The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1905-08-02
MAST AIKEN
I've IDENTITY
By FRANK II. SWEET
Copyright. 1905. by Frank II. Sweet

Inc train was already III action again
when Enos stumbled hrcathlcssly up
the steps aud sought II enter the car
The conductor WAS standing inside the
door.
This is II parlor ear, sir" he said.
"Oh. that's all right" Enos answered
quickly. Extra, l s'pose -
'0f course; but doubt If there's
any unoccupied space. rortcr!'
The ear attendant was Just return
Ing from the lady's chair. lie stopped
inquringly, busting cloth in hand.
Have you any spare seatsY'
Just one, sab, down t'other end"
VERY well. Give IT to this gentle
man"
The conductor turned as he spoke
and preceded him II few PAGES down
the car. then stopped and bent over the
chair of Il lady AS he passed, Enos
leaned toward her with II dinident
Hello. Martha" hut the increasing
noise OF the train drol~lcd his voice.
and he stumbled on With crimsoning
face. The lady had not oven perceived
him.
ear, hat in hand, with feeling that he
was intrudng into some ones drawing
room. Passengers We're seated or re
cllning In various attitudes some read
Ing. some talking but most of them
with their attention fixed upon the
chair over which the conductor was
leaning Enos had never been in
w
amid all this elegance and among these
strangers he perceived that Martha was
understood and appreciated better than
he had understood and appreciated her
himself He heard subdued "Who
Is she?" from one side and "Don't
know. but evidently somebody" from
the other
lie turned his chair SO that he could
watch her and still not be especially
conspicuous The conductor or porter
was at her chair every few minutes
trying to devise new means for her
comfort. Curtains were drawn or
raised, vcntllator opened to let In
more mir, the window closed to keep
out draft Even the paper boy
seemed 10 catch the infection, for he
was continually leaving periodicals for
her to examine at her leisure.
Enos watched her with mingled feel
lngs OF surprise and pleasure and per-
hnps with some depression. Heretofore
he had looked upon her as in way be
longing TO him. Now, with the entire
eur paying her homage, he wondered
Mt his audacity. He wished that he
had been bold enough to ask straight
out to be her escort OH this little trlp
instead of watching over her. rs he
was, from distance. He wished that
he had pressed his suit more assidu-
ously and marvclcd at his presumption
In pressing 1t as strongly ms he had.
The conductor came through the ear,
and II man in the next chair reached
ont and touched his arm.
"Can you tell me who she isF' ha
asked In II low voice. THE car seems
to be getting curious over SO much NJ
tention."
The conductor answered In II voice
equally low, but Enos caught the
words.
"Shes Mrs. Roche, wife of Cattle
King Roche, you know. Hes making
n deal for our railroad, That's why our
management Is anxious to show him
attention. We received notice that she
would take our train Mt II certain point
and for us TO show her all the courtesy
In our power Seems very nice little
woman. but little, just Il little. too
pleased with everything, Gives one an
impression that she hasn't Travelled
much. But have heard that Roche
made his money very suddenly. 50 per
haps the attention Is little over
whclmlng"
Enos had turned away before this
and was again watching Martha He
had heard that n man of the name of
Roche was negotiating for the railroad.
and he now allowed his glance TO wan
der up the ear finally fixing upon IL
richly dressed woman in the chair be
yond Martha MS the one who was II lit
tie overwhelmed by attention. She did
look self conscious and, he thought
just n little supcrcllious too,
As they stood upon the platform Mt
their destination half hour later
watching the train glide away Martha
saw Enos turn toward her, not slowly
and diflidently, AS WIS hts wont, but
with head erect nnd both hands out
And somehow inter the experience on
the train it did not seem strange, but
rather n natural sequence TO have
seen him awkawrd and Ill at ease just
then would havc been a shock II was
so much nicer for men 10 be easy and
courteous and Enos was King among
men
She put her hands into ni3 naturally
impulsivcly.
ooh, Enos," she breathcd, wasn't 1t
beautiful? never imagined 1t could
be so nice In n train Why didn't yon
tell meY
"Wcll. ! don't reckon knew" he a.
knowlcdgcd frankly 81 was never n
one OF these parlor cars before and II
Isn't so awfully nice In one Of the
others when It's crowded with folks
But say. Martha" stll holding her
hands and allowing something to come
into his voice which she had never
heard there before, but which brought
IL HOll tOiOI ~ lifi iItfhSt YOU lObkfb
awfully pretty In those nice clothes,
the prettlest have seen. There wasn't
woman In the ear Who could tor J!
you In looks, not even the one who's to
buy the railroad just sat and looked
at you and wished FL got things set
tied more solid and wondered If I'd
ever dare to speak to you ut all But
just can't wait any longer, Martha"-
his voice quiyering with suspensc-"not
n minute. DO you s'pose you could
learn to love me n little-not all at
once, you know, but just little at
time, as you can. | didn't intend to
be so hasty and lnconsiderate, but that
ride seems to have stirred me all up
somehow. But don't you feel upset,
Martha. Just take all the time you