The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-07
CHAPTER xxx.

CHAPTER xxx.
 The train from Chicago to New York was speeding swiftly on it's way. Anita Van Nostrand sat near Bobs. but since her late avowal at the hospital had found 1t much more difficult to talk to him than heretofore. and had. therefore. in her at- tempt to appear unconcerned. as Is often the case. overdone her part and made him feel that something had happened for which he was to blame.
 He made one or two starts. but gave 1t up in despair, for an unaccountable pa- ra1ysis had seized upon his tongue, and as he had ever been rather a shy and un- experienced lad with women, he found himself quite helpless.
 MT. Elliot and MT. Van NostraRd were seated together at the other end of the car.
 What a good looking pair they make" said the former, indicating the two young people.
 "Yes, but there seems to have been some trouble between them, I regret to say. They have hardly spoken twenty words since we started"
 Not bad sign: I believe. That is. if you feel as I do."
 Not a bad sign; feel as you do? I am afraid am very dull this morning. Please exulain?'
 T do not know how you feel in the matter, as I said. MT. Van Nostraud, but 1t Is my dearest wish to see the young people united at some future period. You mean marriedT' 'Of course"
 "It has been mine. too. but of course | could not speak to Anita about it, as l that is the surest way to drive people apart"
 Quite right, I should say too. Now have never had a love affair of any kind. so my opinion Is simply theoretical, but l have always understood that the time when woman holds man off and appears cool to him when she has pre- viously been on the most pleasant terms with him. is the very time that she is most interested. Is that not supposed to be so?'
 'I believe 1t is, and I am sure that I hope that 1t is so in this case. But the ways of woman are inscrutable and the man who thinks that he can understand them is great fool"
 So l have understood, but there seem to ba some general rules, some great averaBes. so to speak. upon which one may pase temporary opinion. and the one that have mentioned seems to be one of them"
 "women must protect themselves. I suppose, not only against men.but against each other. They seem much more on their guard with their own than with the 1 other sex"
 l dangerous study. and lifetime would not | solve the problem, l imagine Let us hope, however. that this little coolness. or whatever 1t is will blow over. shall have to give Hohs some advice on tne ,e | such a nice fellow that he must get q ! good woman to help him along He has ! had very hard luck and no one knows 1 what may turn up next | Yes, poor ladI Every time that he seems to he getting along he has some thing to happen to him. | In the meantime Anita sat and wonder ed if Bobs was ever going to speak again, | In her perverse little heart she knew that | she had snubbed him once or twice in l the course of the journey, but it was only
 her way Of showing her regret at her out | burst at the hospital.
 Are you not going to say anything to | me-" she asked finally in desperation, l Everything have said seems to be the | wrong thing, Anita. l do not know what I have done to offend you" answered Bohs, surprised at the sudden attack. so