The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1905-09-13
MISTAKEN
IVA IDENTITY
By FRANK H. SWEET
Copyright, 1908, by Frank II. Sweet

The train stopped only few mo-
ments, but the conductor and a porter
hustled out, with Difference In their
every movement, and assisted the one
lady into the car with much bowling.
The train was already in action again
when Enos stumbled breathlessly up
the steps and sought to enter the car.
The conductor was standing inside the
door,
This is a parlor car, sir" he said.
"Oh, that's all right" Enos answered
quickly. extra, s'pose"
"Of course; but I doubt If there's
any unoccupied space. Porterv'
The car attendant was just return
ing from the lady's chair. He stopped
lnquiringly, busting cloth in hand.
"Have you any spare seatsY'
"Just one, sab, down t'other end"
every we'll. Give it to this gentle
man."
The conductor turned as he spoke
and preceded him a few PAGES down
the car, then stopped and bent over the
chair Of a lady. AS he passed, Enos
leaned toward her with a dif1dent
noise Of the train drowned his voice,
and he stumbled on with crimsoning
face. The lady had not even perceived
him.
Enos followed the porter through the
car, hat in hand, with a feeling that he
was intruding into some ones drawing
room. Passengers were seated or re-
clining 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 a
drawing room car before, but even
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 a subdued "Who
is she?" from one side and Don't
know, but evidently a somebody" from
the other.
He 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, ventilator opened to let in
more air. the window closed to keep
out a draft. Even the paper boy
seemed to catch the infection, for he
was continually leaving periodicals for
her to examine at her leisure.
Enos watched her with mingled feel
ings Of surprise and pleasure and per-
haps with some depression. Heretofore
he had looked upon her as in a way be-
longing to him. Now, with the entire
car paying her homage, he wondered
at his audacity. He wished that he
had been bold enough to ask straight
out to be her escort on this little trip
instead of watching over her, as he
was, from a distance. He wished that
he had pressed his suit more asstdu-
ously and marveled at his presumption
in pressing it as strongly as he had.
The conductor came through the car,
and a man in the next chair reached
out and touched his arm.
"Can you tell me who she ISL" he
asked in a low voice. 1.-THE car seems
to be getting curious over so mStch at
tention."
The conductor answered in a voice
equally low, but Enos caught the
words.
'She's Mrs. Roche, wife Of Cattle
King Roche, you know. He's making
a deal for our railroad. That's why our
management is anxious to show him
attention. We received notice that she
would take our train at certain point
o. 10 Oh h0,a oil A1o
In our power. Seems very nice little
woman, but little, just a little too
pleased with everything. Gives one an
impression that she hasn't Travelled
much. But l have heard that Roche
made his money very suddenly, so per-
haps the attention is a little over
whelming."
Enos had turned away before this
and was again watching Martha. He
had heard that a man Of the name Of
Roche was negotiating for the railroad,
and he now allowed his glance to wan
der up the car, finally fixing upon a
richly dressed woman in the chair be-
yond Martha as the one who was a lit
tie overwhelmed by attention. She did
look self conscious and, he thought,
just little supercilious too.
AS they stood upon the platform at
their destination a half hour later
watching the train glide away Martha
saw Enos turn toward her, not slowly
and efficiently, as was his wont, but
with head erect and both hands out.
And somehow after the experience on
the train it did not seem strange but
rather a natural sequence. To have
seen him awkawrd and i'll at ease just
then would have been a shock. It was
so much nicer for men to be easy and
courteous, and Enos was king among
men.
She put her hands into his naturally,
impulsively.
"Oh, Enos," she breathed, wasn't Il
beautiful? 1 never imagined it could
be SO nice in train. Why didn't you
tell meT
''Well, don't reckon knew" he &C.
knowledged frankly. II was never in
one Of these parlor cars before, and 1t
isn't so awfully nice in one of the
others when it's crowded with folks.
But say, Martha" still holding her
into his voice which she had never
heard there before, but which brought
a soft color to her cheeks, "you looked
awfully pretty in those nice clothes,
the prettiest have seen. There wasn't
a woman in the car who could touch
you in looks, not even the one who's to
buy the railroad. just sat and looked
at you and wished I'd got things set
tied more solid and wondered If I'd
ever dare to speak to you at all. But
I just can't wait any longer, Martha"-
his voice quivering with suspense-"not
a minute; Do you s'pose you could
learn to love me a little all at
once, you know, but just a little at a
time, as you can. didn't intend to
be SO hasty and inconsiderate, but that
ride seems to have stirred me all up