The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-08-14
Quick Transition
fOriginal,1

q link between two contrasting kinds
of scenery. Going northward the trav-
eler passes through fiat, embarrassing
country shut in by hills; then he darts
into tunnel. When he energies pam
Drama Of the Hudson river bursts sud-
denly upon his view. There before him
is the Tappan Zee, the broadcast part of
the river, teeming with all. manner of
craft, from tiny skif to an immense
steamer, while beyond and about tower
the highlands.
"Delightfulv' said gentleman sit
ting opposite me the first time I wit
messed this transformation scene.
"Entrancing!" I replied.
II have noticed your expression" he
added alphabetically, because the
tunnel is Of especial interest to me. In
1t came for me a transformation as
marked as that between its south and
north ends"
/ begged for the story and he gave it
| to me.
From our first meeting 1t was appar-
ent to both Of us that Della Pennington
and were made for each other. She
was the daughter of an aristocratic
New Yorker, and / was a young army
officer without fortune. When / asked
her father for her hand I was not sur
prised to meet with a fat refusal. De-
liza was not one Of those willowy twigs
to be bent at the option of the holder.
She had inherited an independence Of
character and did not propose that our,
lives should be wrecked by any one.
She informed her father that she in
tended to marry me with or without
his consent, whereupon he directed her
to prepare for a trip to Europe.
"Delia was too young to openly refuse
to obey, and it was evident that our
affair must be managed clandestinely.
! was stationed at the time at one of
the forts in New York harbor, but was
ordered to report for duty on a certain
date at West Point. Before leaving
l was astonished at receiving word
| from Della that she had concluded
| to obey her father and go to Europe, to
| be gone three years. Time would show
| whether we were so attached that we
would be of the same mind on her re-
| turn. For herself her heart would con-
| tinue as it was, but the pressure upon
her was so strong that she feared
marriage of convenience would be her
| inevitable fate.
81 replied to her note both coldly and
| despondently.
al go to my new post tomorrow
wrote in conclusion, while 1 believe
| you sail in day or two for Europe.
| l consider this note last farewell
THE evening before my intended de-
| parture l received a note from Della,
brought openly by one of her fathers
| servants, saying that she would like to
send me a souvenir by which to re-
member her. 1t had not yet been sent
home, but If l would inform her by
what train T fntended -go1fig She would
send it to the station. gave the train
| time verbally to the servant. Taking
her action to .be submission to her ia
theirs will, had neither the heart nor
| the complacency to write another fare
| we'll
"In the morning at the station the
same servant appeared and handed me
| q box containing q little gold heart. 1t
| gave me no satisfaction. Indeed, if
she had told me that she did not love
me think / would have the more cas-
Ally overcome my disappointment.
boarded the train, which pulled out of
the station, and I began journey over
| the stretch of country we have just
| passed. 1t is needless to say that my
meditations were no more pleasing
| than the scenery. / sat with folded
arms and head down, only occasionally
| glancing out of the window. AS for
my fellow passengers, they did not in
| the least interest me. Finally the low
hills on either side shut us in closer
| and Closer and / began to think that
| we must soon run either over or under
them. Then suddenly we struck the
tunnel.
"The few moments we were passing
through it were the most gloomy l have
ever known. l disliked tunnels and
never entered one without experiencing
something of their somberness. In that
dark passage it seemed to me was con-
centrated all the sadness Of life-dis-
appointment, the consciousness that
had been wrecked, blighted, imbittered,
left to live without that which would
have made life worth living.
"Then there came a few seconds of
dawning light, and this beautiful view
sprang into existence. For the moment
my attention was drawn from my be-
reavement and concentrated upon the
scene. But another matter immediate
" drew it aside. When we entered the
tunnel 1 had sat alone; now some one
was sitting beside me. 1 turned and
looked into the face off,
"Delia?'
GLOW did you divine itT'
mo other transition could have COM
lpared with entering and leaving the
tunnel. But go on; explain"
"Delia to disarm all suspicion showed
her father her letters to me. The ask
ing for my train was also ruse to
know when l would go. Disguised as
an old woman she had gone to the sta
ton, entered the same car as / and rid
den behind me. waiting an opportunity
10 address me without attracting atten-
| tion When we entered the tunnel II