Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-06-30
A TROLLEY
CAR ROMANCE
BY FRANK M. BICKNELL
tl.opyrlght, 1905, hy W. g. Chapman.l

IT HE long distance open trOlley car
pulled up at the junction, and there
was a fierce scramble for seats. Eus-
| tace arrived breathless and painting,
| just in time to secure the last vacant
one. Not until the car had started on
again did he turn to look fairly at his
| seat mate on the left; then he found
himself gazing into very handsome,
but flushed and resentful face. His
| own color rose suddenly.
I'll didn't notice." he stammered,
alphabetically; II really did not
thought you were in Chicago"
And ! thought you were in ST.
Louis" she retorted, with an injured
air.
| 81 left yesterday; felt that needed
a-some-well short vacation" he
made out to explain.
"Ah!" she said, lifting her chin a
trile and using tone that was dis
| tinctly meant to show him how ut
| terly Indifferent his affairs had become
to her. Then, with a decided move
| ment, she turned from him and gazed
straight ahead.
A second flood surged painfully into
his cheeks, but he set his lips and
gazed forward, too. When the con-
ductor came for their fares Eustace
handed him dime, which he pock-
eted, ringing in for two.
"Here!" called the lady sharply, but
the conductor passed on without MOTTO
ing the nickel she had extended. Her
face blazed. IF you did that pur-
posely," she said to Eustace, you
were"
But didn't" he quickly protested;
81 had nothing smaller"
"Then take this" and she tried to
force the coin into his hand.
rs it necessary" he asked, drawing
away.
"Of course; why should | allow "a
stranger to pay my fare?" she de-
manded haughtily.
"Oh, very well, if / am that
he said, looking deeply hurt and
yielded to her will
They were in the open country now,
and the car was rushing over a pri-
vate right-of-way through green,
flower bedecked fields.
See the pretty daisies!" cried a
child in the seat behind Eustace.
J He was glancing at them mechan-
} ically and listlessly when his compan-
/; ion uttered dismayed ejaculation. A
puff of the fresh westerly wind against
which the car was speeding had torn
off her hat, and it was rapidly being
left behind. The. conductor had seen
the mishap, however, and promptly
rang the bell. The air-brakes were
applied and the big vehicle slid to 6
standstill.
"Ill run back for it," said Eustace
9 to the conductor, and the latter was
r entirely willing to let him do so.
The hat was lying in the grass some
yards from the road bed He picked
it up, clutched handful of daisies
and hurried back. He boarded tn,
: car quite out of breath, and wa:
g obliged to press his hand to his sid'
t as he gave her the hat. She took i
/ without word at first, but after sht
{, had fastened it in place she said:
- you should have let the conducto
I CO. You're nearly exhausted. YOU
;, know the doctor warned you agains
too violent eXertion, This is the sec
ond time to-day you've been impru
Q dent--to my knowledge"
II She spoke with severe reproof, we
It the hardness of her tone seemed t
y cover the presence of a feeling whicl
= she would have been most unwilling
e that he should suspect.
q ~ don't believe shall die of it thi
e time" he returned with affected care
N lessness, however much of a relic
. my death might be to"
STOP" she interrupted sharply
"Do you think you needed to sa
= that? 1t seems to me it was in tn
!" worst possible taste"
well, ! didn't say it, so there
!. no harm done" he remarked, g trifl
- Gullenly
T. foT sumo uue Iney RUE od III 81
: lence BY and by he offered a hes
IL tating comment upon an unusually pit
y turesque bit of scenery, but she dis
+ dained making any response. Sh
n would not even look at him now. Tn
( car arrived in a small town an
le stopped several times After one c
r these stops he said stiffiy;
y "A man has just got off and left
a vacant place back there; ] can TAX
:, It if you wish to get rid of me-"