The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-07-05
THREE
! OUTSIDE
SEATS
BY Elizabeth R. Cutter
Copyright, 1901, by Elizabeth r. Gutter

When ] took the omnibus for st. Ger
main DIES Pres Mt the Place Clichy and
mounted to the imperiale, there were
already seated there two priests,
bareheaded working woman with
filet of marketing in her hands, two
schoolboys carrying the usual black
portfolios under their arms and an old
gentleman who was reading the Petit
Journal. Next to the latter found
place.
A moment later the omnibus stopped
again, and / heard the voice Of one Of
my country women exclaiming nerv-
ously, II never can climb up that lad
der, never!"
Then girl spoke. ooh, do try Aunt
Martha! They say the outside beats
are so pleasant"
us lido you think it's perfectly
safe, Mr.. Henley?" asked the anxious
voice.
Perfectly safe," came reassuring
masculine echo, and there was a half
seconds pause, in which, / suppose,
Aunt Martha tried to ascend and fail
ed. for the conductor broke in impa-
tiently: EN- voiture! En- voiture! Une
place en- basl Neuf places en- hautr'
Take the seat inside, Miss Percy,
do" urged the mans voice. "Your
niece and can 60 on top"
The omnibus started forward, and
two Americans came up outside, very
pretty girl, elegantly dressed, followed
by tall, athletic looking man. They
seated themselves directly behind me,
and she exclaimed:
How delightful it is up herel And
what shame that we've been In Paris
two weeks without ever taking the
bus! Isn't 1t too bad that Aunt Martha
stayed down belowT
ION the contrary" he replied, II find
1t extremely agreeable to be alone with
you for once I've been trying for
days to have word with you by your
self, but your aunt is a perfect wonder
at keeping the party in strict triangular
shape whenever go out with you. To
day purposely urged her going inside
80 that l could talk with you In peace
up here on top"
Now l understand what Is meant by
'wickedness in high Places" retorted
the girl playfully.
Don't try to put me OF, Miss Ware,
for it's no use. You know perfectly
well that love you and
"Sh-sh! What are you thinking of,
Mr.. Henley? You certainly aren't 60
Ing to make love to me here, on the
top Of an omnibus, right before all
these people?"
why notY he persisted "They
Don't any of them understand English.
Look at that femme de menage and
those boys and the priest. They're all
French. We are as safe here as If we
were In the parlor at home"
"But that girl behind us"-she lower
ed her voice as she spoke-"do you
think she looks French?"
"A Partisan Enthusiastically" he an
swered. "She doesn't understand
word we say
! Parisienne-I, who had been
away from New England only six
months and who thought my nationali-
ty as plain as If 1t were stamped upon
me In red, white and blue! 1t was a
Shock certainly, but the blow was sof-
tened somewhat by the compliment to
my clothes Aren't the Parlsiennes
considered the best dressed women in
the world?
But the mistake had touched my
Puritan conscience as well as my
feminine pride. | was listening to
conversation manifestly not intended
for my ears. Ought l to get down
from the omnibus? That would be
quixotic surely. could not afford to
be late to my appointment for the
sake Of two perfect strangers who
would never know Of my delicate kind
hess to them. Ought to speak out
frankly and say, 81 beg your pardon,
but | understand everything you are
Baying| That would be embarrassing
FOR us all and really cruel to Mr.. Hen
ley, who had been trying for so long to
propose. When q man Is In such
straits that he has to make love on the
top of an omnibus, he ought not to be
wantonly interrupted. 1t was plainly
my duty to keep quiet
But young French girls don't go
out without chaperon," objected Miss
Ware. "She is all alone"
mot at ALL" he answered. "There's
her father right beside her reading the
newspaper"
l trembled with fear. 1t seemed as
II my neighbor must have understood
that, but glance showed him to be
happily ignorant of the American
daughter SO suddenly thrust upon him.
He was reading serial story In the
Petit Journal perfectly unconscious of
the romance going on behind his back.
well. haven't you anything to say
to me? asked the young man.
What can l say? l don't think
you've known me long enough to ask
such question"
Not long enoughw he repeated.
i've known you all summer"
Nine days on the steamer" she