The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-02-13
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CUP OF HOT COFFEE

ment We were invited to visit my un-
Gle. and Della insisted on taking her
jewels.
We travelled first for the sake Of APP
pearancc. 1t would never do to let my
uncle think that we generally went
second class Besides my own luggage
| took a good sized bag in the carriage
with us and at the bottom OF that was
a small handbag with Delia's jewels.
Della thought that way was safer
The train was just starting when an
old gentleman climbed painfully into
! our carriage. He was peculiarly dress
ed in very loud check ulster. and he
wore n Tam O'Shanter cap with two
ribbons hanging down at the back. He
r had white hair and a white beard and
+ fierce eyes. was almost afraid Of him,
I but Della whispered, What nice old
gentleman" rs he sat down in the OPP
/ poSite corner
The three Of us sat i'm strained silence
{ for a long time Suddenly the old gen
tleman gruuted. "Suilyw and looked
around at us.
"StuGy" ne grunted again. And then
he asked Della very politely If she
would mind him opening the window.
Della didn't mind. and we got into
conversation with The old gentleman
! lie was a Sc0tchman going back TO his
/ home i'm the north. His name was Me
! Colin Colin McColin OF Seigels Brae
| Then he bc-uu talking about the storms
we had experienced lately. The fishing
/ people of E.s district had suffered Sc
/ vercly. Their boats had gone out and
not returned and the families were
destitute When he grew more contid-
/ ing. he told us that as q matter of fact
I he was Just returning from business I'm
connection with these accidents. for
which he had been organizing subScrip-
| tions. Immediately afterward he seem
/ ed very Soiry that he had let the secret
/ out.
Della had tears in her eyes and |
blew my nose Della kept on nudsins
my arm could not understand why
/ at first. but presently did.
If YOU would permit me- said Q)c-
/ ha was nudsing my arm all the timcl.
TO offer if You would accept a triie
/ from Us toward helping these
My dear sir" interrupted colin Me
! Colin. Il could not possibly allow You
to do such a thing"
But the poor people must be so un-
happy" said Della. And we would he
only too glad"
Il am delighted to meet with such
sympathy" said the old gentleman.
but it is really quite impossible"
He began 10 talk Of something else.
/ But Della asked him again. and in the
end he said he had never been able To
refuse lady. That j. just what think
about Della. So i'm the end we wrote
our names on piece Of paper and he
accepted something for the fishermen.
And just as he thanked us and put the
slip Of paper back into his pocket the
train drew up for its first wait.
I'VE stop here ten minutes. said the
old gentleman Della said that she
would like a cup Of coffee. She glanced
up at the bag on the rack rs she left
the carriage
"Oh. III look after your luggage
said Colin McColin Il shan't get out.
Thank you so much" said Della
very sweetly.
The buffet was at the other end OF
the platform. The coffee was not nice.
and it was very hot. but it is not wise
to drink out of the saucer under the
whitening eyes Of a railway refresh
ment maid.
Besides" said Della. reading my
thoughts. Besides there's heaps Of
time"
You say So retorted.
"And again." said Della. drinking
coffee is an art
Losing trains is also an art oh
served.
What an old silly you are" said De
liza. Didn't Mr.-Nlr. Mac What was
il. jack
do hurry up" said to Della rather
irritably, cor leave your coffee. We
shall certainly miss the train
I'm not going to be wasteful,' said
Della. She grasped the handle of the
cup cOurageously. She was lifting It
TO her lips when a shout startled me.
and | Sprang through the swing doors
just in time to see our end of the train
moving rapidly by me. The old gentle
man was leaning out of the window
and waving his arms. He shouted as
he saw me standing at the doors.
IN put your bag down at the next
station he cried. The next station"
he shouted from the distance.
Della came leisurely Oh 10 the plat
form
what horrid coffee that was" said
she and waved her handkerchief in
farewell to McColin. still leaning out
of the carriage window. How very
fortunate that he should be there TO
look after the bag-my jewels and ALL"
she finished in a kind of gasp.
every lucky" said.
But somehow began 10 feel du-
biOus.
There were thirty-hye minutes before
the next train stopped at the station
and we could continue our journey. At
the next station | inquired after the
bag, but the officials at the clOakroOm
knew nothing whatever of the old gen
tleman or the bag When | explained
this to Della. am afraid that she lost
her temper for the second time that
week
MEN are so stupid" said She after
some time. "'rO be taken in like that"
reminded her gently, but emphatic
ally, that if | had had my way she
would not have taken her jewels. Ii
was the last we ever saw of them or
of that very nice old gentleman. Colin
McColin Of Seigers Brae
When Della tells this story. she says
f, it was three pounds that | gave to
| Colin McCOlin for his distressed fisher
l. Of holf