Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-07-15
FROM A CAR
WINDOW ~ I
BY Mary 6OoOd
Copyright, 1909, by 7. C. Mcclure
TO.

before it came to the curve. On this
particular afternoon it came to dead
stop.
Philip Bryce gazed listlessly from the
window, He was tired after hard
tay at the office, and the prospect of a
lonely restaurant dinner and lonelier
evening in his apartments was not in
wiling. He gave an impatient sigh as
his glance travelled up the height of the
brownstone building Just like my
house." he commented. Probably just
as full of people, each one knowing lit
tie and caring less about the rest.
Lord, but big city's a selfish sort of
placer
Just then his glance reached a win
dow on the level of his own and rested
there. His face frightened, for the
somber curtains framed a girl, an I'M
doubtedly pretty girl. And yet there
was something so pathetic in the pic
ture that Bryces heart gave a throb.
The girl leaned forward, her delicate
face supported by her clasped palms.
Under a waving mass of pale gold hair
dark eyes looked sadly far beyond the
train into a scene painted by her mag
nation.
Suddenly, as if walked from her day
dream by the fixity of his gaze, she
turned. AS her eyes met his wave of
crimson surged up to the roots of her
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 it jolted upon its way Philip
Bryce leaned back. with a 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
ly than |. Wish l could do something
for her. Well, I'll look out for her to-
morrow. anyway" Strange to say, the
recurrence of this philanthropic
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. 1t seemed matter
of the greatest Importance that he
should catch the o'clock train. He
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 belied
his words.
As the train slowed up for the curve
his eye eagerly sought certain Win
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 silhouetted 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 as to the girl
The janitor 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 a listener worthy of his
powers. The third story front fat?
All. yes Miss Metcalf lived there
nasty, cantankerous old lady. Her
companion, poor little Miss Lambert,
had hard time of it with her. How
she ever stood it 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 shame the way
the old lady deviled 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
ianitor, 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 a 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 janiter's story had strangely ex-
cited him, however. 1t was in an ex-
allied mood that he sailed forth like
knight of old to the nearest florist.
The purchase of a large bunch of vio-
lets somewhat soothed his feelings.
But he Redeemed shamefacedly as he
inscribed card, From the man in the
car window" and addressed the box to
Miss Lamberts' That he. Philip
Bryce, matter of fact business man,
should be caught at such a schoolboy' S
trickl And yet he gioried in the in
congruity.
The next afternoon he could hardly
wait until the train reached the curve.
Would she wear his flowers? Would
she smile her thanks?
But-the girl was not at her post; the