The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-30
2n a
Dining Car.

XCEPT for one other traveller,
Merrick had the luxurious chair
IL car to himself. His fellow pas
senger, a fashionaby dressed young
woman. was evidently i'll at ease.
NIelrick regarded her with interest
She was not an ordinary parsonage.
She was Spanish, undoubtedly, he de-
cided. after n lingering inspection. One
could see that at a glance. The oval
olive cheek. the long black lashes. the
dark eyes and the masses Of blue-blaclS
hair, all proclaimed her foreign nation
slity.
Mcrrick studied the various labels on
hnr satchel. but could make out only
tie word Rico
Clearly she was from Porto Rico, and
Spanish was her native tongue. He
remembered with a parg that he had
once thought seriously of taking up
Spanish. He was suddenly filled with
regret for having decided in favor of
shorthand.
Steadying himself by the chairs, for
tne train was running at the rate of
sixty miles all hour, Merrick went for
ward.
II beg your pardon. sonora" said he,
rausing at the young womans elbow.
"Habla y Espanola?"
Isl, senor,' replied the distressed one,
with a perfect accent and an upward
sweep of her long lashes.
Merrick having, reached the end of
his Spanish vocabulary. sat down upon
the arm of the opposite chair and gazed
in respectful silence at the lovely for
eigner. who flushed slightly turned her
back upon the intruder and looked
steadily out of the window.
Suddenly he had an inspiration. He
leaned forward. "Parley vous Fran
cais?"
"Oui, monsieur" replied the lady,
looking at him eXpectantly.
Thunder! ! wish I did," calculated
Merrick. "Avez vous-Oh, thunder
You might try English" suggested
the lady, displaying a dimple.
"Oh!' gasped Merrick, turning GRIM
son. II thought you We're Spanish"
$50 I imagined. My home is in New
Orleans.'
II wanted to offer-you seemed un-
easy-"
ooh, so uneasy" admitted the lady.
you are in trouble; perhaps 1 could
help you"
II am hungry" she confessed, flush
Ing prettily. II am starving"
'',There is a dining car forward be-
gan Merrick eagerly. THE service is
excellent"
But not for me. I'm q pauper. I
have no money. My companion carried
my purse. We were separated in tIe-
,nendous crush in Twenty-third street.
Fortunately, ! had my ticket and
enough change to pay for my seat in
my glove. 1t was hopeless to think of
trying to find anyone in such a crowd,
so j escaped with my life and came
straight to the train"
''That was certainly the best thing to
do" said Merrick approvingly.
II am afraid, though" confessed the
lady, that I have been foolishly ex-
travagant. / should have gone into the
day coach and saved my luncheon but
! hoped my friend would catch the
train. ate very little breakfast; you
can't think how it makes me feel when
ever that man pokes his head inside
the door and calls out. Dinner now
ready in the dining car
Merrick, who had just lunched sump-
tuously in Jersey City. laughed sympa-
thetically.
"Tm hungry, too" said he, unblush-
ingly. "You must dine with me-"
"Oh, no.
"Oh. yes. II you prefer you shall sit
at one table and I'll take another,
but"
1T isn't that. ! shouldn't mind"
Last call for the dining car" said
the steward. appearing at the door,
"oh!" gasped the young woman,
hungrily.