Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-12

| light was streaming under the curtain OF
his berth window.
Just east of Syracuse. sir replied the
colored man. your shoes will be ready IN
a minute. sir, and the first call for break
fast has been given. sir
But what are we stopping here for!
Borden demanded with the irritation OF IN
terrupted rest. He could never sleep on
board a train unless the car was in motion.
Freight wreck, sir. Rear-end COLLISION,
and two men killed, sir.''
TOO bad" said Borden, ducking back
into his berth; but he was not thinking of
the two men-only of a probable wait of
hours. Waiting always got on his nerves.
He dressed deliberately. having the wash
room and smoking apartment practically to
himself. The rest of the male travellers
were tiding over the delay in slumber.
The dining car was also deserted at this
early hour, and each of the six walters
looked at him with expectant eyes and Itch
ing palms. He took a seat midway down
the car and studied the menu with the air
of a man who had time to kill. Then he
leaned back to make the best of the Albany
papers.
There was a stir at the door The dining
car conductor stepped forward to usher In
a trim figure, clad in a pedestrian skirt
of mannish material tailored shirt waist
and smart. stiff hat with coquettish wings
on one side. Hers was not a grlsh face,
but the face well preserved and frightened
by experience cheerfully accepted She was
well groomed and radated not the sick
eningly heavy perfume which some women
AFFECT to offset the fetid atmosphere of the
train, but the clean, almost keen air of
one who has just returned from a brisk
walk in the winter air
'Frut-yes, oranges-and cracked wheat
The Albany paper slipped to the floor
and Borden swung round suddenly that
his tweed coat sleeve almost knocked over
the cream pitcher
He had not heard the voice for seven
years, yet 1t came to him with the clear
ness of a bell-and something more. The
girl was looking out of the window now
and he studied her profile curiously. 1t had
changed. The roundness was gone with
the dimpled mischief that had brought on
his first affair of the heart. BY Jove! he
wondered had his mother thrown away
the little pearl ring? 1t had lain in box
with some other boyish trinkets. She had
returned it in a fine pet when he told her
ne was going away from Clayville to make
his fortune. She had wanted to be married
then and let the fortune be earned Jointly
No doubt she had forgotten that little at
fair-she looked prosperous and happy And
she had certain air of self-restraint and
self-confidence never shown in those earlier
and happier days. Yes, he suddenly real
lied that they had been happier days. A
vision came to him of shaded lanes and
apple orchards. a futterng hand that
rested quietly only in his and a head that
had once cuddled confdingly on his big.
square shoulder. There were no curls now
Just well-arranged waves, but Borden liked
theM petter. He liked the firm pOiSe of her
head. too: the straight, self-reliant figure
He decided that he had best make himself
known.
She turned with distinct evidence of an
noyance. Mildred Davis did not care for
casual travelling acquaintance. Then the
look OF hauteur gave way to a sudden ex-
preston of almost girlish pleasure
or all people to meet, here, in the dead
OF winter and dear knows how many miles
from where! she exclaimed. Certainly,
have your breakfast brought right over
here My dear boy, you have-yes, YOU
have actually grown since we met-let's
see-lt was seven years ago-or eight?"
Jack Borden sat opposite her and made a
pretense of eating his breakfast. The
waiter reported in the tiny pantry that the
young chap was evidently hard hit
Borden was hard hit but he did not know
1t. His parting with impulsive, girlish Mil
dred Davis had not occasioned any partic-
ular pain. and had soon been forgotten in
the scramble for business recognition. Yet
his meeting with the new Mildred. calm,
self-contained and somehow radiating a
social superiority that mere wealth cannot
give had thrilled him.
Where am 1 going? Why, home for
Christmas, of course" she was saying in
even tones. You heard of mothers death,
l presume"
Borden flushed He had heard nothing
from the old town in years. He murnured