Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-10-17
MARIAN TRAVELLED ALONE.

She Met a Fascinating Stranger ON
the Train.
Cousin Morris, will you do some
thing for me, please"
The senior member Of the law firm
of Woodell & Brown glanced from his
Office desk to the innocent, eager face.
"Sit down, Marian" he answered,
smiling.
Il shall have to tell you the whole
story" she began, breathlessly. you
know 1 came home alone from my New
York visit? Well, man had the other
half of my section-a fine, scholarly
looking man about your age-and
when we were delayed by that wreck
ten hours late, you knOw-he saw
was nervous, and he was so kind about
sending my telegram to my mother, and
everything, that l just couldn't help
letting him talk to me.
''He was a New York lawyer, Rich
ard Ferry, going to Kansas City on
business trip, and he mentioned know
ing the Chippendales here in Chicago.
OF course that treasured me, and,
Norris, you can't think how we'll &C
quainted we got In one day! 1t was
the strangest experience. He told De
the story of his whole ife-childhOod
home, school days, college experiences,
everything! He's so much older, and
he knows so much more than |, it
seemed strange he should think 1 was
worth talking to, but he did, and, Nor
1.ic 10 10 L Of n
he quoted a lot from WORDSWORTH
ode to Immortality and from Low
ellis Vision of Sir Launfal,' too. And
oh, 1 wish you could have heard how
beautifully he spoke of his mother !"
"Well, what happened neXt?" Nor
ris WoodeIl asked, indulgently.
"He went on to Kansas City, and
please don't smile-he wrote to me
| that in the few hours we had spent to-
gether 1 had given him back ideals he
thought were lost forever. He asked
me to send him a line at his Kansas
City hotel, and-lweI, I did it before
1 told mother. She didn't like 1t, be-
cause she doesn't trust my judgment.
She can't realize that I'm eighteen, you
see. This morning I had another note,
saying he was passing through Chicago
to-day on his way back to New York,
and wouldn't 1 meet him for luncheon
at the Atlantic Hotel"
| The indulgence suddenly vanished
from Woodel's manner.
"Wlait, Morris I'm sure he didn't
mean any disrespect He's just I'M
conventional"
as he married?"
"Why-no."
"Told you he wasn'tY
HE told me so much he couldn't
have helped telling that if it'had been
so, and, Morris, this is what l want
Won't you go over to the hotel and
bring him to luncheon with you and
me? That would be proper, and you
could see yourself how nice he is, and
if you were in it I'd dare tell mother
when l went home. / haven't told her
Of this mornings note for fear it would
prejudice her. She thinks I'm down
town shopping. Please, Morris"
WoodeII shook his head. Then with
a sudden thought he turned to his desk
telephone and called Tom Chippen-
dale.
The answer came promptly. FERRY
Of New York? Well, not intimately.
Just at the. club. Brilliant fellow, but
mighty vain of his conquests over the
other sex. Oh, yes, wife and two chill
dren living out in Kansas City. No,
domestic life isn't just in his line, l
fancy. Glad to serve you, Woodell.
GoodIby"
Woodell hung up the receiver and
repeated the words to his cousin, but
he generously dropped his eyes while
he waited for the answer. It came at
last.
Hurt, chagrined, forcing back the
hot tears, she said, under her breath,
"Oh, I'll never trust any one again."
II hope you will, Marian" said Nor
ris Woodell, gravely. Il hope you'll
trust one person a. great deal more
your mother."-Youths Companion.
Lese Majestic I'm New York.