Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-04-25
WHILE
The TRAIN
WAITED
~ "A. s. Ricbordson
,o,rioht. 1903, by T. G. Mcclure

The waiter coughed obsequiously,
"a Margaret Ashton turned toward
him impatientiv'
.1ust some fruit and coffee for des-
sert."
rho waiter picked up the plate hold
,ry an untasted entree.
"Why are we stopping here SO long2''
.rreigbt train Off de track ahead
u,,.om but de wreckin' crews heah.
ma'am"
Miss Ashton picked up the menu,
.ood if absentmindedly and laid it
lawn orain. Then her glance Travelled
hocl TO the panorama spread beyond
w. dining cars window. 1t was the
residence district Of pretty village.
With yellow and white and gray and
White cottages placed at discreet dis
tonce apart with we'll kept lawns and
hudding gardens in between.
Close to the crossing where the train
nod come to sudden standstill was
tho church, painted in pearly white,
with dark green shutters and imitation
co,ored glass windows. Even at this
distance Margaret recognized the ma
+orial in those windows. They had re-
co,ved samples when she was in the
altar guild at st. Paurs.
The waiter arrived with her dessert,
ond she selected some white grapes
with elaborate care. When she looked
nm again, boy came scampering down
tho drive which divided two of the cot
tage homes. He swung a baseball bat
in signal to another youngster emery
ing from another yard. Both homes
had barns and chicken yards in the
rear and the boys wore sweaters.
"They have had their tea and have
done their Chores" thought Miss Ash
ton. stirring her coffee slowly, land by
and by some one will call them both
in and pull down the shades"
woman ran across the back yard
of the house nearest the tracks, carry
ing something under her apron. She
disappeared in the kitchen doorway of
the next house. then reappeared empty
handed and ran back to her own home.
"She had borrowed something. no
doubt" said Miss Ashton to herself.
perhaps she had little tea this after
noon. We always borrowed things
from the Marsdens when we had teas"
She pushed aside her coffee cup. laid
q bill on the silver tray which the
waiter offered and left the car. Her
chair was in the drawing room car for
ward. She found herself looking
straight into the side yard Of trim
little cottage A young woman sat on
the step Of the porch, a ''fascinator'
thrown over her shoulders. At the foot
Of the step stood another woman hold
ing a restless baby in her arms. The
two women were 50 earnestly engaged
in CONVERSE tiont they did not notice
how the baby was stripping young buds
OF the porch vine. VI M SIS
"Gosslping." murmured Miss Ashton.
She knew the narrow life only tso
we'll. She had run away from it years
before. She wanted to go where your
next door neighbor did not count the
skirts and shirt waists on your line.
where no one insisted that because q
young man had shown you q few or
binary courtesies you were bound to
be engaged to him. .
She swung her chair impatiently,
and her glance fell once more on the
church. The sun was setting, and two
people were walking up the narrow
tagged path. The man pulled out q
key, threw open the church door, and
they both passed In. He did not look
like minister. He was something OF
an athlete and had m alert air. A mo
ment later he was opening the window.
The girl was not in sight, but Mar
garet was certain that she was putting
flowers in the vase at the pulpit.
Hes leaderin the church. no doubt
A man must always be at the head OF
something" she thought. "And Miss
Demure will be sitting down in the
amen corner soon watching him with
adoring eyes because the whole cOngre
CATION looks up to him."
What narrow set these people In
small towns were! Here was train
stalled in their midst bearing men Of
millions, women who had Travelled al
nome and abroad. interests that nigh,
anect the world of trade, and they die
not stop so much as to inquire into the
trouble. They were 30 small, SO mar
row, so self absorbed!
At last the train moved with great
heaving strain on wheels and springs
margaret gave one more glance at thu
church. The lights were ablaze. and
the young man was standing in from
OF the congregation, book In his hand
Inc girl was at the organ.
Margaret leaned back and closed he
eyes. She saw another church. another
man-and herself. Then she turned he
thoughts resolutely into other chan
nes She glanced Gown at her bag
one knew the papers in that bag mean
insurance policies for thousands. al
written by herself. She had stepped II
~nere other agents feared to tread ant
= aad secured business. She was goini
oack to New York and the approval o
uer superiors. She would be glad Il