be relieved. of course, as quickly as human power will do it.
 "Yes. In the meantime. let us read something" She took out a maga- zine. selected a story and began to read in a soft, delicately modulated voice. The other occupants of the car drew nearer and listened to her. , They might have kept their dis tance," though Pellingham. , He took her in to dinner that night and sat late, listening to her. The next morning there was no relief. And all that day the occupants of the car . cheered each other. The lady with the changing eyes was named Mar- garet Goodfriend.
 . How quaint-and appropriate, . though Pellingham. All that day, ir whatever part of the car he sat, that stream of kindly consciousness seemed to How from her to him and from e.m to her. Parting with her at bed time he said:
 "The coal is very low. Relief mus come soon."
 "I was thinking to myself" she said gently; "that if an evil fate OvertOol the occupants of this particular car i would not much matter. Our German is travelling because he cannot find con
 tentment at home. Our married friend who have lost their child would rathe go to heaven in search of 1t than tt stay on earth. Our American is saC and transcendental If he died h. might find some of the things he want | 10 knOW. AS TOT you anu IHe, nellne of us appear to have any particula reason for living"
 "Yes, we have"
 . Have we?"
 We want to find the happiness w have missed"
 How are we to do that?" : "The future must decide-for botl : of us. Let us essay to find it together.
 You mean"
 ! T mean that whether we die here O whether We live and go on, let us d, . 1t in each others view. I'll not offenC r you with any words that might seen l i'll advised. But it is my desire neve to lose sight of you For the first tim in years feel my heart warmed witt human interest. For the first tim |, in my life I look at a woman who's
 love I desire. But, pardon me. Tn . circumstances make me speak"
 There was a sort of culver down tn g length of the train--a shock--a move a ment. "She goes!" cried the German ! T shall yet see the islands of tn e Pacific!"
 ] The married couple smiled at eac 0 other. Their earth journey was to con !. tinue, 1t seemed. The transcendental;s y smiled.
 l T had one perfecto left" said he.