The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-07-16

-esoeeeee-
-eeeeeees.

! our tlcket, maQam. lie Salu uu
feelingly, as he stopped over her.
"Oh, 1 haven't any! 1 haven't any!
she began. looking at him beseechingly.
"My cousin took it to get my trunk
checked, and the train started without
him.
The conductor was q brute. he
heard her fearful story without a spark
of sympathy, and then remarked cool
ly: "The rules of this road require pas
sengers either to hand up their tickets
or get off and walk"
+ "But what am 1 to do?' she cried
helnlessly; II haven't any money, at
least only forty cents in my bag. and
simply must go to Wichita to-nigbt"'
That won't go down." returned the
impudent rascal: you'll pay your fare
or you'lrget off,
This was more than human nature
could stand. and with my blood boiling.
rose up in my wrath and said: 'This
lady has told yor precisely the truth:
I myself witnessed the whole thing!
saw the gentleman take the ticket"'
The face that turned to me was
sweeter than an angels. The tears
stood. in the beautiful eyes. and 4 high
color had risen to the poor little white
cheeks. -
"Oh, thank you, sir! Thank you
she cried; "how good of You to come
to my assistance" % -
"You must allow me to actually come
to your assistance" I answered. draw
ing q roll of bills from my pocket and
subtra citing the fare from Kansas City
to Wichita.
ooh, you are too good!' she ex.
claimed, drawing back; "but, really, l
couldn't"
"I cannot take no for an answer"
I returned firmly: Il insist upon doing
this for you, madam - x ~
She blushed ever so sweetly. and 4as
soon as the leering wretch of a con-
.ductor passed on, she began thanking
me in the most charming way pos
sible.
"Such dreadful thing never hap
pened me before" she began, with q
little lisp that was too fascinating for
words. "I have never been anywhere
alone in my life. I am twenty, but
being an only child, papa treats me as
if 1 We're but ten. He cannot realize
that I am a woman Here she drew
herself up and assumed an immense
amount Of dignity for so small q per:
son. 3
I was perfectly carried away. =
The long journey, the eyec-jolting
cars, the dearth Of beauty among the
passengers, and then this bright ap-
partition were quite as dazzling to me
as the first ray of sunlight to the man
who has dwelt in caves. She was a
most enticing little creature, and the
more I gazed the more I realized 1t.
Her complexion was pure pink and
white, and the simplicity Of her dress
only added to her charms.
do you know" she said frankly,
after she had told me about being
twenty and never having Travelled
alone. II feel as If you We're On old
friend. But" she went on, her eyes
Frightening and smiles playing about
her mouth. "if you are not On old
friend, you certainly are good one!
Why, truly, I am not under such obli.
cations to any one else in the world!'
/ begged her not to mention it.
"Then she went on again: "You really
must tell me your name-lt isn't proper
for me to ask 1t, is it!because just as
soon as I get to Wichita want to re.
turn the money you have loaned me-
I shall pay 1t out Of my own money,
too," she continued proudly, 'because
day after tomorrow will be Christ.
mas, and Uncle always gives me nice
big check on Christmasw I handed
her my card. and she read aloud: /
"Mr. Shirley Hall. Why, what g
pretty name! 1t Is quite romantic. isn't
it? Shirley is like the names you read
in novels, and Hall is nice, toor'.
"You are very kind" said, feeling
tremendously fattered.
II suppose ought to tell you my
name in return, so you will know
whom the money comes fromw she
asked with her head on the side.
"By all means" I answered without
loss Of time.
amy Dyer" was the reply.
ooh, that's pretty, too," cried.
"Not as pretty as yours she ar
gued.
Eyes, yes, much more sou I in
sisted.
would you mind, Mr.. Hail." was
the next question, "if I should ask
| where you are going?"
ITO La Junta," responded.
"Oh, DEAR" she exclaimed, II was
in hopes that you were going to Wich'
ita, too! Why"-and she turned hel
bright eyes full on me-"why don't
you come on there? 1t isn't so awfully
far from Ia Junta!'
For an instant the mad impulse tc
do so overcame me, and my hand
sought my pocket to extract the exact
fare But my common sense return
ing. 1 withdrew it firmly. My bust
ness was in La Junta; in fact. 1 had
appointments there from the hour OF
my arrival, and there was absolutely
no reason for my going to Wichita. !
did not know a soul nor a stick nor q
stone in the place.
Moreover, the doctor had recon-.