The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-07-07
A TROLLEY
CAR ROMANCE
Copyright. 1906. by W. @. Chapman.)
BY FRANK M. BICKNELL

r HE long distance open trolley car
pulled up at the junction, and there
was a fierce scramble for seats. Eus-
tace arrived b%reathless 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; her he found
himself gazing into a very handsome,
but flushed and resentful face. His
own color rose suddenly.
Il didn't notice." he stammered,
alphabetically; Il really did not. l
thought you were in Chicago"
And I thought you were in st.
Louis" she retorted, with an injured
air.
II left yesterday; I felt that 1 needed
a-some-well, a short vacation" he
made out to explain.
"Ah!" she said, lifting her chin a
tri1e and using a 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 a 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 I didn't" he quickly protested;
II had nothing smaller"
"Then take this" and she tried to
force the coin into his hand.
"Is it necessary" he asked, drawing
away.
"Of course; why should 1 allow "a
stranger to pay my fare?" she de-
manded haughtily.
"Oh, very we'll, if I 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
chill in the seat behind Eustace.
He was glancing at them mechan-
ica]:y and listlessly when his compan-
ion uttered a 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
tbs mishap. however, and promptly
raj g the bell. The air-brakes were
applied and the big vehicle slid to a
%Standstill.
"Ell run back for it," said Eustace
to :he conductor, and the latter was
entirely willing to let him do so.
The hat was lying in the grass some
yards from the road bed. He picked
it IN. clutched a handful of daisies,
and hurried back. He boarded the
car quite out of breath, and was
obliged to press his hand to his side
as lie ave her the hat. She took it
without a word at first, but after she
had fastened it in place she said:
"You should have let the conductor
go. You're nearly exhausted. You
know the doctor warned you against
too violent exertion. This is the Sec
ond time to-day you've been impfu-
dent-tO my knowledge"
She spoke with severe reproof. yet
the hardness Of her tone seemed to
cover the presence of a feeling which
she would have been most unwilling
that he should suspect.
II don't believe I shall die of it this
time" he returned with affected care
l%essness, however much of a relief
my death might be To-"
"Stop!" she interrupted sharply.
D you think you needed to say
that? 1t seems to me it was in the
worst possible taste"
We'll, l didn't say it, so there's
no harm. DONE" he remarked. a trit1e
sullenly.
For some time they rode on in ST.
lence. BY and by he offered a hest
tating comment upon an unusually MIC
turesque bit of scenery, but she dis
dained making any response. She
would not even look at him now. The
Car arrived in a small town and
stopped several times: After one of
these stops he said stif1y:
"A MAJ has just got OF and left a
vacant. place back there; I can take
1t II you wish to get rid of me-" 7