The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-08-07
How | MET AMY. /
Observation-Disclosures
, BY VIRGINIA NILES LEEDS. !


THE train had stopped at Kansas
L City for breakfast, and my
hitherto %uneventful and tiresome
journey was cheered by the sight OF
a pretty face.
There had been many faces on the
way, and they had belonged to the
fair sex, but they were not fair. One
had belonged to a great grenadier OF
q female, in a sort of woman's bust,
ness suit, who had bullied her hus-
band, a puny, would-that-I-were-dead
little man, all the way from st. Louis;
ard another was a middle-aged spin:
ster whose features possessed an un-
usual amount of acidity. They had
been more of a damper than an in
spiration Oh the journey, and the
sigh Of relief that | hcaved as they
reached their respective destinations
was chorused by my fellow-travelers.
Therefore it can be imagined what
feelings came over me, when return
ing from my naturalization break
fast and settling myself II c more in
my linen-draped revolving chair, l saw
come aboard a slender figure in black
cloth and fur, with great childlike
blue eyes and an abundance of fluffy
golden hair. [ am a susceptible man
at ali times, but if there is one thing
in the female line that makes my
heart go faster, it is the combination
of baby-blue eyes, fluffy hair, and
fur.
She came aboard just as ] returned,
and about three minutes before the
train was to start. Tt may seem
strange that my susceptible heart set
up such a beating when the fact is
made known that my golden haired
beauty was not alone. Her companion,
Il creature of the opposite sex was
not a person whose looks / fancied.
His m%oustache was too blonde and
too sweeping, his hat too glossy, and
his scarfpin too dazzling. Altogether
there was a look about him as of
a man whose worldly goods did not
come to him through weary toll and
plodding, but through more vagrant
and less laborious methods.
l found myself devoutly hoping he
was not her husband, for the innocent
face and perfect apparel Of the little
blonde showed all refinement. She
was just the kind of a trusting, un.
suspecting little woman to be taken
in by a deceiver and made to believe
that his money and his jewels came
from legitimate sources.
He settled her comfortably in hel
chair, which, as rare luck would have
it, was next to mine, and was about
to remove his lustrous hat and make
himself at home, when he started VI
suddenly and asked: "Did you gel
your trunk checked?"
why, no." answered the pretty
little blonde, turning upon him {
startled, chndlike face, 81 didn't
Charlie!"
what! And almost time to start!
Here, give me your ticket, quick, an6
I'll see to it at once!!"
She began fumbling in the little
steel bag she Wore at her side with
excited, trembling fingers, while ]
cbafed at the delay. Presently she
found the ticket and handed it te
him.
Don't be long, Charlie!" she calico
plaintiye}y, as he rushed off with the
ticket, "for you know how dreadfully
timid 1 ami"
Poor little thing! She touched IN,
heart with her little chirping voice
and | would willingly have taken
Charles place.
She leaned forward in her chain
and began peering out of the window
As the passengers returned one by
one from their morning repast, She
turned quickly, half rising each time
hoping that each was Charlie"
But he did not come; and each sec
ond, / knew, seemed an hour. The1
q dreadful thing happened. The con
ductor shouted "All aboard!' and hi:
words were followed by the prelimi
nary jerking of the cars. Another
second and we gliding over thu
rails! I glanced at the poor little
blonde. A terrified expression was OF
her loyelysface, then putting her head
back upon the chair, she pressed hel
Handkerchief to her eyes and began
to cry.
Such pity rose up in my heart as
had never felt before in my life. Thi,
Ipoorschild, 80 pretty, 50 timid, alon,
and helpless at the very outset of he
jourpey! at was really awful, and
VvnS54or#ofnefing her my services q.