Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-02-04
TICKETS FOR TWO

Company.]
Rod Scott was waiting his turn at the
pullman window where he wanted a
flower" for Chicago. Just ahead of
fhim was a very pretty girl, and he
could not help overhearing the CONVEX
Station. She, too, was buying a ticket
10 Chicago and wanted berth as well.
She had made a mistake in the
amount necessary to secure sleeper,
and when the ticket seller called for
the additional 50 she discovered that
her purse was empty. 1t was an en-
barrassing position for the girl, but
there was no help for it, and she took
her railroad ticket and passed on to
Athe waiting room.
Rod could not help noting the out
come. He bought his own ticket and
then saw the girl standing in the ad-
3oining room examining her empty
spocketbook.
His sympathies were aroused; she
booked so forlorn, and he thought Of his
own little sister and wondered how she
swould feel under similar circumstance
That settled it. He walked quickly
Steward her and, raising his hat, said:
@''Fardon me, but 1 could not help see-
slng the trouble you were in at the tick
let window. Won't you allow me to be
your banker in the emergency"
She looked up at him shyly. He had
good, honest face.
''Oh, thank you; but don't like
"Of course you DON'T" said Rod; "but
fTN give you my card, and you can send
the money back to me when you get
home"
Her face frightened up. "You are
very kind. My father was to have been
with me, but was detained at the last
moment. thought had all the money
Z needed to get home.'
''Well, l fortunately have plenty"
said Rod. $50 let us get the ticket"
OF course he saw that it was in the
ssame car, and it was natural that they
should occupy the same seat.
1t was all too soon for Rod when the
tberths had to be made up, but he ar
ranged that they should have break
fast together.
Rod says he will never forget that
breakfast. He never did know what
he ordered, but he Toasted upon pair
of gray eyes which took shy chances
across the little table. All the time
he was trying to summon up courage
to tell how much he wanted to meet
her again.
Another hour and they would reach
their destination, the pleasant tete-a-
'tete would be over, and he did not even
know her name. Rod was getting des-
sperate.
''By the way, do you expect any one
to meet you at the station, or may r.
"Oh, yes; papa said he would wire,
30, you see, won't have to trouble you
any more.'
that. 1t has been a great pleasure to
me, and l only wish I could
Don't say anything more, Mr.. Scott.
= am under many obligations to you,
but papa will write you when he re-
turns"
Poor Rod! He wanted to say more,
but politeness prevented him from
'embarrass her.
When the train pulled into Chicago
and he saw her affectionately greeted
by an elderly lady, he awakened to the
realization that his pleasant day dream
was over.
Rod was assistant freight agent on
sthe B. and, A. road, with headquarters
ut Omaha. He spent week in Chica-
go. and on his return home he found
the following letter awaiting him:
Dear Sir-My daughter has given me
your card and asked me to thank you for
your courtesy to her when she was re-
turning home. r inclose draft for S,
which will reimburse you for the amount
you expended on her. The general freight
agent of the road. Mr.. Fletcher is g. very
- old friend of mine. Kindly remember me
to him, and whenever you are in Chicago
will be glad to have you call on me.
y Yours truly. JOHN H. MASON.
1t was astonishing how much atten-
ton the Chicago end of the B. and A.
road required. Rod found it necessary
to make weekly trips there, and he
never failed to call and inquire for
Mr.. Masons health and incidentally to
accept the hospitality Of the Mason
home
Alice, she of the gray eyes, always
WELCOMED the guest with such winning
smiles that he thought he was in para
disc. On one such evening she was
singing an old Scotch ballad with the
refrain, ''Lassie, could you lo'e meY
He stopped over her as she sat at the
s:piano, and, looking into the gray eyes
that were turned toward him, he whis-
spered, "Alice, dear, could you lo'e me?"
He read his answer there and sealed
1t with a kiss
+
Six months later a carriage was be-
Ing driven toward the station: A few
stray kernels of rice still chung to the
steps.
The carriage stopped. and the occu-
pants went hurriedly to the train
(which was starting for the east
N0h Pod hos ho ;ov~