The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-06-10
FROM A CAR
WINDOW -
BY Mary cIood

4 juiiUl tght, I'VE, ny 4. [, Htt are I
S-s.....sS.1s..-.. sos. s....
The elevated train always slowed up
before ii came To the curve. On this
particular afternoon it came To dead
stop
Philip Bryce gazed listleSsly from the
window. He WAS tired after II hard
day at the ollce, and the prospect of II
lonely restaurant dinner and lonelier
evening III his apartments was not in
viting. He gave an impatient sigh MS
his glance travelled up the height of the
brownstone building. Just lire my
house" he commented. probably just
MS full of people, each one knowing lit
tie AID caring less about the rest.
Lord. but big city's Il selfish sort of
place
Just then his glance reached II Win
dow on the level of his OWL and rested
there His face frightened, for the
Somher curtains framed II girl, an un-
doubleday pretty girl. And yet there
was something so pathetic in the pie
ture that Bryce's heart gave throb.
face supported by her claspcd palms.
Under Il waving mass of pale gold hair
dark eyes looked sadly far beyond the
train into a scene painted by her imag
nation.
Suddenly. as If walked from her day
dream 10y the tiXitN of his gaze she
turned. As her eyes met his Il wave of
-. Ia ~
hair. With proud little movement
she drew back into the shelter of the
curtains. And at the same moment the
train. obeying some unseen signal.
moved off around the curve.
As ii jolted upon its way Philip
Bryce leaned back. With n sigh. But
this time the sigh was not for himself,
but for the girl. Poor little SOUL he
said softly she looked even more lone
~ than |. Wish | could do something
for her. Well, I'll look out for her to
morrow, anyway" Strange to say, the
recurrence of this phhnthropic
thought infused brightness into his en-
tire evening.
There was an unusual element OF
haste in the way in Which he sprinted
up the stairs of the elevated station
the neXt afternoon II seemed matter
ri The greatest Importance that he
should catch the ! o'clock train. lie
told himself that it WAS only because
it WAS his usual train. and he prided
himself ON his regularity. But there
was that IN his manner which beled
his words
AS the train slowed up for the curve
his eye eagerly sought II certain will
dow. The girl WAS at her post. She
might have been reading. for book
was in her lap, but Philip felt sure
that she saw him felt sure that sud
den color flushed her cheek Such mar
velous power has the human eye-on
occasion, The young man was unrea
sonably happy over his discovery.
And So for many days. When twi-
light fell earlier, the girls slender fig
ure was silhouettod against lamp
light The curtains were never drawn,
and she was never absent. She watched
for him
The assurance gave Bryce the cour-
age to call on the janitor of the brown
stone house and inquire as to the
prices of vacant apartments and incl
dentally MS to the girl.
The janltor was loquacious, after
the manner of janitors As he watched
the smoke wreath up from one of
Philips best cigars he felt that for
once he had II listener worthy of his
powers The third story front fiat!
All, yes. Miss Metcalf lived there =
nasty, cantankerous old lady. Her
companion, poor little Miss Lambert,
had hard time Of 1t with her How
she ever stood 1t all he didn't see. She
was some sort of a poor relation and
likely didn't have anywhere else to
stay. But it was Il shame the way
the old lady deyiled her
The janitor grew quite excited over
It. So did Philip. In fact, he had
some difficulty In restraining his feel
ings But he forbore to interrupt the
janitor. Such information was pre-
cious
"The poor young lady never gets a
breath of fresh air except when she
goes driving with the old one, and
never minute to herself except when
her tyrant is sleeping"
Sudden enlightenment came to Philip.
Evidently Miss Metcalf took an after
noon siesta. He had to thank the god
Of sleep for these stolen meetings, If
meetings they might be called.
The janitors story had strangely ex-
N n a
allied mood that he sailed forth like
knight of old to the nearest florist.
The purchase of large bunch of VIC
lets somewhat soothed his feelings.
But he REDEEMED shamefacedly as he
inscribed a card, "From the man in the
car window" and addressed the box to
Miss Lambert" That he, Philip
Bryce, matter OF fact business man,
should be caught at such schoolboy's
trick And yet he glored in the III
congruity.
The next afternoon he could hardly
walt until the train reached the curve.
Would she wear his flowers? Would
she smile her thanksf
But-the girl was not at her post; the
of the disappointment stung him into
energy. He had allowed this girl to
grow into hi, life and thoughts. Should
he let her slip out again? Never!
With sudden determination he left
the train at the next station and
walked straight to the brownstone
house. The Janltor recognized him.
He volunteered to show him the way.
The girl herself opened the door Her
cheeks were palcr than usual and her
eyes heavy from weeping. She, too.
by her startled glance, recognized him.
Philip started forward impetuously,
but she drew back and leaned, trem-
bling. against the door as she said in
frightened whisper: You? You"
The janitor had dsereetly with
drawn.
Philip felt a pang of reproach as lac
ionl-aI nj tha 81, fna ftI 10 had