The Press., 1903-03-26
For
Mrs. Tillinghast's
Accommodation
BY II. Faber OsserbeId

Edyth was sitting in one Of the com
Portable chairs Of a parlor car as thu
train pulled out Of the New Haven
station. She was regretting the shog'
halt there when a newcomer, who had
planted his traps on the floor near thu
large armchair facing her, bowed
Edyth thought 1t was an apology fog
having upset her valise with his gol1
sticks and returned the salutation.
The one second suff1ced to show hez
| 1t was the same jolly, broad shouldered
chap she had seen on the platform with
a crowd of Yale boys. They both bent
| to pick up her valise when she heard
him say, while his eyes twinkled with
suppressed fun:
I'm going to talk to you until your
station comes, so you'd better make b.
lieve you know me-"
Edyth looked up Indignantly. but sho
could detect no disrespect in his face.
Just pure rollicking college boy fun,
ready for lark.
Suppose l don't want to talk to
your she challenged.
You needn't, just as long as you'll
let me talk to you. I've worked like q
| niger the whole term, and / can't
| waste a moment beginning to have o
bully time"
What would the people on the car
think if they knew I've never seen You
oeforeY she demanded.
"They won't know if you smile at me
and go right ON chatting" he assured
her.
But you know it isn't proper, and
I promised Miss Stanton to be eau
tions if she let me go alone" She
smiled bewitchingly and began to page
in her book.
"That old lady opposite is growing
suspicious on account Of your book. !"
He leaned forward in his armchair and
contemplated her with Joy.
"Who is Miss Stanton"
"Our teacher of mathematics. She
usually chaperones me, but I made her
see there was no OCCASION
"Not the least in the world" he said
fervently. setting his tie.
I'm beginning to think she had bet
ter have come! 1 think I'd best whirl
my chair around. I've misgivings"
"You can't. It's stationary" he ex-
ulted.
81 might change my seat" she be-
gan.
81 might, too" he threatened.
mo ROOM"
1.-THE chair has comfortable arms"
he said suggestively.
1.-The old lady," reminded Edyth.
Better stay then" he advised.
"Now, Harry wouldn't have forced
himself upon
who's HarryY he interrupted.
HE is at Harvard" murmured
Edyth.
1--WE beat Harvard badly last
Thanksgiving" he unused.
Were you at Yale last Thanksgiv-
ingT' she queried innocently.
"Seniorr He looked hurt.
"Ah! So is Harry" she replied.
"On the team?' he demanded.
NO" she admitted unwillingly.
"Shortstop," he announced and
drew himself up proudly.
Harry is in senior society,"" she
began.
He smiled in a superior fashion and
touched the golden VOLTS head on his
waistcoat.
"Well, all the same, he wouldn't have
talked to me-" she said in tone Of re-
proof, "and," she added, 81 like his
name"
Burton sounds less frivolous"
lawfully long," she demurred.
"Burt for short" he volunteered.
81 like Burt, too" she admitted.
"Yale blue would be becoming to
you" He pulled out a blue silk scarf.
"So's red," she protested.
"Too like your hair. Let's try blue"
And he handed her the scarf. She
glanced at the old lady and stealthily
held the scarf near her face.
"It's enchanting-the only right col
or" he beamed upon her.
"To speak Of my hair as redr' she
began. You're the only single man.
II know. but I'm willing to change"
"What, the hairT She bent over
the glass and patted her pompadour
into shape.
NO." he too hastily contradicted.
"Harry says it's pretty"
''I'd like to put Harry off the earth"
he said emphatically.
"Then 1 couldn't wear blue. It would
have to be black" She gave a little
sigh.
'Black for Harryf Absurdr' he
scorned.
"As 1 said before. you're the only
single man.
"And I told you before" he inter-
rupted, "Tm eager to have you alter
that"
81 think 1 was just at that point in
my story" she said thoughtfully, pick
Ing up her book.
Don't read or I'll change my seat,
with all my traps, and the people will
think we've had a quarrel"
''Then won't talk to you any more"
Edyth leaned far back in her chair and
looked out Of the window.
"I'll keep right on, and people will
soon see something is wrong" he
threatened. He tied his shoestring,
and Edyth saw the very sole of his
boot chuckle.
Naturally it isn't proper for a very
young lady to speak to a total stran-
ger"
II was seventeen last February"
"But you don't know anything about
mel! he censured severely.
81 know your name Is Burt" Edyth
fingered over the name and smiled M
at him.
''Sign of knowing one pretty we'll"
ry," she admitted coyly.
Eyes, about one" He nodded his
head.
about the only Harry" she put Fin
as an afterthought.
The conductor had walked through
the train. calling out the nexti station.
Neither Of them observed him. They
were both engrossed in studying out