Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-20

Thomas Henry Wickham was gooo-
looking. intellectual and-twenty-eis II :,
He had always considered girls uh"or'n'
of attention and had devoted his ti1he "
research in old Gothic.
TO be sure once or twice. during the
year he had taught in the western UNI
yersity he had accepted invitations 10
places of amusement where laules "eie
present But that was because--it DeH's
leap year-the ladies had done the hoh-
ors. and Miss Eugenia Harmed, instructor
in French, was not u young woman 10 NC
refused.
Now the year was over ana ne was ''i
for his home in Boston, glad TO De ifee
from western crudeness forever lie hiu
planned to leave on the evening train for
Chicago where he would Join an eXcuf-
sion going past Niagara and Toronto
down the Hudson, arriving at Boston IN
three days.
He flushed with pleasure as he bade the
president goodbye. The old man was
saying with genuine admiration:
Good work, my boy. You are doing
well to be called back to Harvard after
one year of teaching, and wish you sue
cess"
Wicknam was still blushing as he left
the office and ran into Fanshaw, fellow
In English, and jerks of the philosophy
department.
Hello, old man. jerks said. gripping
him by the arm. They tell me you re
leaving today?"
Yes" WiCkham announced 4 go out
Why" laughed Fanshaw, Miss he
suddenly choked-"we'll be down to see
you Off" he finished, lamely. Wickham.
absorbed in the business of getting out
of town, walked off through the campus.
unconscious of the winks and mods or
the two men in front of the executive
office.
He reached the station barely in time
that night. and found the platform
crowded with men of the younger uni
versity set and some young women.
among them Miss Eugenia Harmed. APP
parently they were down to see him off,
and Wickham fattered. He had
never thought much of popularity, but If
this was posing in the public eye he liked
1t. The train Numbered in and he climbed
aboard after several of the young women,
including Miss Harmed, had preceded him.
Some of the men followed, and when he
got inside he saw whole host of them
coming from the other end of the Pull
man. His heart warmed. He had never
considered himself a general favorite be-
fore and the thought pleased him.
Something was flying through the air like
confetti on fete night The passengers
IN the other sections were all looking to-
ward his end of the car and laughing up
roariously. AS he dropped his travelling
bag on the seat an old shoe thrown through
the air glanced off his sleeve He turned
and Miss Harmed, the French instruc-
tor. in the opposite section, surrounded by
bags and suit cases. She was blushng
furlously and looked vexed. Wickham
thought she was going to cry. He opened
his mouth to speak. Something hit against
his teeth and he bit on it. 1t was white
and hard. like a kernel. He saw that 1t
was sprnkled over seats people and trav-
cling bags. and that the floor was peppered
with II. Some one at the door called out
where's the bride?" The bell rang the
train began to move and the young people
all scuttled
The train was getting we'll under way as
Wickham strobe to the end of the car
stepped out on the platform and slammed
the door behind him
jerks and Fanshaw, returning from the
station arm in arm. were rendered speech
less by the apparition of Wickham coming
toward them from the second corner
"Why-why, old fellow, what's the mat
ter?'' stammered jerks
Nothing, returned Wickham. II lust
came down to meet you. I'm going out on
the morning train" he announced. THE
lady is more comfortable So" and turn
ing. h walked with them up the street
He barely made east bound train out
OF Chicago the following afternoon. and
was walking down the aisle looking for a
seat when he stopped short, staring blank
ly. There before him sat Miss Eueenia