St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-06-08
PNEUMATIC TRANSIT.
BY JAMES BUckHAaI.

%.
(From Town and Country, New York. Re
printed by Permission.l
She had written him that he need
not meet her at the station, as some
of her own family would be there,
and her train would arrive before the
close of business hours in the after
noon; but, she added, he must be
sure to call and dine with them at
seven. Dear girl! it was just like her
always so unselfsh, so thoughtful
of his interest, rather than her own.
/ Nevertheless Jack Bromley got a
time table and found out when her
train would arrive. He would be
there (business be hanged), no mat
ter If her whole family conspired to
deprive him of the JOY of being the
first to greet Eleanor and relieve her
of the dainty burden of a girls travel
ing paraphernalia. And with what a
look of grateful surprise she would
lift her eyes to his when he pounced
upon her before them all! How
sweetly she would murmur: sWhy,
Jack! ! really didn't expect this
pleasure. How good of you to leave
your business and come to meet me,
at this tsane Of day!"
All! this would be vastly more salts
factory than making a cool thousand,
he told himself, even if his little trib-
ute of devotion to Eleanor should cost
him such an absurd sum. So, on the
day when his affianced was expected
to arrive, he left his office fully an
hour before train time, hailed an au-
tomobile and was whirled away to-
ward the great terminal station.
Half way there. the clang of a fire
engine gong smote on his ear. The
automobile drew to one side and the
galloping horses tore by. Presently
another fire engine thundered into
sight around a corner just ahead Of
them. Then there seemed to be
gongs, and shouting, and scurrying
horses everywhere. A general alarm
had been rung ins A big fire was evii-
IDENTIFY in progress, somewhere be-
tween them and The railroad station.
The huge-tired automobile bowled
along like surprisingly agile type
of elephant until Jack Bromley saw
the swirling, nlassing crowd that al 4
ways assists the progress of fire in
a big city, and clouds of smoke pour
ing up toward the blue sky.
We shall be obliged to make de-
tour, sir, announced eabby, from his
lofty seat of observation. He was a
doWn-east Yankee, who had learned
to operate an automobile in Paris, and |
French words were de-
light to him.
:. Very vel, ? replied Bromley-aas
short a one as possible"
But everywhere they encountered |
rcped streets and burly forms Of po-
licemen. They had come too far. and |
must turn back. soithappened that, /
the automobile transgressed /
somewhat the rate Of speed permitted |
it BY city ordinance, fuming Jack
Bromley reached the station TOO late !
to meet Eleanor's train as it rolled
under the vast glass canopy beyond
the gates. He was exactly in time, I
however. to see, from a distance. an
other mana young, handsome, we'll
dressed manifold Eleanor, wraps
and all, in his arms and imprint a kiss
IN her rosy lips, that seemed to Brom-
.eE's imagination to make the whole
soncaye train shed resound like the
9atskills at the bowling of the little
men whom Rip Van Winkle saw in his
lreafn.
Bromley could hardly believe his
yes. He kneWor supposed he did
-eyery member of Eleanor's family,
md all her cousins, down to the third
and this handsome fellow
vas none Of them. And there they |
mother and sister and two
orothersand let this amazing oseu-
alton take place! And, worst of all,
Eleanor herself, his own affianced,
eemed to take it no whit amiss, for
be looked up in the strangers face
nth smile and blush, pereeptible,
0 a jealous lover, across 400 feetof
loor space.
Jack Bromley whirled on his heel 4
nd passed out Of the station Like one