Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-12-17

seated IN the middle section OF the
sleeping ear a very cross-looking old
gentleman. You could see al once he
was out Of humor. He looked so much
as II he might. on slightest provoca-
ton, bite, you wouldn't have been sur
prised to hear him bark.
1t was a cold, u%nfriendly stare that
he bestowed upon Kitty Waller when.
bundled up in a great red coat and
a warm hood, With a paper box under
her arm and a little satehel in her
hand. she WIS shown by the porter TO
a seat jast across the aisle from his
own.
She couldn't have noticed the look.
for as the train began 10 move she
plunged In among his bags and shawl
straps, almost knocking a book from
his knee in her eagerness TO obtain the
last glimpse of a woman on the plat
form, which vas on his side of the
car, avs Browning. King a Co.'S
Monthly.
Il beg your pardon" said she, i
wanted 10 say good-by to aunty."
you seem to have said good-by to
your manners" was the hateful reply,
and Kitty, now alive to the fact that
the gentleman was very cross. crept
back to her own seat and nestled
quietly In the corner.
She was only ten years old, but she
had grown up tall In the Elk noun
tain afr. and her cheeks were rosy
This was her first ride on a railroad.
Indeed. from her uncle's haif-log. half
frame house, where her mother had
died when she was a baby, M tracks
save those OF miners or jack-rabbits
were visible. Now she was going all
the way to Denver to spend Christmas
with Grandma Waller.
She knew the train was due In Dem
YER al seven o'clock the next orn
Ing. and that after q long. happy day
she would hang her stockings In the
big DON grandma had 10 often writ
ten to her about and old Santa Claus
would fill It.
AS early as seven o'clock the good
natured porter prepared the funny bed
In which she was to sleep while she
looked on In open-eyed amazement.
and by eight o'clock she was In tho
land of dreams, the last sound she had
heard being the voice of the cross
gentleman" scolding the porter for
making up his berth with the head
toward the engine.
It was early when Kitty awoke. and
the train was not moving. Happy and
scarcely stopping TO wonder why they
we're not In Denver, Kitty dressed her
self. and presently from between the
curtains opposite came the cross gen.
tleman." grumbiing aloud and calling
for the porter.
rs afeerd, SIR" said that individ-
ual- we're done stuck here for mos
Of de day. The big tun1 this side OF
Marshall pass has caved In"
Then the conductor explained that
. section Of one Of the mile-long snow
sheds had fallen, and that all they
could do was to walt for a wTeching
train from Pueblo.
"And not g blessed thing 10 eat"
said Kitty's fellow passenger.
With trembling hands the little girl
opened her box OF luncheon Hard
boiled eggs, a pot of jam, sardine
sandwiches, thick slices OF buttered
bread and lots of cookies.
There's more than l can eat, SIR
said she; won't you have someg"
The Gross gentleman" arose He
looked for a moment hard at Kitty,
whose yes sank To the floor. and then,
with q bow as though she had been a
grown-up young lady. be crossed the
aisle and seated himself opposite to
her.
1t was not until afternoon that the
damage ahead was sufficiently re-
paired to allow them to proceed. and
when NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Eve-came
the train was just making its way
through the Royal gorge. nearly "a
hours late
Their talk during the day had been
of mines and snowshoes, with now
and then digressions on her part into
confidential anecdotes concerning her
pet doll that had been lost in a snow
slide q week before, but which she
hoped TO find in the spring. Unless
Santa Claus ~should-and she trembsed
with excitement as she mentioned it,
bring her another IN the morning.
But he had said to her just be-
fore he babe her goodnight NOW can
Santa Claus catch us? We're Late and
going at 80 miles an hour"
Santa Claus is like an angel" Kit
ty replied; ~he can be anywhere he
wants at any time" Then, Just as
she was quite ready to go to sleep.
shs leaned out bctwecn the curtains
and said: will you lend me a pin
TO pin my stockings To the curtain
4 can't find any naih" He gave her
O pin
It wos past IL O'Clock when the
lights Of Pueblo were seen tn the dis
tancA. The "cross gentleman" had
not thought of going to bed, and, what
is more, had not allowed tho porter to
DO 50
Now said he to the ~grfnnfng OAR
ky as the train began to slow up,