The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-12-13
An Enforced
Companionship
BY FRANCES RIVERS

Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

Selflshness, that insidious foe that
we keep more or less under control in
our home is unloosed directly we
start upon our travels.
Sir John Hay had, by reprehensible
means, secured unto himself first.
class carriage. He had tipped porters
handsomely and was watching the
guard puff his cheeks preparatory to
blowing them empty through the
whistle that was to give the engine.
driver the signal to start. when the
handle of his carriage door was
wrencbed violently open.
The girl who stepped up and in
turned to aid the ingress of her com.
panion, who, however, remained on
the platform and, uplifting her hands,
cried: Gracious. have left your
hand bag!"
Then, turning brusquely from the
door of the compartment, she sped
rapidly up the platform and dived into
the interior of the station.
The long.delayed whistle sounded
and the guard locked the door of the
carriage.
Sir John had been annoyed out OF
all reason at the invasion: yet here
he was, gesticulatlng, imploring, com.
nanding delay, and offering back.
sheesh on the intruder's behalf.
The laws of the Medes and Persians
were as nothing compared to the In.
exorable rules of Company's Time.
Sir John ground his teeth while the
engine groaned, gasped, spluttered,
shrieked, then slid into the comfort.
able level of long-journey time.
Sir John experienced feeling OF
lively annoyance.
Companionship that has not been
sought, although 1t may be will prove
boon. man invariably resents. But
when the case is one Of enforced com
panionship with the particular woman
whom for five years the particular man
has carefully sought to avoid, then
the case but goes to prove the futility
OF fighting Fate.
He turned to his companion
There you see how little ones aid is
worth when one can't even delay a
train for you"
She iaughed-'twas on 4 major note,
and the moment of tension passed.
And to think that have tipped
those men for years and years!" he
deplored, then added:
Fate having made us fellow.trav.
elers as far as Swindon-I presume
that you will await your maid at
Swindon-we can surely behave like
ordinary. courteous beings of the
world and discuss such subjects as
are not tabooed to the use of stran.
gers"
II have most fragmentary ideas.
but perhaps the weather." she sug.
gested.
THE weather! The subject always
to hand. think that, even before we
reach Swindon. II would be only polite
to offer you the hospitality of my rug.
Is that permitted?"
Certainly, for since your name and
condition are advertised by the brass
plate on your gun-case. may be sup.
posed to have seen them, and take
them as a species of introduction"
THE name has, since you remem-
ber 1t, an addition"
You forget that we are strangers,
and that the Sir John Hay OF the gun.
case is not necessarily my John Hay"
There was perhaps the tiniest point
OF raillery In her eyes.
True. that's true. And Sir John
Hay"
Would at this stage of our en-.
forced acquaintance be anxious to in
form himself of the news Of the day."
Sir John took up the Times. MAY
he be permitted to offer to his com.
panion-"
THE Field. Thank you" She ac.
cepted 1t with a smile.
Il regret, for your sake, that IL is
NOT the Queen" He became i'm.
mersed in his journal, thus giving to
the woman opposite leisure to inspect
his face.
He was decidedly good-looking, aris-
tocratic. MISUNDERSTANDING with
the distinction promised at 20, trace.
able at 30. and now, at five-and-thirty,
ohS hhcW W NC age, very
decidedly marked.
There was long, noisy silence.
She broke 1t with pretty pretense of
hesitation: II beg your pardon"
The Times was determinedly put
aside, and Sir John, In his turn, looked
at his companion, and In an instant
things slid into their right proper.
tions.
After all, how absurd had been his
Idea that on the small income to
which five years ago he could lay
claim. he could have supposed he
might support this exotic flower of
womanhood. How had he ever ven
tured to suggest to her transportation
to the bleak air of his barren poverty!
He had to admit to himself that he
had no grievance even against her
worldly-wise parents.
You were going to say"
THAT l fear the weather is getting
worse, and ought we not to be some
where near Swindon?"
"The weather is certainly getting
worse, but l am not in a position to
be sure about Swindon. II strikes me
hat hax