The Opelousas courier., 1902-05-17
At THE POINT OF THE UMBRELLA.

y L11A SOh61 o4ULS -S%S~A
Georges fee to the guard had worked
30 we'll, and opened another roll OF
shawls and rugs in pursuit of q miss
ing novel.
Suddenly an uproar Of tongues
arose on the platform; the door was
jerked open and a stout woman stun
bled through it, followed by another
Juggling a big basket; behind came a
drove of children, all screaming, push
ing, and smeared, as to mouth and
fingers, with some sticky black com
pound which they we're devouring
greedily.
Beatrix gave one glance of horror
and began to gather up her scattered
belongings.
"You must find me a place." she
said to the guard. "You were paid for
this carriage"
II cannot help it." he muttered; ut
is a carriage for ladies alone; behold,
these are ladies alone-the train is
going, there is no time"
For answer Beatrix cast her rugs
and bags upon him, and snatching up
her umbrella, books and dressing case,
made her way through the scramb'
ling children, who were fighting for
places at the windows, and dashed out
upon the platform. The whistle was
sounding; evidently there was no time
to lose; the guard opened the near
est door, threw in the bags, and gave
Beatrix an impulse that propelled ner
the entire length of the carriage. An
other jolt and the train was off.
Beatrix was aware that she was be-
ing steadied upon her;feet by a strong
arm, the arm Of the man whom she
had caught a glimpse Of sitting at
the further window, and upon whom
she and ner traps had descended af-
ter the manner of a whirlwind. SIAM
mering Mile pardons, monsieur"
she sank upon the opposite seat and
e~ndeavored to regain her composure,
her natural color and the dignity
which beitted a young lady travel
ling alone. There Were three other
persons in the carriage; two sleepy
looking women, past whom she had
shot without apparently doing tlem
any damage; and the gentleman oppo-
site, who was now reading, holding
a large book quite close to his face.
This gave her a chance to examine
him. He was TALL; not too young
Beatrix was nineteen-and distinctly
mice" looking, she decided. His
gray tweed clothes looked English;
the scarlet fez he wore by way of a
cap suggested the East. His luggage?
Yes, there was the bag of golf sticks
and the folding bath-tub-ne must be
English.
Beatrix had just reached this con
clusion when the book was dropped
and the stranger said in a very agree
able voice.
Il beg your pardon, it -is-er-yery
warm here, don't you think? Per-
haps you would like to have your win
dow raised"
Beatrix assented with thanks, think
ing she would like to ask him how
ne knew that English was her native
tongue. She stole a glance at his
face; it was delightful face, with a
grave, kind smile that showed very
white teeth, and a nose that might
have been ~supercilious but for a lit
tie irregular ripple in the middle of
it. But what a pity that one of his
eyes was injured! It was closed and
the eyelid dropped. She wondered If
he were In the army and had lost an
eye-perhaps under "Bobs."
Presently she began to collect her
belongings, scattered by her violent
entrance; and again her vis-a-vis
came to her aid so naturally and SIM
ply that it would have been impossi-
BILE for the greatest stickler for the
proprieties to take offense. Before
her various parcels were recaptured
and reduced to. order. they had
laughed heartily over her misaiven-
ture.
Here's your umbrella he said,
1t up from the door, where it
had fallen. ats not a bad weapon
for . charge"
did | charger" said she. I'm 50
SORRY"
"Oh, well, you Americans are SO
don't you know? One ex-
poets little things like that"
"fYou Americana How did you
know that / am an American? I
thought ! spoke beautiful English"
Why, so you do, | assure you, but
is something can't exactly
tell what, but you have a quick little
way with you, and you look different
from most English girls I know-and
must be tired of hearing
about your boots and your gowns"
i don't know uhat we are ever ex-
Rctly tired" admitted Beatrix. slow
". Il know what you mean; We have
great many faults-oh, I know it,"
she sighed. "But We do not let our
skirts hitch up in front or on the
sides. and We always make connec.
lions In the back. How frivolous that
sounds!!" she thought. He viii think
| am one of those dreadful free AMI
Easy Americans he has heard of who
have no manners and will take up
any one"
She buried herself in a book, re-
solved to be very digniied in the fu-
sure.
a shower had arisen; the rain was
beating In and 1t was necessary to
the window; he seemed glad
q the interruption, ana seized upon
7 to make some remarks upon the
country they were passing through.