The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-12
SURPRISING.

OGA VhJA1EUs
Lester followed the porter into the
chair car, hung up his overcoat and set
tied down to read. but he could not fix
his attention upon his novel.
The OCCUPANT of the chair across the
aisle disturbed him. Apparently she
was asleep. She was pale and there was
pathetic droop to her lips. The book
in her lap was slowly but surely Slip
ping from her unheeding fingers.
Its slow progress troubled Lester. he
wished the volume would travel faster
and get the threatened catastrophe over
with, so that he might attend comfort
ably to his own reading.
The expected happened at last, how
ever The owner of the book opened a
pair of startled brown eyes and looked
straight into Testers interested. blue
ones.
why Sidney!' she exclaimed, flush
ing from throat to brow rs it really
you? You're not ghost?"
Certainly no ghc@t," said Lester.
crossing the aisle and taking the va
cant chair facing the young woman.
To think 7 didn't know you. Margery:
But it's been-let me see how many
years?"
Don't speak of years; what are YOU
Going in this part of the country2 Are
you on a wedding trip. or anything2"
Certainly not on a wedding trip; ana
your?
Not guilty. I'm going to Washington
to spend Sunday"
so am L"
Lester did not think it necessary to
state that the main purpose of his go
ing was to ask certain young Wo-
man an important question. Perhaps.
as things turned out. it was quite as
well that he refrained from going into
details.
do you remember" asked Margery.
what good times we used TO have in
Cleveland. in the rose garden2"
we were next door neighbors then,
weren't we2 I used to crawl through
the hedge on my hands and knees to
visit you. What wes it we used to
play?"
Surprising. 's'posin'.' we called it
then"
bench near the beehives, with your lap
full of big pink and white roses, and
I sat on the ground at your feet. It
began like this: S'posin a pirate
should come and carry you away -
of in great big ship with lateen
And a crew of murderOus Las
And chests full Of gold
Gold. certainly. I'd follow"
Would you, Sidney2"
"Of course said Sidney. not MOTTO
ing that the girls voice had grown
tremulous- s posin' this is the ship"
Yes-yes""
And we're saiIing-sailing-
To far-off country. and the pirate
is waiting a the wharf"
Margery glanced apprehensively over
her shoulder. Waiting to seize me
and to carry me to his dungeon. Yes,
go on. I can see him. The girl shud-
dered.
I'D draw my sword and slay him.
and say: Fair one, be mine. Come to
these arms. I love thee
20 Sidney you-didnt say it after
ward. whsn-I used to wonder some
tines
The girls face flushed and then paled
suddenly
But the pirate didn't come. You
didn't need me If he had you know
Butt think have reason to believe
I'll ind him waiting for me at the sta
tom Hes Il wealthy pirate with chests
of gold. and-the family expects it,
I'll run him through with my broad
sword-my umbrella-if you say So"
mo, It's too late. rather think
shall have to let him carry me off. and
vets posin' Isl osin' at the last mo-
ment='
Brush you. Iady?"
1t was the Obsequious porter. Lester
leaned forward; THE pirate2' he asked.
"Onc of the fraternity surely" smiled
Margery. "A deckhand, possibly"
Let me take your satchel. You are
Look! Just inside the gate
Not Dorniton, Margery! Surely not
yes. Dorniton. The pirate, you
know"
save you"
yes. everything. Quick; may I save
observation-disclosures I always meant to,
@oh. DO dol" cried the girl. with a
lovely color flooding, her face and her
eyes dewy with tears of joy.-Metropoli-
tan Magazine.