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

him. Are these the same people?" he
asked, with blank expression.
| Yes, she said emphatically. The ex-
| cursion train was held over twelve hours
| ny freight, and they are all bound LOT
| Boston,"
Wickham groaned. Miss Harmed settled
| and looked steadily at the flying scenery.
| Wickham took to studying her face, be-
| cause there was nothing else to do
| Three whole days of this" he thought,
| and he decided to move on into the smoker:
| He made some attempts to excuse himself
{, without attracting the attention of the pas
| sengers. but she ignored him. He fell 10
wondering if she would forgive him for the
| embarrassment of the evening before. and
| remembered that he had not asked for par
| don. She seemed unconscious of his gaze.
and he watched the sensitive outlines OF
| her face vary in expression. Really, she
! was very interesting. The brown of her
dress just matched the sheen of her hair
| and her eyes. He found himself adjusting
his Panama on his blonde head. squaring
his shoulders that had been broadened by
| rowing in the Harvard crew. If only they
| had not been thrust together under such
| trying circumstances! He met her eyes
and looked at her till she spoke.
And you such woman hater, too
she said aggrievedly.
"Oh, but I'm not.'' He flashed 1t out and
smiled dazzlingly at her to see the light In
her eyes. Truly Wickham was waking up.
Some women. perhaps. but certainly not
| of YOU.
"Oh, your husband has found you, l
| see!' exclaimed a thin, little voice, and
Wickham turned to see a motherly person
bea ming upon them with kindly eyes. He
| bent toward Miss Harmed with the least
| bit of wicked CLEAN in his eyes.
We'll have to stick 1t out to the end"
| he said.
ITO Boston," she corrected.
Madame, won't you be seated?" He rose
and bowed gravely to the odd little person
| in brown alpaca dress She slipped into
the seat shyly, her thin, worn hands finger
| ing plat down the front of her skirt. Her
eyes redeemed her plain face; they grew
| larger and almost wistful as she looked at
Miss Harmed.
You must be so happy" she said, her
voice lingering over the words. Eugenia
Harmed flushed crimson under the close
scrutiny of Wickham.
Pardon me- the little woman FASTENED
! to add, Il know just how you feel; 1t is all
so new and-wonderful, and you can't
hardly realize that it is all true yet-that
youv got each other'-she looked appre-
ciatively from Miss Harmed to Wickham.
That wicked person returned the glance
steadily and smiled
Exactly he agreed.
Il remember wnen John and / were mar
Red she continued, I'VE went from Mead
owville to Chicago on our wedding trip"
She smiled reminiscently. That isn't such
a nice one as yours
Eugenia squirmed in her seat by the win
dow; she threw Wickham glance that
should have softened his heart, but it
didn't
Are you going to live in Boston," the
little woman was questioning; and Wick
ham, with a charming bow. acknowledged
that they were.
He looked at Miss Harmed. He decided
oil at once that he wanted a smoke. He
bowed himself off as smoothly and quickly
as possible. By the time he had reached
the smoker he had forgotten all about
cigars. His face betrayed unusual pertur-
baton of mind and he adjusted his hat
several times before 1t rested entirely to his
satisfaction He was conscious that he had
gone too far with Miss Harmed, and he lad
the uncomfortable thought that she would
never forgive him. And through all he
knew he should be proud of Miss Harmed II
she We're actually his wife.
His wife! The mere thought had all the
flavor of widest romance. To the mans
man, to a digger of old Gothic roots the
first realization of femininity as a potent
force in life struck him broadside with
force that made him gasp His wife! Why
not? He started up with his chin out,
full light of determination In his eye-he
would go and ask her now. And he swung
down the aisle.
Miss Harmed was being entertained by the
little woman In the brown alpaca dress She
looked tired and cross and red spot
glowed in either cheek. He ignored the
little woman. who looked up brightly at
him but went on talking. and, leaning over
toward Miss Harmed he said, steadily: