Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1902-03-19

for short"
In a moment there were tears in
her eyes. / excused myself 10 go and
get a drink of water. / improved the
opportunity II gave me TO study fur
ther the ungraceful chirography Of
the late Mr.. Swackhammtr. When l
returned she was diligently practieing
on the signature Of Miss Murphy. The
conductor came IN. He looked at US
sharply for a trying moment, took
the tickets and examined them care
fully.
Miss Murphy-Mr. Swackhammer."
said he, reading the names; please
sign them"
We did so and be gave us checks
for them and passed on. The Pull
man agent was az his elbow. lie
looked up. inquisitively. as ] handed
over the stateroom ticket. Then be
smiled a knowing sort Of smile.
"Shall you want another state
room?" he inquired.
As he spoke my mind went up TO its
knees in the mire. OF course Il would
not do for Mr.. Swackhammer TO oc-
cupy a stateroon with Miss Murphy.
/ felt as II somebody had opened a
furnace door a foot away from my
face.
"Ye--yes," 1 stammered. "of course
II shall want another stateroom."
"Why, no you won't" said Miss MUIR
ply. sweetly. but decisiveIy. as she
brushed the lint of my coat collar, II
want you with me-"
stared helplessly al the agent for
little. My wife saw the serious char
acter Of the situation, and turned her
face. looking thoughtfully out Of the
window.
"Yes," said I. feeling for my money.
"Give me a section for myself"
To my chagrin Il cost me more
than had saved by those internal
tickets. And they were also to rob
our honeymoon of its luster-that
was the worst of IL. We were TO be
put asunder in the very heyday Of
our married life. began to laugh,
from the tickle of despair as soon as
the man had left us. Ny young wife
wiped her eyes and looked very Sc
rious.
'Murph," said I, you must learn
to treat me coldly for awhile. Re-
member, on this journey we are
nothing more to each other than ac-
quaintances, or, at best, friends"
She sat in silence little time.
Couldn't / be your sister2" she
whispered, presently, a solemn look
on her face.
'Impossiblei" exclaimed. "How
could Miss Murphy be the sister of
Mr.. Swackhammer?"
81 didn't know but there was some
way to manage it," said she, with a
sigh.
'Jts too difficult" said I. "You
might as well try TO be my grand
mother"
Well, it was long journey, and
before it was over everybody on the
car got TO know everybody else. Miss
Murphy, being young, and, as have
ever thought, very beautiful, became
exceedingly popular. There were
three young men going east to col
lege who were more attentive to her
than they had any right to be. Not
that she gave them undue encourage
ment-it was not necessary. She was
only decently polite. They brought
her fruit and water, books and mag
azines and newspapers, and told
stories and sang songs to her, and
what, with it all, / had a feeling
worse than loneliness--it was one of
absolute bereavement. Day by day
/ was dropping like a flower that
had been cut and thrown in the dust.
One day, when they had all gone out
for dinner and we were sitting alone,
/ determined to speak my mind.
"My darlingi" j whispered, 81 don't
like those young men. They are too
familiar. You mustn't let them come
near you. They are a COMPOUNDED
nuisance. / am your lawful husband,
but / can hardly get a word with
you"
"You foolish thingl" said she.
Didn't you tell me 1 was to be cold
and distant to your"
"Yes, but / didn't think you would
bear down as hard as you have"
said /, and got up, little out of
patience, and made for the smoking
room. The college boys had just
come IN LOT olnneF. As Il stopped a
moment outside the door could
hear them talking while they were
lighting their cigars.
Poor old swackeyi" said one,
laughing as he spoke.
''He is head over heels in love with
her." said another. "But he hasn't
ghost Of show"
"Looks as IL he had been nit with
an AK" said another.
"Or whacked with a hammer" said
the first.
I had heard enough, and came
away. If / was not as happy as L
might have been, went unwounded
the rest of the journey. When at
last we we're crossing the ferry at
New York we were no longer Swack-
hammer and Murphy, but the happy
lovers we had been.
"I never want TO change my name
again." said my wife, with a sigh Of
relief.
"And you never shall until / am
dead" was my answer.