The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-05-18
Enter: A Wine
Colored Gown
BY RITA KELLEY
Copyright, 1906, by Rita Kelley

The train was thirty minutes from
Padmorc when Miss Rand sat up
straight and began pulling the pins
out Of her hat, a pretty wine eolored
affair that exactly matched her trav-
cling gown. Five minutes later in
tan rain coat and cap she splashed
down into the pools Of water on the
open platform Of the railway station
and faced the glazing eyes of the han.
som cabs. transfer wagons and a pri.
vate brougham or two lined up oppo-
site. She paused under n lamp mid.
way Of the line and looked expectant
Only brougham and cab remained
when Miss Rand gathered up her skirt
and started down the platform. a
couchman in green livery was guiding
young woman In wine colored
gown to the brougham. Miss Rand
was hurrying toward the coachman
when voice drawing from the cab
ut her right made her stop short.
Hello Kate!' It said. what in
time are yoi doing here"
"Well, Tommy Yates" she laughed,
offering her hand, isn't this funny?"
Yes, isn't it, he said, holding fast
to the hand. Don't you know enough
to come in out of the rain?"
The next moment she was settling
herself on the dry cushions.
1--WE been standing out there hours
waiting fol some one to claim me-"
she said as the door banged shut and
the cab started off. "And you sitting
here all the time! Cruel! What we've
you doing anyway?'
Looking for a girl very much like
you" Tommy turned and gazed at
her. The damp air had made little
blond ringlets about her face. "YoI
are just as pretty as ever, Kate" he
leaned over and looked closer. Yes,
even prettier," he added.
nonsense" she said, blushlng az
the cab passed under an arc light
You are just as silly as ever Tom
my. You'll never get over that"
WHAT" asked Tommy shortly.
Stiffness
II though, had" said Tommy short
iy. But somehow l think l never will,
either" Something in his voice made
her turn AMI look at him.
IT am going to Brettons'," she sail
after silence. II think it is 53S Grant.
If the coachman did get the wrong girl
couldn't stand out in the rain another
minute. You sce was to be identified
by my wine colored dress, but 1t rained
| hn 4 \ en-
going to have the gown spoiled"
"Ah-hr' Tommy actually Rugged
himself. lie babe the cabby stop at
Martins. How long has it been since
l saw you, KateT
"You have forgottenT"
mo. just wanted to see if you re-
membered. Four years since you Tilted
me-"
The cab had stopped, and Tommy
was out in the streaming light Of the
cafe, ready to assist her. She sank
back on the seat.
"Oh, ohw she protested. II forgot.
was to be at the Brettons' for dinner.
They'll be expecting me-"
"Oh, pshaw! Here was delegated
to look after girl in wine colored
frock, and now she disapproves of my
scheme Of entertainment"
"Oh," said Kate, climbing out, SIS
that It? l thought you were simply a
convenience"
Now, see here"-Tommy tucked her
under the umbrella-"I'm not kid any
more. I'm assistant cashier of the
bank"
They were eating their soup, when
Kate Strengthened back In her chair.
Tommy Yates" she exclaimed, ut
was the other girl you were looking
fort"
what other girlT'
why, the other girl in the wine col
ored dress. The coachman was taking
her to the carriage when you stopped
me-"
"Well, let him take her. You didn't
see me looking for her very hard, did
your"
Tommy Yatesw Kate leaned over
the table, chin in hand. "Do you mean
to say this is one Of your little gamesT
Game" Tommy was leaning over
the table too. II never was so serious
in my life"
"I'm going"
"Going? What do you mean? Please
don'tw
But you see, it is this way" she eX.
postulated. 81 don't know the Bret.
tons. never saw them. They're
friends of my mothers just moved
here, and 1t was arranged by the two
families that 1 was to visit them. II
seems there is young man in whom
I'm expected to find congenial life
partner"
Hes nice sort" commented Tom.
my.
"You know him, then? Why, Tom
my, it isn't-it can't be your
Tommy smiled compacently.
"We'll go up after dinner and find
out" he said.
"Why, no." she laughed embarrass'
eddy, "of course-how silly of me
They said his name was Frank. Such
an ugly rnme But, Tommy'-she
looked up suddenly from her salad
"who was TIE girl in the wine colored
dress?"
"That," said Tommy, SIS rather diff
hcult to explain. Would it simplify
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