The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-08-21
How I Met Amy.

f1OW l WET Amy.
The train had stopped at Kansas Cit,
for breakfast. and my hitherto uncvent
ful and tiresome journey was checred BY
the sight of pretty face.
There had been many faces on the way
and they had belonged to the fair sx, bu
they were not fair. One had belonged tC
a great grcnadier of female, i'll a sort o
woman's business suit, who had bulliet
her husband, a runy, would that-I were
dead little man, all the way from St
Louis; and another was middle-ageC
spinster, whose features possessed all un
usual amount of acidity. They had beer
more of a damper than an inspiration OF
the journey, and the sigh of relief that
heaved as they reached their respective
destinations was chorused by my fellow.
travellers.
Therefore it can be imagined what
feelings came over me, when returning
from my railroad station breakfast and
setting myself once more in my linen
drapcd revolving chair. saw come aboard
a slender figure in black cloth and fur,
with great childlikc blue eyes and an
abundance of fluffy golden hair. am a
susceptible man ut all times, but if there
is one thing in the female line that makes
my heart go faster, it is the combination
Of baby eyes, fluffy hair and fur.
She came aboard just as l returned,
and about three minutes before the train
was to start. 1t may seem strange that
my susceptible heart set up such a beat
ing when the fact is made known that my
solden-hair beauty was not alone. Her
companion, acreature ofthe opposite sex,
WAS not person whose looks fancied.
His mustaclIe was too blond and too
sweeping, his hat too glossy and his
scarf pin too dazzling. Altogether there
was look about him as man whose
worldly goods did not come to him
through worldly toll and ploddinQ, but
through more vagrant and less laborious
methods.
l found myself devoutly hoping he was
not her husband, for the innocent face
and perfect apparel of the little blonde
showed all refinement. She was just the
kind of trusting, unsuspecting little
woman to be taken in by a deceiver and
made to believe that his money and jewels
came from legitimate sources.
He settled her comfortably in her chair.
which, as rare luck would have it, was
next to mine, and was about to remove
his lustrous hat and make himself at
home, when he started up suddenly and
asked: did you get your trunk
why, no." answered the pretty little
blonde, turning upon him startled,
face, Il didn't, Charlie
What And it is almost time to start
Here, give me your ticket, quick, and I'll
see to it at once!'
She began ftImbling in the little steel
bag she wore at her side with excited,
trembling fingers, while chafed at the
delay Presently she found the ticket
and handed it to him.
Don't be long, Charlie" she called
as he rushed off with the
ticket, "for you know how drcadfully
timid ami"
Poor little thing! She touched my
heart with her little chirping voice,
and | would willing have taken Charities
place.
She leaned forward in her chair aud be-
gan p"cring out of the window. AS the
passengers returned one by one from their
repast, she turned quickly, half
rising each time, hoping that each was
Charlie.
But he did not come, and each second,
| know, seemed an hour. Then dreadful
thing happened. The conductor shouted
"All aboard" and his words were follow
cd by the prelimi lary jerking of the cars.
Another second and we were gliding over
the rails. | glanced at the poor little
blonde. A terrified expression was on
her lovely face, then putting her head
back upon the chair, she pressed her
to her eyes and began to
cry.
Such pity rose up in my heart as had
never felt before in nv life. This poor
child, so pretty, SO timid, alone and help
less at the very outset Other journey. 1t
WAS really awful, and was for offering
nv services at once. But, no, that would
never do. About the best thing u man
can do for n stranded young woman is to
let her alone. She was probably upset
enough without having strange man
address her. So just sat and watched
her with my heart in my eyes.
Was it possible, began to ask myself,
that her companion had played her
false He he purposely delayed the
of her trunk, or had the train
really started without him? His appear
ance was certainly against him; but, of
course, as knew nothing whatever of
their acquaintance or relationship, it
was hard for me to come to any con-
Clusions. However, am afraid did not
give Charlie the benefit of the doubt.
The poor little blonde held the hand
kerchief to her eyes with shaking fingers
until the conductor came in. His cry of
Tickets" caused her to take it down,
and she looked up at him with the most
countcnance ] have ever be-
held.
"Your ticket. madam" he said unfccl-
ingly. as he stopped over her.
Oh, haven't any! l haven't any"
she began, looking at him bcseechingly
"My cousin took it to get my trunk
and the train started without
him"
The conductor was a brute. He heard
her fearful story without a spark of